My grandfather, Ira French Davis , John A. Davis's son or stepson was born in
Shawneetown, Illinois.He married my grandmother Grace Harris on 12 Aug. 1921 in Mena,
Arkansas. I do not know where they were living before 1919. I know from 1919 till at least
1924 that they lived in Mena, Arkansas. I have some court documents from Mena.Most of them
I do not understand. Selling of land or such things. Also Ira had mental problems because
his parents were made his legal gaurdians then his brother Richard after Richard died
another brother William was made his gaurdian. I also believe that he had a half brother
by the name of George W. Davis. In 1924 when my father was only 10 weeks old his father
Ira was put into the state hospital in Little Rock, Arkansas. He was there for 18 years
before he passed away in1942 . My grandmother then found out that she didn't have a
legal marriage, because Ira had a first wife that he never divorced. So needless to say
she will not tell us very much!
about him. She will be 100 years old next month, but has never been willing to tell us
anything about the Davis family. I do not blame anyone, Ira had mental problems due to a
head injury, he may not have remembered that he was already married. It is just life and
things happen, but it sure makes it hard trying to find out who your folks are ! I would
like to find out who Ira's first wife was and if they had any children. I think that
they may have because the hospital records talk about his wife and three children. Two
boys and one girl, Grace only had two children by him that I know of my dad Albert Lyman
Davis and Alice May Davis. The records give no names for his wife and children. What a
mess ! Also Ira was in his 50's when he married Grace and she was only 19, I asked her
once why she married someone so much older than her and she wouldn't tell me. Also her
first name is Nancy because I am named after her. I once asked her why she has always gone
by her middle name an!
d she wouldn't even tell me that .I don't know why she won't talk to us.
Others in the family have also asked her some of these questions over the years. I know
she will take what she knows to the grave with her. It's to bad she is so tight liped
. Oh well I will just keep at it, maybe someday I will find the answers .
Nancy ( Davis ) Salisbury