[HRP, p. 98]

Oliver DAVENPORT (deceased) was born in Monroe, Orange County, N. Y,, May 8, 1804, and came to Hadley, Lapeer County, Mich., in 1837, where he located his land on section 22, clearing it up and remaining upon it until his death, which occurred November 6, 1869. He was married January 4, 1827, to Miss Permelia CROSSON, who was born in Orange County, N. Y.,in 1803. They had a family of six children—Catharine, Susan, who died at the age of two years, Jesse, George, William H., and Theodore.

Mr. DAVENPORT was married a second time, in November, 1849, to Miss Eliza RICHARDS, who died October 13, 1869.

George DAVENPORT, representative from the First District of Lapeer County, was born on Hudson Street, New York City, March 23, 1833, the son of Oliver and Permelia (CROSSON) DAVENPORT. His father was born in Orange County, N. Y., May 8, 1804, of English ancestry on the paternal side, and Holland on the mother's. Mr. DAVENPORT's mother was born January 21, 1808, also in Orange County. They were married January 4, 1827, and had six children—Catharine, Susan (deceased), Jesse, George (subject of this memoir), William H., and Theodore.

Mr. Oliver DAVENPORT was on a farm the first twenty-three years of his life. About this time he married and moved to New York City, where he became superintendent of a barilla factory, manufacturing barilla for soap-making. At the end often years, in 1837, he removed to Michigan, settling in the lonesome wilderness of Hadley Township, Lapeer County, and entered 160 acres of land which George now owns. At that time it lay so deep in the wilderness that Mr. DAVENPORT had to find his way to it by means of blazed trees. They had to cut the road through the timber for twelve miles. This family is now the third oldest in the township. Mr. Oliver DAVENPORT, with two brothers, left the remainder of the family in Troy Township, Oakland County, with another brother, and went in advance into the wilderness and erected two log cabins, taking shelter under the wagon-box during the progress of the work.

All this land Mr. DAVENPORT had the satisfaction of finally seeing cleared, fenced, and stocked with good farm buildings, etc.

In this new country George had no opportunity of attending school until about three years after their settlement there, when a log school-house was built, about one mile distant; and his first teacher was his aunt, Sarah A. DAVENPORT, who is still living. On account of being so far from town, they made their own furniture, as well as houses, and George's bedstead consisted of two-inch sticks driven into holes bored in the logs of the wall. January 18, 1846, his mother died, and three years afterward, in November, 1849, his father married Mrs. Eliza RICHARDS, a widow lady, of English ancestry. She was a resident of Sterling Township, Macomb County, Mich.

By the time he was twenty years of age George had received a very good common-school education. In 1856 his uncle, Israel WILLERSDORFF, desiring him as a partner in the confectionery business, in New York, he went there; but, after working as his assistant for a year, he returned to Michigan, where, December 10, 1857, he married Miss Mary HALL, daughter of Job HALL, and born in Ashtabula County, Ohio, in December, 1841, of English ancestry. Of their five children, all born in Hadley Township, three are living, namely, Eva E., born March 12, 1860, and died July 31, 1861; George, born October 20, 1871, and died August 5, 1874; Permelia, born July 29, 1862; Cassie, April 15, 1866; Oliver G., September 18, 1875.

Immediately after his marriage, Mr. DAVENPORT returned to New York City with his wife, and after following his former employment a year, he came back to Michigan and engaged in farming, having bought eighty acres of land, which after having paid for it, he lost in litigation, but he afterward again purchased it.

In Lapeer City, August 9, 1862, Mr. DAVENPORT enlisted in Company K, Fourth Michigan Cavalry, Capt. William H. SMITH. His brothers, Theodore and Jesse, also enlisted in the same company about the same time. The company was soon sent to Louisville, and engaged in active service. Mr. DAVENPORT served three years, his regiment participating in ninety-three engagements. He was sick, however, about three months. They followed the rebels south from Louisville, and at Lebanon they had a general engagement. Jesse DAVENPORT was wounded at Smith's Crossing, in Eastern Tennessee. George was first promoted as eighth corporal, then commissary sergeant, quartermaster sergeant, then acting first sergeant. He also participated in the capture of Jefferson DAVIS, and was on guard over him four days after his capture. He had charge of company as captain several months in the winter of 1864, on account of the officers being away. After his discharge he returned home and resumed farming. Theodore had been discharged at the end of a year on account of disability, and Jesse served out the three years and returned home safely.

Mr. DAVENPORT made a number of improvements on the eighty acres mentioned, and without any notice a writ of ejectment was served upon him, compelling him a second time to buy the farm, which took all the money he had saved during the war, and ran him in debt several hundred dollars besides. But this he soon paid, and added sixty acres more. He cleared about fifty acres, and finally sold for $4,150. He then purchased of the family heirs a quarter section of the homestead, on which he has since lived, and where he now has 190 acres, 160 under good cultivation. He has a fine residence, barns, orchards, etc. Altogether, he has a very valuable and well-equipped homestead. To obtain this after so many misfortunes, has called into requisition more energy and business talent than most men possess.

Mr. DAVENPORT has been commissioner of highways about seven years, township treasurer, 1861-'62, supervisor six years, secretary of the Hadley District Agricultural and Horticultural Society from its organization for four years, and president of the same from 1881 to the present time. He is also president of the Lapeer County Veteran Association. In the fall of 1880 he was nominated for representative on the Republican ticket, against Joel D. MCINTYRE, and he received a majority of 400 votes, running far ahead of his confreres. In February, 1881, he was a delegate to the State Republican Convention at Lansing, to nominate supreme judges and regents. In the summer of 1882 he was delegate to the State Convention at Kalamazoo; also, in February, 1883, he was a member of the State Convention at Saginaw City again, to nominate regents and supreme judges; and in the fall of 1882 he was again nominated by the Republicans and re-elected representative to the legislature, against Noah H. HART, of Lapeer City, on the Fusion ticket, receiving a majority of 351. At the last legislature he introduced a joint resolution to so alter the State constitution as to add another supreme judge to the bench, and a bill relative to the equalization of taxation by the boards of supervisors.

[HRP, pp. 90-1]

[HRP] History of Lapeer County, Michigan : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers (1884) by H. R. Page

1863 Map of Lapeer County includes names of property and business owners.