Power of Attorney: A.N. Davis to W.B. Davis
Contributed by Robert Black
Source: Probate Court, Smith Co., Tennessee, 1856, page 107
Document
The Commonwealth of Kentucky > I, A.N. Davis of the County of Muhlenberg and state aforesaid, do by these presents empower W.B. Davis of Smith County, Tennessee to collect and receive all money etc. due my ward, John S. Lucas, he having removed to this State and chosen me his guardian instead of his former guardian James H. Davis who also lives in Smith County, Tennessee. The above named Wm. B. Davis having all the power to collect, receive and settle with guardian that I would have if present. I also empower [him] to make settlement with the clerk if it becomes necessary and with Said Guardian James H. Davis. Witness my hand etc. this May 12th 1856
A.N. Davis
State of Kentucky Muhlenberg County > A.N. Davis appeared before me on the 12th Day of May 1856 and made oath that he was the Identical person that was appointed for J.S. Lucas and that he does by the foregoing power of attorney, Empower William B. Davis to settle with Said James H. Davis and that he has been appointed Guardian for Said J.S. Lucas by the Muhlenberg County Court Guardian for Said J.S. Lucas and that sd John S. Lucas lives in this County and State aforesaid
Thos. P. Boggess P.J.T.G.
State of Kentucky Muhlenberg County > I Jesse Reno clerk of the County Court for the County above named Do certify that Thomas P. Bogess whose Signature appears to the foregoing certificate is and was at the time Protem Judge of the Town of Greenville Duly commissioned and Sworn and that all his official acts as such are entitled and should have full faith and credit and that his said signature is Genuine
Contributor's Notes
The ward in the above document is a nine year old boy named John S. Lucas, who much later appears in the 1880 census of Greenville, Muhlenberg Co., Kentucky. There he is recorded as 43, born in Missouri about 1837 to a father born in Missouri and a mother born in Tennessee. He was married to a Rosalind, aged 47, born in Kentucky. According to the Guffey Board at Ancestry.com, she was born Rosalinda Maria Guffey. She married John S. Lucas in Muhlenberg Co., Kentucky about 1857, and died about 1893.
The Davises were a Tennessee family, but it is not known whether Lucas' mother was a relative. Arthur Nathan Davis (1823-1868) is here empowering his younger brother, William Britten Davis (1829-1916) of Brush Creek, Smith Co., Tennessee, to settle accounts with their older brother James Harvey Davis (1819-1888) who had previously been Lucas' guardian.
From James' first marriage about 1835 until his wife's death about 1842, he had lived in Missouri, which is likely where he connected with young Lucas. He also had at least two sons by that marriage, John Davis born c. 1837 and Lemuel Davis born c. 1841 in Missouri. They all returned to Brush Creek in 1842 and he remarried and had a second family. By the date of this document, he had at least eight children in his combined families; at the time and for a period afterwards, Arthur N. Davis and his wife had only three.
It might be noteworthy that in the 1880 census, Lucas' household is living right next door to Thomas C. Newman (and family), nephew by marriage of Arthur N. Davis, married to Eliza Ann Newman (1825-1889).