Jabez Kingsbury Davenport

Archives for Davenport Genealogy Group
Jabez Kingsbury Davenport 1823 - 1912 son of Thomas P Davenport and Hannah D Patch Birth Dec 1823 in Salem, Essex, MA Death 10 Apr 1912 in Beverly, Essex, MA
Married Elizabeth Woodbury Dodge daughter of Captain Joshua Dodge and Lucy G. Woodbury Birth 23 Apr 1832 in Hamilton, Essex, MA Death 27 Apr 1894 in Beverly, Essex,  MA

 

The Davenport Homestead and Outer Buildings, Enon and Dodge Streets, North Beverly, MA

Davenport Jabez (Thomas, Thomas, Ephraim, Thomas, Johnathan, Thomas) descended from Thomas Davenport of Dorchester.

Initially, Jabez farmed the family property in Hamilton, residing at his family’s home.
J. K. Davenport Passed AwayThis Morning After a Long Illness at His Home on Railroad Avenue April 10, 1912
J. Kingsbury Davenport died this morning at his home on Railroad Avenue after an illness of several months duration, at the age of 89 years. Mr. Davenport was one of the oldest residents of the city, and was a well-known and respected citizen, being engaged in the grocery business in Beverly for many years. Mr. Davenport was born in Salem and in his early life removed to Hamilton, where he resided nearly thirty years. In 1863, he started a provision store in Salem, moving into the Herrick block on Railroad Avenue and Cabot Street, remaining there three years, when he moved to the building he had erected on Rantoul Street.
In 1898, he again moved, this time into the store on Cabot Street at Clark's Corner, retiring from business in 1900. He married in 1853, Miss Elizabeth Woodbury Dodge of Hamilton, and the married life of the couple was an ideal one, Mrs. Davenport being a woman of beautiful disposition, beloved by all who came in contact with her. Five children were the result of this union: George Kingsbury, William Whipple, Arthur Hamilton, Melvin Everett, and Mrs. Laura Greenwood Lefavour, all of whom are living and reside in Beverly. Mrs. Davenport died in 1894.
Mr. Davenport was a member of the Washington Street Church, Bass River Lodge of Odd Fellows, and Roger Conant Council, Royal Arcanum.
Besides the five children who are called upon to mourn the loss of a beloved father, Mr. Davenport leaves several grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Source: This announcement, a newspaper clipping, was found in the Davenport Family Bible.
Funeral Services for Jabez Kingsbury Davenport
Death of Jabez K. Davenport, a Native of Salem, at the Age of Eighty-Nine. Garden City Items Beverly, April 11, 1912
In the death of Jabez K. Davenport, Beverly looses another esteemed citizen and businessman. He was one of the best known men in the grocery, produce, and flour trade, not only in Beverly and Salem, but all over New England. Mr. Davenport was born in Salem 89 years ago. He came to Beverly in 1863, since which time he had been identified with every movement for good citizenship. For many years he conducted the grocery and provision business at the corner store in Commercial block, now occupied by Forrant, also in his own building at the corner of Railroad Avenue and Elm Street, and later at the Clark building, corner of Hale and Cabot Streets; also on Rantoul Street, from which latter place he retired some years ago. Naturally of a jovial disposition, he made friends right and left, which he retained to the last moment.
He was a member of Bass River Lodge Odd Fellows in which he took great interest. He was also a member of Roger Conant Council, Royal Arcanum. He leaves five children, George K., William W., Arthur H., Dr. Melvin E., and Mrs. Fred G. Lefavour. Mrs. Davenport died in 1894.
The funeral will take place from his late home, corner of Railroad Avenue and Elm Street, tomorrow April 12, 1912 at 2 P.M. Bass River Lodge of Odd Fellows will meet at the lodge room one hour previous. Internment at The Hamilton Cemetery, Bay Road, Hamilton, Essex, MA.

The Kingsbury line grandmother of Jabez to Thomas Davenport (1783-1842)
Mary Kingsbury (1764-1821) daughter of Ebenezer Kinsbury who married Priscilla Kingsbury

Death of Mrs. J.K. Davenport A Lady Loved and Honored by Her Friends
Friday night, after a long and lingering illness, Mrs. Elizabeth Woodbury (Dodge) Davenport, wife of J. K. Davenport, passed away at her home, corner of Railroad Avenue and Elm Street. The deceased was one of those rare, sweet Christian women, whom it is a pleasure to meet and whom to know is to love; model wife and mother, and a faithful friend.

Mother! What that word implies, what friend in all this world can fill a mother’s place. And when she is taken away a place is left that cannot be filled. Mother is gone. The house is desolate, the home circle is broken. But when a Christian mother dies, her very life, her loving words of counsel, her patient Christlike example, all point to another world, where all may be reunited, and mother will again be with those she so dearly loved.

