LEADING PIONEER DEAD
J. B. DAVID CAME TO OREGON CITY AFTER CIVIL WAR – ACQUIRED WEALTH HERE
The funeral of the late J. B. David was held Sunday afternoon in the Masonic Temple under the auspices of Multnomah Lodge No. 1, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, of which deceased was an honored member. Ernest P. Rands, worshipful master, conducted the ceremonies. The interment was in the Masonic plat at Mountain View cemetery, and the pall bearers were George A. Harding, William Beard, Francis Shannon, Henry Miley, Harold A. Rands and Livy Stipp. Beautiful flowers covered the bier.
Mr. David died in Portland last Thursday. He had made his home in the metropolis, where he had extensive business interests, for many years, and his family lived on his large farm near Newberg. He was well known in this city, especially to the early settlers. Mr. David was a veteran of the Civil War, serving four years in the United States army [sic]. During the war he was confined for a time in the famous prison at Andersonville. At the close of the strife he came West, locating in Oregon City, and in company with the late David P. Thompson, he took several important surveying contracts for the Union Pacific. He was married in 1870 to the a daughter of the late Dr. Saffarrans, who survives him, along with five grown children, two sons and three daughters; Roy, Melville, Hallie, Mabel and Ione.
Mr. David was a wealthy man and was half owner in the Commercial block on Main and Fifth Streets.
Oregon City Enterprise, December 25, 1908
MILITARY
Wisconsin in the Civil War
Davids, John B., Oshkosh, April 21, 1861
Corp; Sergt; Pris. Gettysburg, M. O. Feb. 2 1865
Prisoner Belle Island and Andersonville after Gettysburg
Co E. 2nd Wisconsin Infantry
Name: John B Davids
Residence:
Enlistment Date: 21 Apr 1861
Rank at enlistment: Private
State Served: Wisconsin
Was POW?: Yes
Survived the War?: Yes
Service Record: Enlisted in Company E, Wisconsin 2nd Infantry Regiment on 21 Apr 1861. Promoted to Full Corporal. Promoted to Full Sergeant. Mustered out on 02 Feb 1865.
Sources: Roster of Wisconsin Volunteers: War of the Rebellion
The Civil War – Oshkosh Museum
John B. David was born circa 1841 at Illinois. He was a son of Alexander, a brother of William. John was a single farmer residing at Oskosh, Winnebago County when he enlisted there on April 21, 1861 in Company E, 2nd Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry. Standing just over 6′ tall, he had gray eyes, brown hair and a dark complexion. He was assigned as above and was promoted to Corporal and then Sergeant in that company on December 16, 1862. John was taken prisoner at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania on July 1, 1863. He was mustered out on Feb. 2, 1865 at Madison, Dane County, Wisconsin. John was listed in the 1899 article by Col. Harshaw as residing at Portland, Oregon.
BIOGRAPHY
Portrait and Biographical Record of the Willamette Valley, Oregon, Part 2
Chapman Publishing Company, Chicago, 1903
JOHN B. DAVID is a contractor and surveyor whose labors in the northwest have resulted largely in the benefit and development of this portion of the country. There is no other agency so potent in opening up a region and advancing its industrial and commercial prosperity as railroad building. Railroads have been the means of bringing to communities commodities not produced there, and of placing the productions of the locality upon the markets of the world. This is the basis of all business activity and the railroad builders certainly are deserving of the recognition of the public for what they have accomplished.
Mr. David has been a resident of Oregon since 1867 and is a native of the Mississippi Valley, his birth having occurred in Richland County, Ill., September 5, 1841. His father, Alexander F. David, [headstone shows Alfred F. David] was born in Center County, Pa., and became connected with general mercantile interests in that state. When a young man, however, he removed to Richland County, Ill., and in 1847 took up his abode in Winnebago, Oshkosh County, Wis. There he engaged in general merchandising, becoming an active factor in the business life of his community. He also rendered to his county valuable service in the position of sheriff, and when the country needed the aid of her loyal citizens offered his services in 1862 and became captain of Company B, Third Wisconsin Cavalry, under Colonel Hobart. The regiment was assigned to the army of the Missouri and Mr. David proved a loyal officer, inspiring his men to deeds of valor by his own bravery. Following the war he came to the northwest, settling in Clark County, Wash., in 1867. He purchased three hundred and twenty acres of land, ten miles west of Vancouver, and there carried on agricultural pursuits until his death. He married Rebecca Galesbey, a native of Kentucky, and a daughter of Aaron Galesbey, who was also born in Kentucky, and owned a plantation about six miles from Frankfort. He died at the age of seventy-nine years. Unto Mr. and Mrs. David were born seven sons and two daughters.
John B. David, the eldest of the family, began his education in the public schools and afterward attended Lawrence University of Wisconsin. He, too, was numbered among the defenders of the Union, during the dark days of the Civil War, enlisting in Company E, Second Wisconsin Infantry, in which he became first duty sergeant. This regiment was assigned to the army of the Potomac and he participated in the first battle of Bull Run, in the bloody battle of Antietam and in the engagements at Fredericksburg, Second Bull Run, Manassas, Gettysburg, South Mountain Gainesville, Blackburn Ford and others. He never missed a roll call until captured at Gettysburg. He was then taken to the Belle Island prison, was afterward two or three months in Andersonville, the whole period of his incarceration covering seventeen months and twenty days. Mr. David had not yet attained his majority when he joined the army, but for three years he valiantly aided his country, never failing in the performance of his duty, whether it led him to the lonely picket line or to the firing line. In April, 1864, at Madison, Wis., he was honorably discharged and then returned to his home.
After two years Mr. David came to Oregon, locating in Oregon City in 1867. Here he entered the employ of the government as a surveyor and in the same year was engaged in the construction fo the Portland railroad. He was also the builder of the Oregon Northern Railroad from Pendleton to Huntington, Ore., and took the contract for the construction of the Palmer cut-off in Washington. He has also done much important work of a similar character, and he took and executed the contract for the building of a dike for the United States government at the mouth of the Columbia River. Mr. David has a thorough understanding of the great scientific principles which underlie such constructive work, and the labors executed by him and those whom he has employed have given excellent satisfaction for he stands high as a representative of this great department of business. In 1880 he purchased three hundred and forty-seven acres of valuable land, of which one hundred and sixty acres are under cultivation and the remainder is devoted to pasturage or is covered with timber. His farm is pleasantly and conveniently located two miles north of Spring Brook, Ore., and it is called “David’s on the Mountain.” It commands a wonderful panoramic view of the valley and the mountains, and is itself situated on the mountain side overlooking the beautiful Chehalem valley. As the roads wind around, making a gradual ascent, the eye looks upon the lovely scenery, which cannot be surpassed for diversity, beauty and grandeur.
Mr. David was married in Oregon city to Miss Juliet [Juliette] Saffarrans, who was born there and is a daughter of Dr. Henry Saffarrans, a native of Kentucky, who removed with his parents to Howard County, Mo., and was there educated. He prepared for the practice of medicine, was graduated with the degree of M. D., and in 1844 came to Oregon. He located as Indian agent at The Dalles and was there at the time of the Whitman Massacre, but with his family he made his escape upon a flat-boat down the river to Portland and thence traveled to southern Oregon, where he entered upon the practice of medicine, which he followed with success in that place for ten or twelve years, at the end of which time his life’s labors were closed in death. He was not only a skilled physician, but was also a prominent and influential man in his community, and wielded a wide influence in public affairs.
The home of Mr. and Mrs. David has been blessed with five children: Laurena Mable; Hallie V., the wife of Frank E. Hobson, a mining engineer of Sumpter, Ore.; Melvin Henry and Roy Lee, who are managing their father’s farm, and which they have developed into a very fine place, and where they have recently opened up a good dairy business; and Onie Isabella.
Mr. David belongs to Multnomah Lodge No. 1, A. F. & A. M. at Oregon City, and is one of the leading representatives of the Republican party in this locality. He frequently serves as a delegate to county, state and national conventions, and was a delegate to the national Republican convention in Cincinnati when Rutherford B. Hayes was nominated for the presidency. Mr. David is a man of fine physique, being six feet and two inches in height and well proportioned. He has a face denoting strong character and manly purpose, and during the thirty-six years of his residence in Oregon his labors have been directed towards securing the greatest good to the greatest number.
Image – Belle Isle prison camp from Educational Technology Clearinghouse – University of South Florida
Lives From the Cemeteries 