Biography - Martin Davenport
Dr. Martin S. DAVENPORT, son of Jack S. and Lucy S. (LEWIS) DAVENPORT, was born in the State of Virginia, Charlotte County, November 1, 1818. His father was born in Charlotte County, Va., in 1780. His mother was also a native of Charlotte County Va., was born in 1784, and died in October, 1860. The family moved from the Old Dominion to Kentucky, where his father died in May, 1834. Left in orphanage, Mr. DAVENPORT, in connection with a younger brother, undertook the support of the widowed mother and family, and nobly did they work to this end. Naturally of an inquiring and literary cast of mind, and deprived to a great extent of school facilities, he commenced when quite young the work of his own education by the light afforded from burning fagots and pin knots. In his manner he acquired a fair English education. In Christian County, Ky., in April, 1841, he married Miss Lucy S. LEWIS, born in Charlotte County, Va., in December, 1813, daughter of Edgecome and Anna (DAVENPORT) LEWIS, both natives of Charlotte County, Va., the former born in 1780 and died in March, 1843; the latter born 1793, and died in July, 1847. Immediately after his marriage, he commenced the study of medicine, to which profession he had manifested a proclivity from the seventeenth years of his age. He received a medical diploma from Dr. CURTIS in 1848, and graduated at the Physio-Medical College, Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1870. Mr. Davenport moved into Montgomery in 1848, and located in the town of Walshville in 1864. He has had a constant practice in his community for over twenty-six years, and is now regarded as one of the most successful practitioners in the county. Though now in his fifty-fifth year, he is hale, hearty and energetic, and in physique does not appear more than forty years old. This may be accounted for in part from his strictly temperate habits, never having during his life been under the influence of intoxicating liquor in the least degree. The DAVENPORTs are English in descent, and were among the first settlers in this country. Richard DAVENPORT, the Doctor's grandfather, held the office of Captain in the Revolutionary war, and was present and participated in the battle of Yorktown. At the close of the war, he settled in the State of Virginia, Charlotte County. He raised quite a family - Glover (deceased), of Norfolk, Va.; Martin W., a wholesale merchant of Lynchburg, Va.; Ballard (deceased), one of the pioneers of Kentucky; Mary (deceased), wife of John FRANKLIN, of Virginia, and grandson of Benjamin FRANKLIN, illustrious patriot, statesman and philosopher; Martha, wife of Barnet EDWARDS, of Kentucky; Mrs. Sarah (JOHN) MATHEWS; and Mrs. Catharine (PUTNAM) NORTH, both of Virginia, are some of the names handed down. Jack S., Dr. DAVENPORT's father, was a Lieutenant in the war of 1812. He served under Gen. Jackson. Glover was a Colonel in the same war. The Doctor has the following children: George W., John J. and Peter W. druggists, all of Walshville. George and Peter served as soldiers in the late rebellion. We believe they were both veterans in the Union service. Dr. DAVENPORT has good cause to feel proud in the comtemplation of his family record. Not one of the numerous and long family line was ever arraigned before the courts under a criminal charge, and they have always espoused the cause of patriotism, from the Revolution against English tyranny to the suppression of treason during the late war of the Southern States. They are a family noted for public spirit, literature and Christian morality.
Extracted 19 Nov 2016 by Norma Hass from 1882 History of Bond and Montgomery Counties, Illinois, Part 2 Biographical Department, pages 188-189.
