The Davis Sisters

A box of letters discovered in my grandmother's house after her death in 1992 sparked an interest in a branch of my Davis family history previously unexplored. The letters contributed to the investigation of two maiden aunt sisters who had been entered into the family tree with only birth and death dates. As was discovered, these two women led lives as caregivers and business women who contributed much to the lives of their families and communities in which they lived. The fact that my grandmother kept these letters for over 60 years- even though the relationship ended badly- suggests she ultimately wanted the story to be told.

Early Life of the Davis Sisters

Ellen Nancy Davis was the third child born to John Clary Davis and Sarah Jane Galliher Davis. Other children of John and Sarah were Theodore Perry Davis ( 1844-1927), Cynthia Ann Davis Martyn (1845-1930), Mary Catherine Davis (1850-1882) and Corinthia Davis (1852-1931.) Ellen was born April 5, 1848 in Morristown, Shelby, Indiana. In the 1850 census the family was living in Van Buren, Shelby, Indiana. By 1860, the family had moved to Hanover, Shelby, Indiana. In both the 1850 and 1860 census Ellen was referred to as “Nancy.” After that time, she became known as “Ellen.” According to her obituary, Ellen taught school in Indiana.

  Ellen Nancy Davis (1848-1928)                          Corinthia Davis (1852-1931)

Photos provided by Janice Castro.

Not much is known about Corinthia Davis’ days in Indiana. She was born in June of 1852 in Morristown, Shelby , Indiana.

Florida

FLORIDA

The family moved from Indiana to Starke, Bradford, Florida in 1882 after the death of daughter Mary Catherine Davis. Why John, Sarah, Ellen, and Corinthia moved to Starke Florida in 1882 is unknown. The family is listed in the 1885 Florida State Census. John Clary Davis was listed as a farmer- which was his profession in Indiana. In 1889 he was still a farmer.

Ellen taught school in the Starke and Rising Hampton areas. Ellen and Corinthia’s mother Sarah Jane Galliher Davis died on the 14th of March 1897 and was buried in Starke in Crosby Lake Cemetery.

In 1899, John, Ellen and Corinthia Davis moved to St. Petersburg, Pinellas, Florida. John Davis passed away in 1906 and was buried in Crosby Lake Cemetery.

In the 1900, 1910, and 1920 censuses, Ellen Davis was listed as head of household. She taught Sunday school for many years, was a member of the Christian Women’s Temperance Union, and was a charter member and twice president of the St. Petersburg Woman’s Town Improvement Association.

The two sisters owned the first beachfront house on Pass-A- Grille where they ran Sycamore Lodge- a boarding house on 2nd Avenue North.

Ellen died in 1928, and Corinthia died in 1931. Ellen had a wonderful obituary --most likely written by Corinthia. Corinthia- the last living child of the John Davis family- had a spare, six-sentence obituary in the newspaper. Corinthia’s death certificate contains minimal information, which was provided by the funeral company. Ellen and Corinthia are buried in unmarked graves in the family plot in Starke, Florida.

The Davis Home in Pass-A-Grille, St. Petersburg, Florida 1903

Photo provided by Darlene Palmer

The Letters



Gladys Eileen Davis Leavitt



My grandmother, Gladys Eileen Davis Leavitt, never mentioned the Davis sisters to any of her children. It therefore was stunning to discover a box of letters that revealed an interesting correspondence between Gladys and Corinthia Davis. Gladys asked Corinthia, her great aunt, for a college loan in March of 1929.

The letter Gladys Davis wrote indicated that she wanted to devote full time to her studies. She had taught school and worked while attending college. Gladys wanted to pursue an A.B. degree to get a better teaching position, and requested to loan to allow her to attend school without working simultaneously. Although they never had met-nor would they ever meet, Corinthia agreed to loan Gladys the money. Official loan documents, complete with interest dates and payback dates, were drawn up. Corinthia also wrote a personal letter to Gladys enclosing the above photo of Ellen and Corinthia Davis. Corinthia wrote:

“ I see the need for better schooling than I had so I am trying to help you. You can count this from our work and care of things…..I don’t want you to disappoint us we have great confidence in you.”

In August of 1929, Corinthia sent a four volume dictionary set to Gladys. Letters were exchanged, money was sent, and interest was paid until May of 1930 when Corinthia received a letter from Gladys saying that Gladys had gotten married. The loan was structured quarterly -$100 a quarter -and $400 of the $900 had yet to be loaned to Gladys. Gladys asked Corinthia for the remaining $400, because she and John were “badly in need of money.” Corinthia declined, and wrote back the following:

“…glad to hear from you but surprised at what you had done. You seemed to changed your mind suddenly so have I. I started out to help one. My lawyer advised me to stop payment on the last check I sent so I am done .” Kin

This letter ended the loan payments and also the correspondence between the two women.

Gladys continued to make interest payments on the borrowed money. In March of 1931, in response to an interest check, the bank sent Gladys a receipt and reported that Corinthia Davis had passed away March 7, 1931. Additional interest payment receipts also were in the box in which the correspondence between Gladys and Corinthia was found. Whether the loan principal eventually was repaid is unclear.

The correspondence suggests that the relationship between Gladys and Corinthia ended in disappointment for both of them. Without the financial support from Corinthia, however, Gladys likely would not have been able to devote a year to her schoolwork during the Great Depression.

Gladys dropped out of school after marrying her husband , John Adams Leavitt, but she eventually finished her degree in 1955 along with one of her daughters. She became a teacher and taught for many years in the Montezuma County, Colorado school district.