From the 1885 History of Steuben County, Indiana

pages 587-588

George H. Davenport, a pioneer of Steuben County, Ind., was born in Bethany, Genesee Co., N. Y., April 15, 1819, a son of Rufus and Nabby (Hall) Davenport, natives of Vermont, his father born in 1787, and his mother in 1793. They were the parents of ten children-- Calvin, Betsey, William, Sylvia, George H., Sally, Rufus, Nabby, Marcus, Marshall, and one who died in infancy. They moved to Genesee County, N. Y., in an early day, and in 1830 to Cattaraugus County, where they died. In early life the mother was a member of the Baptist church, and afterward joined the Methodist Episcopal church. George H. Davenport was married in September, 1840, in Cattaraugus County, N. Y., to Lucina Lovejoy, born Jan. 25, 1824, a daughter of Almon and Hannah (Ames) Lovejoy. Their children were eight in number; four are living-- Hannah, the wife of David Mowrey; Elizabeth L., wife of Marvin L. Perigo; Ellen M., wife of Augustus Stiles; Charles G., of Woodbridge, Mich. Their eldest son, William R., enlisted in the Second Michigan Cavalry, and afterward in the Eleventh Michigan Cavalry, and died in the hospital at Lexington, Ky.; Mary J. married Christian Estel, who was killed by lightning in July, 1870, and she died the following November. Two died in childhood. In November, 1842, Mr. Davenport moved to Steuben County, Ind., and settled in Clear Lake Township, moving to the place where he now lives in 1849. He built the first house on section 16. When Mr. Davenport left Lake Erie he had but one York shilling, and had to run in debt for having his goods hauled to the county. Their children were educated in the log-cabin schools; their first teacher was Adeline Bailey. Mr. Davenport now has a pleasant home and is a respected farmer of the township. Mrs. Davenport is a member of the Baptist church. Her father was born in 1792, and her mother in 1796. They came to Steuben County in 1842, and subsequently moved to Michigan, where the father died at the age of eighty-eight, and the mother aged eighty-four years, after a married life of sixty-seven years. They were members of the United Brethren church.

Submitted by: Kim Davoli

E-mail: davoli82@juno.com