Son of Esquire Davis (1836-12 Mar 1863) and Mary Elizabeth Stevenson (b. 12 Mar 1827) who married Sept. 15, 1859.
Esquire Davis died during the Civil War while serving with the Union Army in Louisiana. Mary died soon after him, leaving three small children, with Sylvester Richard and sister Emma being raised by the John S. Dixon family, but never adopted.
Listed in 1900 Iowa census as a farmer (Jun 1860, OH) married 13 yrs with 2 of his 3 children still living. With him is wife Berylie (May 1863, OH), dau Ava and son Richard. Listed nearby appears to be an older brother James (Dec 1858, IN) and his family.
In 1910, he is listed as a carpenter (49, OH) with his wife Ellen P. (46, OH) and same 2 children (now surviving of 4). They are still in Spencer in 1920, where his wife is listed as Nancy E.; and in 1930 with only daughter Ava where his wife is listed as Beryl N. E.
[Obituary] - The Spencer Times Thursday, 24 July 1941; pg 8
Sylvester R. Davis, aged 81 years and a resident of Spencer for more than thirty years, died Tuesday, July 22, 1941, at his home, 319 West Eighth Street. Mr. Davis had been in failing health for the past several months and his last serious illness was two weeks duration.
Sylvester Richard Davis was born July 17, 1860, near Mt. Vernon in Knox County, Ohio. His father was a soldier in the Civil war and died while engaged in active duty. His mother’s death followed shortly after and he spent his early years with foster parents. He left this home at the age of seventeen to fend for himself and as a young man came to Iowa.
He was married Dec. 8, 1886, to Beryl N. E. Wells, their marriage taking place on a farm near West Liberty. They established their first home at Miles, Iowa, where they lived for some time. Mr. and Mrs. Davis came to Clay County fifty-one years ago and for the past thirty years have occupied the present home on West Eighth Street.
They became the parents of four children. Lottie passed away at the age of two and one half years and Ernest died in infancy. The surviving children are Mrs. Allen Anderson of near Milford and Richard Davis of Louisville, Ky. Besides his wife and children Mr. Davis is survived by two grandchildren, Frankie Buryl and John Allen Anderson. There is also one sister Mrs. C. S. Burson of Fredericktown, Ohio. Mr. Davis was a carpenter and in this capacity was well known in the city and surrounding country.
Funeral services will be held Thursday afternoon, July 24, at 2:30 o’clock at the Congregational church, the services to be conducted by the Rev. James Parker. Interment will be in Riverside cemetery.