Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1913-08-08

on June ,, 1926. 81 years ago. The
members of the Davis family We're
farmers. and always had been as far
back as any one can find a trace of
them, and they say, without hesitation.
that they are looking for nothing bet
ter han this amer of earning their
livelihood. Children that are reared OF
the farm soon learn to shoulder the re-
sponsibility of some portion of the farm
work. 1t was so with Josiah Davis
There was no time to become a spoiled
child; every one on the farm worked,
and so must lie. So much work was
there to be done that little time was
left for schooling except a short term
in the winter time. but in this way he
secured the rudiments of an education.
ma the .'three RS"
When he was 90 years old. the call
of the west became so strong that he
babe goodby to his old home in Maine,
With but Il few dollars in his pocket
he came west to seek his fortune. ar
irving in Grant county, Wisconsin. in
the lead mining region. Purchasing the
necessary implements, he Went straight
to work in the mines.
OFF to the War.
These were the days when the war
trumpet was sounding in the land. Tex
as had shaken itself free from Mexico
and was seeking admission to the UNI
Ion. Mexico was resenting his act. the
runbles Of war had been heard for
many days. and now the crash had
come. General Taylor was marching
south through Mexico. General Scott
had landed in the east and was fight
ing his way west to the capital city.
What young n1anfi with strong, rich, red
blood in his veins could resist such a
call for arms? Josiah Davis answered
1t, as thousands of other young men
did. He went to Galena. ILL.,. then a
much more important place than Chi
cago. II enlisted in Company G. Sec
ond regiment. U. 8. Dragons,
Col. John Harmey in command. in
November. ls47. The trip to Jefferson
barracks. near ST. Louis, Mo. was made
by boat down the Mississippi river.
months. drilling. The trip to Mexico
was made by boat down the river and
acros the gulf. landing at Vera Cruz
In January. 1S47. BY February. after
q number of skirmtshes the army was
Installed in the capital city. which had
but a short time before surrendered.
Cholera was raging in the city. being
far more dangerous than the Mexican
guns. and Davis fell sick. He was In
the hospital for several weeks but his
strong physique, which he had never
abused by drink. enabled him to shake
of the disease. Since. that time he
has v been sick for a whole day.
vs. y NAAS NJ WIN Gu O0SN
to Missouri and a mustered out In
the early fall after about 10 montha
of service.
Gold Craze Lures Him.
The mother had died in the mean
time and the father was anxious to
have him return to the old home: but
by this time the love of the Wild. fires
life of the west had gotten entirely tor
strong q grip on him to he shaken of.
and vet he was far from one who would
slight his hlial duty. SO he n'rotc his
father that II he would sell the old
place and come west he would see that
he was cared for to the end OF his days
So west the father came; the pounge.
members OF the family. all, however
we'll grown. coming with him.
Let a young man once get the :eve,
for sightseeing in his system AMI 1,
takes years to get it out. Scarcely
had the family well settled on a firm
in Grant county thar the gold rush IA
California began. Forz two years d
more the news OF the wonderful riches
to be found on the coast came to this
country and the fever in young Davis
soul began to burn.
BY the spring OF 1850 the temptation
could be resisted no longer. Proper
arrangements were made for the cars
of the father. and In the early spring
he made his a with a nunbe o1
others from the neishborhood. to st
Joseph. Mo-. then n villn2e of log huts
where an outfit wag occurred and. II
company With about 60. the start wa: