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GEORGE DAVENPORT 



was bom In Speiicerto\vn, Columbia Co., N. Y., Oct. 

 15, 1814. The Davenport family was one of the oldest 

 of that county, and became quite numerous. His grand- 

 father^ Noah Davenport, settled in Columbia County 

 soon after he was married ; was a farmer by occupation. 

 His children were four sons and four daughters, of whom 

 the late Col. Ira Davenport, one of the first settlers of 

 HornellSville, was one son. William Davenport, father of 

 the subject of this sketch, was the second son ; he remained 

 upon the old homestead in Columbia County ; was mar- 

 ried to Lavinia Davis, and by this union w^ere born two 

 sons and one daughter, viz.: Mrs. John Olmstead 

 (deceased), of Yonkers, N. Y., but formerly of New 

 York City ; George, and Charles (deceased). 



His father was a farmer during his life, and died at 

 the age of eighty-four, in the year 1873, on the old 

 homestead wherQ he was born. His mother died at the 

 age of fifty-seven, in the year 1850. Mr. George 

 Davenport, the only surviving member of the family, 

 spent his minority on the farm and attending school. 



At the age of twenty-six, in the year 1840, he mar- 

 ried Caroline, oldest daughter of Squire Mead, of Somers, 

 Westchester Co., N. Y. She was born March 3, 1822. 



The Mead family were among the first settlers at Somers, 

 and a family of prominence. For elevjen years he 

 remained on a part of the old homestead, and in the 

 year 1851 removed to Arkport, and settled on the farm 

 where he now lives; a view of which, with his im- 

 provements, may be seen on another page of this work ; 

 showing a marked contrast with its condition when he 

 first settled on it, and bearing marks of industry, the 

 labor of years, and the result of judicious management. 



Mr. Davenport belongs to that class of thrifty, en- 

 terprising agriculturists upon whose shoulders rest the 

 tax of the country, and without whose aid no public 

 improvements would have existence, and the town and 

 county would be without society, law, or order. 



He has never taken an active part in politics, but has 

 been identified from his first vote with the Democratic 

 party, casting his first vote for Andrew Jackson. 



He was a strong Union man during the late Rebellion, 

 although opposed to the war at its commencement, and 

 was one of the first to contribute for the relief of soldiers' 

 families. His. children are Mrs. Charles G, Alley, of 

 Whitehall, Mich.; William; Mrs. J. H. Rider, of Wells- 

 ville, N. Y. ; Stephen ; Henry ; Mrs, Daniel Curry. 



