Several of Joshua's descendants said he was married twice and citeSarah Barnhill as the other wife with Edgar Co, IL, as their residencebut no records can be found to verify that. In fact, there arerecords indicating there were two Joshua Davis families, one of whichdid live in Edgar Co, the other is our line. Problems encounteredwith them being one and the same are:
1. Joshua would have married Sarah first but is listed in everyfollowing census with her as late as 1880, some 15 years after themarriage with Jennie.
2. There are age conflicts between the men and their families.
3. There are conflicts from census to census, both Joshuas andtheir families being listed in 1880 in their respective counties.
4. Joshua of Edgar Co is buried with Sarah and their daughter.
Residences & events in Joshua's life:
7/5/1860 Westfield Twp, Clark Co, IL. At age 21 he was still at homewith his parents.
6/21/1861 He enlisted as a Pvt in Co H 21st IL Inf of the Union Armyfor the Civil War.
12/31/1862 Stones River, TN. He was listed as an army deserter andyet his record says he had Distinguished Service.
6/15/1870 Westfield Twp, Clark Co, IL. The census taker recorded theoccupation of Joshua Davis as farmer but he had only personal propertywhitch totaled $500. He was 32, first wife Mary was 34 and they had 2dhildren, Joseph, 2 , and Laura, 3 mo. The entire family was born inIL. Next door were his parents, on the other side was the family ofJohn and America Davis (who?) and farther down was brother Coleman'sfamily.
Bef 1878 Chesterville, Douglas Co, IL, where son, Joseph drowned.
6/10/1880 Oak St, City of Arcola, Douglas Co, IL, was his address atcensus time when he was a 42 year old carpenter. Second wife Jemimawas 32 and children living there were: Jennie's son William (Doing,now Davis), 16; Joshua's daughter Lavina, 10; and their childrentogether, Cora, 5; and Francis W, 3. (Where was Albert? ) Next doorwas an Andrew Harris with wife, Lovina, born in OH, with an Albert, 2.Could this little one be our Albert?
1896 Chesterville, IL. Daughter, Ida, at 17, gave this address asher residence for her marriage records. J Davis gave consent for themarriage, could have been either Joshua or Jenny.
In 1920 son Frank said his father was born in KY
A Joshua Politus Davis, born 1863 and wife Charity, is buried inWestfield with the same death date as our Joshua. Is there a mix-up?
