"An Illustrated history of Baker, Grant, Malheur and Harney Counties : with a
brief outline of the early history of the state of Oregon." Chicago?: Western
Historical Pub. Co., 1902.  Page 499.  Grant County.

HENRY H. DAVIS

     It is ever pleasant to have the privilege to recount some of the salient
points in the career of an old timer and pioneer of these hills and valleys and
especially so is it enjoyable to speak of those that came here at an early date
and have labored faithfully and steadily shoulder to shoulder for the
development of the resources of nature and for the advancement of the interests
of the county generally, while individual industry has been rewarded by the
competence that is so pleasant to enjoy in the later years of life.  Such a one
is the esteemed gentleman, whose life's record we are about to give in epitome.
Patriotic, capable, and upright he has manifested both ability and integrity in
a very commendable manner in the days of the years of his pilgrimage in Grant
county.
     Williamson county, Illinois, was the place of his birth and February 3,
1832, the date.
     He worked on a farm until he was twenty-seven years of age and then went to
New Orleans, Cuba and across the isthmus to San Francisco, whence he soon made
his way to the mines in Siskiyou county, where he sought for the treasures of
nature until 1863, then came to Canyon City and followed the same occupation
until 1868.  At this date he spent some time in looking over the country on a
trip of exploration and finally settled at the mouth of Beech creek and took up
stock raising and farming until 1878 when he sold out and bought a ranch near
Longcreek and continued in the same occupations.  He was followed with good
success and in 1899, he was enabled to retire with a goodly share of this
world's goods for the years of the time of life that are spent in retrospective
meditations together with the brightness of the light of hope.  He sold the farm
and at the present times owns some property in Longcreek, where he is living.
After the sale of his farm in 1899, he returned once more to the scenes of
childhood, having been absent therefrom for forty-one years.  Old scenes brought
familiar memories and once again he lived over the times of the bright days of
school and farm when he was a boy, and anew were formed the acquaintances that
were fresh when he turned to the west in the fifties.  Time had relentlessly
chiseled over the familiar features, but hearty welcomes remained for the
bronzed westerner and warm hearts made glad the day when he again was in their
midst.  The west is relentless, when once it enfolds a soul, and soon he was
longing for his home amid the scenes of Grant county.
     Mr. Davis is well and favorably known throughout the county, having served
as county commissioner for four years succeeding 1888.  He is clerk of the
school district and councilman of Longcreek having also been constable for the
same venue.  Fraternally he is affiliated with the Masons, joining that body in
Canyon city in 1864 and when the lodge was formed in Longcreek he became a
charter member.  His experiences on the frontier have been thrilling and
numerous and trying, having endured much in the endeavors to open up the country
and subdue the forces that nature arrays against the pioneers.  He was in
partnership with George Rader of Longcreek for a number of years and in 1864, he
was with the noted Joaquin Miller in combats with the Indians in the Steen
mountains.  Politically, Mr. Davis is a stanch Democrat of the Jeffersonian type
and is a man of courage equal to his convictions.

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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in September 2005 by Diana Smith.
Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned
above.