Davis Grandparents

Della and Harker Davis

Lou's maternal grandparents were Vienna Fidella Sheaffer (also spelled "Shafer") and Charles Harker Davis. The following is taken from a personal history by Birdie Bell Davis Harriman, oldest daughter.

"Our folks were married in Springer, New Mexico, October 30, 1889 by Michael Keinan, Justice of the Peace and witnessed by her sister, Caroline Shafer and Mrs. Bell Herbert.

"Shortly thereafter they started west by way of Pueblo, Colorado to see his two uncles, Jerry and Norman Patterson and their families. He had been in a partnership with Uncle Norman in the sheep business after his father, John Davis, died.

"On this trip Mother relates how Daddy taught her how to make biscuits in the top of the flour sack. Traveling by covered wagon for two weeks, many experiences and interesting things no doubt happened. They landed at Uncle Norman’s tired, dirty, and financially embarrassed.

"Uncle Norman ran the City Dairy so Daddy went to work for him until spring, when they planned to “hit the trail” again for the state of Oregon or Washington. Daddy ran the “old Milk Wagon” with old Bill hitched to it who knew where to stop at every customer.

"Aunt Bell and Mother got busy and set up housekeeping in a lean-to building on the side of Uncle Norman’s house.

"Daddy sorta liked the dairy business, and besides he took a shift at the steel mill, so he bought an interest in the dairy and decided to stay on for a while.

"Anyway they knew by this time they would have an increase in the family that coming fall. But now they had bought a large tent, floored it and built up the walls about six feet and bought the furnishings to get along with."

Davis Children, about 1925
Rachel, Marjorie, Edna, Florence, Richard, Johnny, Garnons, Mable Lemuel, Floyd, Augusta, Norman and Birdie

Over the next 25 years that "increase" grew to include 14 children, 13 of whom lived to be adults. Harker and Della raised their family on the plains of southeastern Colorado.

Harker and Della Davis, early 1930s
Rachel Marjorie, Garnons, Richard, Birdie, Floyd, Edna, Lemuel, Johnny, Norman, Mable, Florence

Harker passed away in August 1940; Della died in February 1952. They left a great legacy of hard work and family love as illustrated by the histories written by some of their children. Those stories will be posted here from time to time.