William Benjamin "Uncle Doc" Davis (1847-1929)
Early Life and Family Background
William Benjamin Davis was born on February 1, 1847, in Chesterfield County, South Carolina, to Carroll Washington Davis (1821-1863) and Elizabeth Boatwright (1820-1853). Known affectionately as "Uncle Doc" to his family and friends, William grew up during a tumultuous period in American history that would shape his entire life.
Tragedy struck the Davis family early and often. William's mother Elizabeth died in 1853 when he was just six years old, leaving his father to raise William and his six siblings alone. The family's hardships deepened during the Civil War when Carroll Washington Davis served in the Confederate army during the first year of the conflict. However, his father's health failed, and he was sent home, dying in 1863 when William was only 16 years old.
Civil War Service and Trials
At the tender age of 16, William Benjamin Davis made a decision that would define his character for the rest of his life. In April 1863, just months after losing both parents, he volunteered to serve in the Confederate army, enlisting in Company E of the 21st South Carolina Regiment on Morris Island. His service would prove to be both heroic and harrowing.
Within a month of enlisting, William was wounded by a 15-inch shell at Battery Wagner. The injury was severe enough that it took two doctors two and a half hours to remove the gunpowder from his face at Summerville Hospital. Once recovered, he returned to duty at Battery Wagner and later Fort Sumter before being transferred to the Army of Northern Virginia.
William's war experiences read like a catalog of hardships that would test any man's resolve. During the battle of Port Walthal Junction, he was detailed to guard baggage and survived for three days and nights on nothing but small pieces of bread and glasses of milk. Later, he subsisted on wild onions for three days until some cavalrymen traded him bread and meat for stationery paper so they could write home.
The young soldier participated in major battles at Cold Harbor, Drury's Bluff, Gaines' Mill, and Bermuda Hundred, where he lost his uncle, Captain Benjamin Thomas Davis, who died from a thigh wound. William's Uncle Alfred W. Davis stepped up to take command of Company E. On June 24, 1864, during a battle between the Appomattox River and City Point Road, William was wounded in the left side by a minié ball. This second wound would prove nearly fatal.
He was transported to various hospitals, eventually ending up at Hampton Virginia Prison Hospital, where he spent seven months with his bowels discharging through the wound. The conditions were so dire that when he first tried to leave his bunk, he had to slide on his hands and back to the wardmaster's office to beg for tobacco. The kindly wardmaster allowed him to rest on a feather bed that afternoon.
In January 1865, William was given a furlough and transportation home, but when Wilmington was captured, he was turned back at Greensboro. His transportation was taken away, and he began an arduous journey home on foot, walking and riding when possible. The journey was filled with acts of kindness from strangers - a widow who cared for him for a week, various individuals who gave him rides, and captains who shared their food and money. William finally reached his grandfather's house on March 8, 1865, having no parents to return to.
Reconstruction and Building a Life
After the war, William returned home "on stick and crutch" to face the enormous responsibility of helping to care for his six orphan brothers and sisters. Despite his physical weakness and the trauma of his war experiences, he never complained or mourned, demonstrating the strength of character that would define his long life.
The post-war years were challenging for the entire South, and the Davis family was no exception. The period of Reconstruction brought economic hardship and social upheaval, but William persevered with determination and faith.
Marriages and Family Life
First Marriage: Susannah Ann "Susie" Gainey (1851-1874)
On December 31, 1866, at age 19, William married Susannah Ann "Susie" Gainey in Chesterfield County. This union produced four children:
James Johnson Davis (1868-1941)
Minnie Jane Davis (1869-1940)
Lillian Ainsley Davis (1870-1960)
William Washington Davis (1874-1936)
Tragically, Susannah died in 1874 at the young age of 23, leaving William a widower with four small children.
