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Davis, William Kinchen
The following data is extracted from History of Fort Bend County, Texas.
Mier Prisoner
One of the early pioneers of Fort Bend County, was born in the State of Alabama on the 11th day of November 1822, and came to Texas in the month of February 1830. Six years passed away, and when but fourteen years of age he helped to build a fort at the mouth of the Brazos, and in 1839 served in a campaign against the Indians around the head of the Brazos. In 1842 Captain Davis went out with the Somerville expedition, and when the command dissolved on the Rio Grande and a portion of the Texans went on into Mexico and fought the disastrous battle of Mier, he accompanied this expedition, and was severely wounded in the famous battle. Although wounded, Captain Davis was marched with the other prisoners to the village of Salado, and was in the fight there when the Texans charged the guards, and after a fierce hand-to-hand conflict regained their liberty, and with others was again captured and marched back to Salado, and there went through the trying ordeal of drawing beans for their lives, drew a white bean, and was started out with others to the City of Mexico, and finally staggered into that place, as the saying is, "more dead than alive," and was then placed at hard labor. The captive Texans were finally sent from there and confined in the dungeon of Peyote, and on the 16th of September, 1544, were released by Santa Anna and each man given one dollar with which to make the journey of 1500 miles back to the settlements in Texas, and our readers can imagine the toilsome trip and hardships endured until Captain Davis finally arrived at his home at Richmond, Fort Bend County.
In 1845 he married Miss Jane Pickens, daughter of John H. and Eleanor (Cooper) Pickens. She came to Texas with her parents when but three years of age. They had five children, Fannie, who died at the age of three years, J. H. P., who still lives in Richmond, Eleanor, who married B. A. Hinson; William Kinchen, Jr., who was killed by the cars at Richmond August 14th, 1888; and Archietto, who married W. L. Jones of Richmond.
Mrs. Davis died in 1860, and is buried at the old homestead in Fort Bend County. Captain Davis commanded a company for about sis months during the civil war, but was in no engagement. He married again March 5th, 1865, his second wife being Mrs. Jane Green, of Richmond. She died in March 1895, and was buried in the cemetery at Richmond. Captain Davis died August 2nd, 1891, and is buried beside her. He was, many years prior to his death, a member of the Methodist Church. He was a successful businessman, and one of the leading men of the country.
As peaceful and law-abiding in civil life as he was gallant in time of public danger and war, he came up to the full statue of good citizenship.
Source: History of Fort Bend County, Texas
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