Born ‎ Dec 26, 1845 at Surry County, North Carolina, died ‎ May 20, 1906‎, 60 years, buried ‎ at Park Hill Cemetary, Syracuse, Ne
ORLANDO J. DAVIS is one of the prominent citizens and enterprising stock-raisers and farmers of North Branch Precinct, and resides on section 35, where he settled in 1880. Mr. Davis was born on the 26th of December, 1844, in North Carolina, of which State his parents, Ruell R. and Biddy (Hobson) Davis, were also natives. The family removed from that State to Nebraska, settling at Mt. Pleasant, in Cass County, in the year 1856. There the father entered land and improved a farm, giving his careful and undivided attention to the cultivation of the same for the remainder of his life, which closed in the year 1864. Mrs. Davis is still living in Cass County, and has reached the age of sixty-three years. The family circle of which our subject is a member included nine children, of whom but seven are living: Stephen, now a grain merchant at Plattsmouth; Orlando J., our subject; Bradley H., a resident of this county; Wesley A., of Weeping Water, this State; William R., who still lives at Mt. Pleasant; Julia A., the wife of William Jameson, and John H, both of Weeping Water. Eunice, died in the year 1861, at the age of eighteen years. The subject of our sketch was twelve years of age when the family settled in this State, and can well remember many of the more striking features and incidents of their pioneer life. The journeys his father was compelled to take when any trading or marketing had to be done, either to Plattsmouth or Nebraska City. His father had an unusually fine advantage in settling, being possessed of over $1,000 in money, besides teams and household goods. As a lad, Orlando Davis spent his early days upon the home farm, and his recollections cluster around and are filled with the simple, healthful life at the home. He was from his youth acquainted with agricultural pursuits and farm life, so that it was no difficulty for him to take charge of similar work on his own account. The year 1867 witnessed his marriage with Elizabeth Howard, daughter of William H. and Julia A. Howard, were natives of Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Howard were married in Parke County, Ind., and settled in Vermillion County, where their daughter Elizabeth was born on the 3d of June, 1848. Later they went to Hancock County, Ill., where they lived until 1863, and then came to Cass County, where, two years later, Mrs. Howard died, leaving her husband and six children. Mr. Howard is still living, but is a resident of Lancaster County, Neb. The subject of our sketch and his young wife continued to make their home in Cass County until 1870, when they migrated to Butler County, Kan., and pre-empted 160 acres of the Osage Trust Lands, which he improved by cultivation, setting out a large number of fruit trees, and erecting good buildings. After awhile he purchased an additional eighty acres, making him the owner of a total 240 acres. In the year 1873 he lost his crop grasshoppers, but did not require aid, as he had provisions in reserve, the result of more prosperous years. Mr. Davis continued his residence in Kansas for a little over ten years, but was not infatuated with the State and did not like the climate, consequently he removed and came to Nebraska, where he purchased his present farm, comprising 160 acres of excellent land, on which he has put up two sets of good buildings for stock and farm purposes. He feeds about fifty head of stock annually, and is the owner of some fine animals. In the vicinity of the house there are two flourishing orchards, filled with fruit trees of diverse kinds of choice variety and all excellent bearers. The family of our subject and his wife numbers eight children, whose names are as subjoined: Mary Eva, Frank V., Milton C., Howard O., Winford W., Pearl Ethel, Edward C. and Hannah A. The home is one of the most complete and pleasant that can be found within quite a large distance, and the children reflect the high moral tone of their parents in
their own lives. In the Methodist Episcopal Church Mr. and Mrs. Davis find that which is congenial from a religious standpoint, and their family have been instructed in the same faith. The subject of our sketch is an old Member of I. O. O. F., and is also affiliated with the of Modern Woodmen of America. He strongly and independently upon the temperance question, and is quite a worker in the cause. He has been called upon to hold several local offices, and was also appointed to take the State census for his district in 1875. He is an active worker for the Republican party, which he has continued to support from the time he had the privilege of franchise. He is a member of the Central Committee, and has frequently been called upon to act as a delegate to conventions. As a man he is highly respected, and has the confidence of his fellow-citizens to a marked degree.
from Bigraphical Album of Otoe and Cass Counties

Born ‎ Jun 3, 1848 at Perrysville, in, died ‎ May 5, 1936‎, 87 years, buried ‎ at Park Hill Cemetary, Syracuse, Ne