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