Early Oregon Cousins - Orlando Davis

Orlando Lagrant Davis is my 1st cousin 3 times removed. I really like his name, since it is different. Orlando was born 1 Jan 1858, probably in Fairfield Precinct of Marion County, Oregon. He was on the 1860 census there as O. L. Davis, age 3, with his parents, Harmon and Susan (Bond) Davis, along with 3 older siblings, his Bond grandparents and 2 1st cousins, the daughters of his deceased uncle James Bond.

Sometime after the birth of his youngest sister, Theodocia Alice Davis (I like her name too) in 1866 the family moved to Washington Territory and Orlando appeared on the 1870 census as 13 year old Grant Davis in Walla Walla County. His father's occupation was teamster. Perhaps that influenced Orlando's moving as much as he did.

He was just 20 years old when on 20 Jan 1878 he married Mary Agnes Gillespie at Dayton, Columbia County, Washington Territory. He was back in Oregon in Union County at Island City on the 1880 census with his wife Mary and 1 year old son Edwin, working as a laborer. In 1884 Orlando went back to Columbia County and made a cash sale entry for 160 acres of government land. Seven years later, in 1891 he made a cash sale entry for 160 acres of land in Union County Oregon.

Between 1880 and 1900 he and Mary had 6 more children, 4 boys and 2 girls. The 2 older children, Edwin and Georgia, had left home before the 1900 census. Orlando and Mary and the 5 younger children were enumerated on the 1900 census in Wagner precinct in Wheeler County Oregon where he was a day laborer. It was probably soon after that when Orlando applied for a homestead of 160 acres there in Wheeler County because his patent was issued 30 Jan 1908.

The 1910 census is puzzling because Orlando and Mary with children William and Alice are found in Echo Precinct of Umatilla County Oregon, where Orlando was working as an engineer for a threshing machine. But their family is also found in the town of Enterprise in Wallowa County Oregon with 2 more sons, Archie and Lorain, in the household and Orlando's occupation is a machinist at a shop.

Thankfully he was only in one place in 1920, Hamilton Precinct in Grant County Oregon where he was a farmer. In the household with Orlando and Mary was 17 year old Hazel Robison, listed as ward. However I believe she was their granddaughter, the daughter of Georgia and her husband James Robison. Others of the family were living nearby. In 1930 in Union Precinct in Grant County Oregon Hazel was still in their household listed as granddaughter, but is now married to John Horrell and they have a 5 month old son and apparently there is a 12 year old daughter from John's previous marriage. Orlando is age 73 and Mary is 68. He is working as a farmer and their place is rented.

Orlando died in Grant County Oregon 22 Jul 1935 and was buried in Prairie City Cemetery. His wife Mary apparently moved to Lane County Oregon as she died there 11 Nov 1942 and was buried in Laurel Grove Cemetery.

So, I found evidence of Orlando in Marion County Oregon, Walla Walla County Washington, Columbia County Washington, Union County Oregon, Wheeler County Oregon, Umatilla County Oregon, Wallowa County Oregon and Grant County Oregon. He qualifies as one of my well-traveled cousins.