Mrs. Davenport was a member of the Washington Street Church and was intensely interested in its welfare, being associated with and active in the societies connected with it. Her age was 62 years and 4 days. She leaves a husband, four sons, George Kingsbury Davenport, William Whipple Davenport, Arthur Hamilton Davenport, and Melvin Everett Davenport; and a daughter, Mrs. Laura Greenwood Lefavour to mourn her loss and to whom mother was everything the word implies. The funeral will probably take place from her late residence Tuesday at 11 o’clock.

Tribute to Elizabeth Woodbury Davenport - Laid At Rest - Loving Tribute to the Memory of Mrs. J.K. Davenport - from a Neighbor and a Friend

On the beautiful May morning at eleven o'clock the funeral of Mrs. Elizabeth Davenport, wife of J.K. Davenport, was solemnized at her late home on Railroad Avenue. Appropriate remarks were made and prayer was offered by her pastor, Reverend E. W. Strong, showing the beauties of her Christian character. Many relatives and friends came to take a last look, and thus pay their tribute of respect to one who was most beloved by those who knew her best. The deceased for many years had been a faithful member of the Washington Street Church, but for a long time had been deterred from attending church service on account of her wasting and painful illness, which was borne with Christian patience and fortitude, through a period covering months. She never forgot to trust her Saviour and to pray that she might have patience to wait, without murmuring, her Heavenly Father's own time for her deliverance from this tenement of clay. Her husband mourns a loving wife, her five children an affectionate and ever faithful mother, a sister grieves over the sundering of the tender ties which bound them together. Many sorrow for her, she was indeed beloved.
The writer extends sympathy to all sorrowing ones from a heart heavy with loss for a dear friend and ever kind neighbor. - P
The poor, the oppressed and the saddened - May weep o'er the grave where's she's laid, - For a great heart that yearned over sorrow - Now sleeps neath the tomb's quiet shade. - May we who wait here awhile longer, - Learn to bear the burdens she bore; - By her life may out faith be made stronger, - May we wear the same mantle she wore.

Funeral Services for Mrs. J. K. Davenport The funeral of the late Mrs. J. K. Davenport was held this morning, May 1, 1894, at 11 o'clock. Rev. W. E. Strong conducted the services. A quartette composed of Mrs. N. H. Ranney, Mrs. George V. Brown, W. C. Morgan and John W. Patch, rendered appropriate selections and Leveritt Merrill of the Temple quartette sang, "I have sought and I have found."

The remains were taken to Hamilton Cemetery for interment.

More family members
Children of Jabez and Elizabeth
George Kingsbury Davenport B: 18 Apr 1854 in Hamilton, MA D: 15 Jul 1920

William Whipple Dodge 
son of Jabez and Elizabeth 
born March 3 1857
died February 23 1939








More on this line see Davenport-Woodbury-Ober
W W children: Ruth Preston Davenport was born on 18 Sep 1889 in Beverly, Essex, Massachusetts, USA and died on 21 Jan 1966 in Rockport, Essex, Massachusetts, USA at age 76.