Second Marriage: Mary Louise "Molly" Dunn (1853-1910)
On May 6, 1875, William married Mary Louise "Molly" Dunn from Morven, North Carolina. This marriage would prove to be his longest and most fruitful, lasting 35 years until Mary's death in 1910. Together, they had an remarkable 14 children:
May Leona Davis (1876-1947)
Irene Virginia Davis (1877-1954)
Clarence Edgar Davis (1879-1932)
Bessie Pearl Davis (1881-1969)
Robert Oscar Davis (1882-1898)
Ernest Duvall Davis (1884-1941)
Ophelia Lorene Davis (1888-1958)
John Colon Davis (1889-1934)
Hoy Walter Davis (1890-1956)
Julian Bascom Davis (1891-1893)
Leo Franklin Davis (1892-1967)
Myrtle Grace Davis (1894-1894)
Samuel Isom Davis (1895-1896)
Junius Benjamin Davis (1896-1920)
The family faced the heartbreak of losing several children in infancy and early childhood, including Julian Bascom, Myrtle Grace, and Samuel Isom. Robert Oscar died at age 16 in 1898, and Junius Benjamin died in 1920 at age 24.
Third Marriage: Sarah Elizabeth Gaynor (1875- )
At age 69, William married Sarah Elizabeth Gaynor of Bethune, South Carolina, on August 19, 1916. Sarah was 41 years old at the time of their marriage and survived William after his death in 1929.
Community and Religious Life
William Benjamin Davis was deeply rooted in his community and faith. He was a lifelong member of the Methodist Church, having joined in his early years and faithfully keeping his vows throughout his 82 years. His obituary noted that "it can truly be said of him, 'He walked with God.'" His constant prayer was that his loved ones would meet him as an unbroken family in heaven.
For many years, William served as adjutant of Chesterfield Camp No. 950 United Confederate Veterans, remaining loyal to his fellow soldiers and the duties of remembrance. His service to the veteran community was a source of great pride, and he was described as being "ever loyal and true to the duties involved therein."
Later Years and Legacy
William's later years were marked by the respect and admiration of his community. He was known throughout the Pine Grove community as one of its best citizens and was particularly cherished as the last surviving veteran of the Civil War in his area. His obituary described him as having lived "a long, useful and happy life" and being "a devout Christian and a high type of southern gentleman."
In June 1929, despite his advanced age and failing health, William was able to answer the roll call of "The boys who wore the grey" in Charlotte, North Carolina - a final gathering with his fellow Confederate veterans. He became seriously ill on July 5, 1929, and passed away four days later.
Death and Final Honor
William Benjamin Davis died on July 9, 1929, at the age of 82, in Chesterfield County, South Carolina. His obituary poetically described his passing: "just as the golden sun was sinking in the Western sky the 'Messenger of Peace' spoke gently to our friend and loved one, W. B. Davis, (familiarly known as Uncle Doc) and said 'Son come up higher.'"
He was buried on July 10, 1929, in Morven City Cemetery in Anson County, North Carolina, next to his second wife Mary Louise. His tombstone appropriately honors his service: "CO. E SC REG of Volunteers" along with a CSA War Marker.
Historical Context
William Benjamin Davis lived through some of the most transformative years in American history. Born two years before the California Gold Rush, he witnessed the nation's expansion westward, the devastating Civil War, Reconstruction, the Industrial Revolution, World War I, and the beginning of the modern era. His life spanned from the presidency of James K. Polk to Herbert Hoover, encompassing the entire evolution of the United States from a primarily agricultural society to an industrial power.
The fact that he enlisted in the Confederate army at age 16 and lived to age 82 meant he witnessed the complete transformation of the South from its antebellum culture through Reconstruction and into the 20th century. His service as a Confederate veteran adjutant showed his commitment to preserving the memory of his generation's sacrifice, regardless of the outcome of the war.
Remembrance:
William Benjamin Davis represents the resilience and character of a generation that faced unimaginable hardships and yet built families, communities, and legacies that endured. His story is one of a young man who answered his country's call, survived terrible wounds and hardships, and returned home to build a life of service, faith, and family. With 18 children from his three marriages and numerous descendants, his legacy lives on in the many families who can trace their lineage back to this remarkable man who was known simply as "Uncle Doc."
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