Davies Manor
Encyclopedia
Davies Manor is the oldest home in Shelby County, Tennessee
and possibly West Tennessee
. It is a two-story, log and chink home made using white oak
logs that is on what was once a plantation
with a total of approximately 2000 acres (8.1 km²).
Between 1831 and 1837, Joel W. Royster expanded the house from one room to two stories. A locater's deed shows the purchase of land by William E. Davies, but the 1850 census
lists Davies living with his family in Fayette County. What most likely happened is that his sons, Logan Early Davies (age 14) and James Baxter Davies (age 12) came to and from Fayette County on Stage Road (now part of Highway 64
) to oversee the plantation. In 1851, Logan and James bought the land with the house on it from Royster and adjoined the land so Davies Plantations was approximately 2000 acres (8.1 km²).
In 1854, James Baxter Davies (age 28) was married to Penelope Almeda Little (age 21). One year later in 1855 Julius Augustus Davies was born and then in 1857, William Little Davies was born. In 1859, Penelope died at the age of 26 and after five years of marriage. Logan Early Davies (age 36) married Frances Ina Davies (age 19) in 1860. A year later, Gillie Mertis Davies was born December 25, 1861. Two years after that, In 1863, Linnie Lee Davies was born. In 1865, Frances Ina Davies died at the age of 24 after five years of marriage.
James Davies served in the 38th Tennessee Infantry from March 5, 1862 to May 1865. He then married Pauline Leake. They divorced after two years. On June 17, 1904 James Baxter Davies died; leaving 596 acres (2.4 km²), including Davies Manor, to his sons, Dr. Julius Augustus and Dr. William Little Davies (both bachelors).
Twenty years later, on December 21, 1924, Dr. Julius Augustus Davies died, leaving one-half undivided interest in Davies Manor to his brother, Dr. William Little Davies. Seven years after that Dr. William Little Davies died; leaving 596 acres (2.4 km²), including Davies Manor, to his cousin, Ellen Davies-Rodgers who donated the house to the Davies Manor Association in 1976. The house is located in the Brunswick section of Memphis
.
Shelby County, Tennessee
Shelby County is a county located in the U.S. state of Tennessee. It is the state's largest both in terms of population and geographic area, with a population of 927,644 at the 2010 census...
and possibly West Tennessee
West Tennessee
West Tennessee is one of the three Grand Divisions of the State of Tennessee. Of the three, it is the one that is most sharply defined geographically. Its boundaries are the Mississippi River on the west and the Tennessee River on the east...
. It is a two-story, log and chink home made using white oak
White oak
Quercus alba, the white oak, is one of the pre-eminent hardwoods of eastern North America. It is a long-lived oak of the Fagaceae family, native to eastern North America and found from southern Quebec west to eastern Minnesota and south to northern Florida and eastern Texas. Specimens have been...
logs that is on what was once a plantation
Plantation
A plantation is a long artificially established forest, farm or estate, where crops are grown for sale, often in distant markets rather than for local on-site consumption...
with a total of approximately 2000 acres (8.1 km²).
History
The original maker of the Davies Manor is unknown, but it is sometimes attributed to Native AmericanNative Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
Between 1831 and 1837, Joel W. Royster expanded the house from one room to two stories. A locater's deed shows the purchase of land by William E. Davies, but the 1850 census
Census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
lists Davies living with his family in Fayette County. What most likely happened is that his sons, Logan Early Davies (age 14) and James Baxter Davies (age 12) came to and from Fayette County on Stage Road (now part of Highway 64
U.S. Route 64
U.S. Route 64 is an east–west United States highway that runs for 2,326 miles from eastern North Carolina to just southwest of the Four Corners in northeast Arizona. The western terminus is at U.S. Route 160 in Teec Nos Pos, Arizona. The highway's eastern terminus is at NC 12 and U.S. Route...
) to oversee the plantation. In 1851, Logan and James bought the land with the house on it from Royster and adjoined the land so Davies Plantations was approximately 2000 acres (8.1 km²).
Davies Family History
William Early Davies was the father of Logan and James Davies. He was a Methodist minister and grist mill operator. On November 11, 1824, Logan was born in Maury County, Tennessee. James was then born on June 9, 1826.In 1854, James Baxter Davies (age 28) was married to Penelope Almeda Little (age 21). One year later in 1855 Julius Augustus Davies was born and then in 1857, William Little Davies was born. In 1859, Penelope died at the age of 26 and after five years of marriage. Logan Early Davies (age 36) married Frances Ina Davies (age 19) in 1860. A year later, Gillie Mertis Davies was born December 25, 1861. Two years after that, In 1863, Linnie Lee Davies was born. In 1865, Frances Ina Davies died at the age of 24 after five years of marriage.
James Davies served in the 38th Tennessee Infantry from March 5, 1862 to May 1865. He then married Pauline Leake. They divorced after two years. On June 17, 1904 James Baxter Davies died; leaving 596 acres (2.4 km²), including Davies Manor, to his sons, Dr. Julius Augustus and Dr. William Little Davies (both bachelors).
Twenty years later, on December 21, 1924, Dr. Julius Augustus Davies died, leaving one-half undivided interest in Davies Manor to his brother, Dr. William Little Davies. Seven years after that Dr. William Little Davies died; leaving 596 acres (2.4 km²), including Davies Manor, to his cousin, Ellen Davies-Rodgers who donated the house to the Davies Manor Association in 1976. The house is located in the Brunswick section of Memphis
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....
.