Memorials › James Davenport

James Davenport

1 May 1802 – 23 Jul 1883

Birth1 May 1802
Death23 Jul 1883
CemeteryRichmond City Cemetery
Richmond , Cache County , Utah , USA
Added byPenny G. Douglass on 17 May 2009
FaGhttps://www.findagrave.com/memorial/17655891

Bio

Son of Squire Davenport and Susannah Kittridge Married Almira Phelps, 4 Sep 1822, Olean, Cattaraugus, New York Married Catherine Vanever Geyer Our Pioneer Heritage, Vol. 2, p. 600 Among the several men in the original company trained in blacksmithing was James Davenport. Born May 1, 1802 at Danesville, Caledonia county, Vermont, he was the son of Squire Davenport and Susanne Kitridge. He married Almira Phelps September 4, 1823 at Ocean Point, New York where he set up a blacksmith shop and also farmed. To them were born eleven children. Shortly after the Mormon Church was organized, James and his family joined, and in 1845, records show he was located in Nauvoo, Illinois where he was ordained an Elder in the Church. After the exodus from that city he was called to go with the first company, rendering service as a blacksmith along the way. One of the incidents related concerning the journey across the plains occurred on the evening of May 22, 1847. There was a full moon which made the campsite nearly as bright as day, some said that the white tops of their wagons looked almost like the billowing sails of a ship at sea. The members of the camp were gathered around listening to the strains of the violin. "Then we had a mock trial at 9 p.m. in the case of the camp vs. James Davenport. He was charged with blockading the highway and turning ladies out of their course. We laughed until our sides split at R. Jackson Redden acting as presiding judge. Edson Whipple was the attorney for the defense and Luke S. Johnson as attorney for the people. This wonderful evening is the climax of a day filled with work, vigilance and weary travel but also filled with a sense of accomplishment." After a short stay in the Valley, Mr. Davenport returned to Winter Quarters for his family. Another child had been born shortly after his departure for the west. It was almost three years before he was financially able to bring his wife and children to Utah. After a short stay in Salt Lake, he settled his family in Grantsville. James made two more trips across the plains to assist in bringing converts to Utah. A daughter, Sarah Mariah, married John Maughan, son of Peter Maughan, Cache Valley colonizer, so Mr. Davenport moved his family to Wellsville. Later he moved to Richmond, Utah where he died July 23, 1883, and was buried there by the side of his wife who had passed away in 1881. — Maude Agnes Norton Wheatley See History of James Davenport

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