Notes: From Christina Hawley Harwood "Biography for Ruth Preston Davenport."
Ruth was born the second daughter of William Whipple Davenport and Jennie Preston (Clark) Davenport on September 18, 1889, in Beverly. Indeed, the Benjamin Cressy house where she was born still stands on Enon Street.
Sadly, intimate remembrances of her childhood are lost. We do know that she was born into a prominent and affluent family with a long and fascinating history that stretches back to many of the country's founding fathers: John Balch, William Woodbury, John Dodge, Nathaniel Preston, William Clark, and Robert Lord all of Somerset, Wells, or Dorset, England. Fortunately, there are glimpses into the Davenport's lives through newspaper clippings that describe family gatherings and state occasions as well as obituaries that not only detail the lives of her elders and their many accomplishments, but also enable us to visualize that which they held dear.
Like her sisters, Ruth was a genteel lady of propriety, not only imbued with the qualities of modesty and refinement, but having been well tutored in art, music, and literature. Indeed, her appreciation of the collective arts enhanced her children's lives immensely.
Throughout her life, Ruth's countenance and demeanor remained one of patience and reserved dignity. Highly respected, she was extremely well mannered, spoke clearly and with ease, and was above all a loyal and supportive friend who enjoyed the company of her neighbors and extended family greatly.
All of her children remembered her with great affection and deference. Her life was unquestionably difficult at times and, when asked, each of her children would poignantly pause before speaking tenderly of her. Most notable was that she maintained an inner strength that helped her bear her life's sorrows and disappointments in quiet silence. As one of her children commented, "She was a lovely person whose sadness was well veiled."
At the tender age of eighteen, Ruth became a young wife and mother. Throughout the years, her love and devotion demonstrated the utmost concern for her children's well-being.
Furthermore, she was a proficient homemaker, learning quickly how to sustain an efficient household. Maintaining a home in the early 1900s was quite different than today. Virtually all the technological advances that we take for granted, were nonexistent. Women had to be exceedingly resourceful, in addition to sewing, mending, and darning, for example, there was washing on Monday, ironing on Tuesday, and canning on Wednesday. Within these chores, she particularly enjoyed hanging freshly washed clothes in an orderly fashion on the clothesline to dry. Like most of us, it was one task not really minded, but rather satisfying on some level.
Food preparation was time consuming and constant. In addition to preparing the daily meals, which always included freshly baked bread, the lady of the house was also responsible for preserving tomatoes, piccalilli, jams, jellies, peaches, and string beans. The jars had to be boiled, filled, sealed, labeled with contents and dates, and stored in the cellar along with baskets of turnips, squash, potatoes, and apples to provide for the family during the long winter months. Rotating the proper dates was extremely important as jarred foodstuffs had a specific shelf life. Saturday nights, the customary dinner was homemade beans and ham or sausage. Traditional holiday meals were also celebrated by the extended family at the Harwood homestead. She was famous for her excellent chocolate bread pudding, which was rich and sumptuous, especially with freshly whipped cream.
Ruth inherited and greatly admired her mother's Victorian living room furniture, which included an ornate sofa and chairs upholstered in dark tapestry as well as a secretary with glass doors. She chose to exhibit a fascinating collection of carved ivory and wood elephants on the shelves of the secretary and explained to her daughter, Doris that it was fortuitous that each elephant's trunk was raised in trumpet.
There was also a rocker and large sewing basket, which Ruth situated beside the east parlor window, facing the drive. From that vantage point, she could see someone approaching the house as well as enjoy the view. In addition to mending and darning, Ruth also enjoyed sewing beautifully smocked babies bonnets and dresses, which she eventually sold on commission at the Wenham Tea House on Monument Street. Inside each of these lovely pieces, she would sew a prepared label: Handmade by Ruth P. Harwood. She characteristically wore a silver thimble on the third finger of her right hand. On the windowsill beside her rocker were African Violets, a favorite flower of hers and one of the many species of plants she was highly successful in raising. Indeed, she loved flowers and maintained a magnificent outdoor garden in high summer. She was fond of canaries and raised them in cages that she hung in the sunny window in the dining room. Their melodic chirping must have brought her great comfort, as she would encourage them to sing with a mellifluous voice.
Intelligent and generous, she imparted great wisdom to her children and grandchildren whenever the opportunity afforded itself. Ordinary expressions for which she is remembered: "you are acting like a 'filly-lou-bird' which indicated that someone was doing something insensible. Rarely, when she was exceedingly exasperated or angry, she would mutter, "go it you bitch." This expletive never directed at another, occurred if a cake flopped or if she dropped something and broke it! If Grampy Harwood acted inappropriately during family gatherings, she would simply say "Will," in an authoritative voice. Beyond this, she was a pillar of propriety and support.
Although she admired her son, Wayne, she was equally gratified and supportive of all four sons, particularly when they entered active duty in World War II. She proudly displayed a United States flag in her window with four stars attached to it. This was a customary honor bestowed by families during this patriotically supported war.
In many ways, life was simpler then, entertainment as we perceive it was unheard of and many families entertained themselves. Everyone knew Songs such as Down by the Old Mill Stream, Carolina Moon, Let Me Call You Sweetheart, and Good Night Ladies, and on soft summer, nights the family would harmonize often lead by her daughter Catherine's exceptional singing voice. Knowledgeable, Ruth and instilled in her children a love of music and must have derived a great peacefulness when the family sang; one of her favorite songwriters was Stephen Foster.
Ruth married George William Harwood Jr., son of George William Harwood and Catherine Francis Callahan, on 8 Aug 1907 in Beverly, Essex, Massachusetts, USA.
The child from this marriage was:
Dean Leroy Harwood .
Earnest Farwell Dodge was born on 2 Apr 1913 in Portland, Multnomah, Oregon, USA and died on 2 Oct 1987 in Des Moines, King, Washington, USA at age 74.
Earnest married Ruth Helen Luckenbach. Ruth was born on 9 Jul 1918 in Spokane, Spokane, Washington, USA.  
Helen Greenwood Davenport married Mark George Brook, Jr.

Bernice Woodbury Davenport