WHARTON COUNTY HISTORICAL

Frank Barrett Davis

1898 - 1902

Wharton County Sheriff



Frank Barrett Davis



Frank Barrett Davis was the son Gabe P.and Jane T. Davis of South Carolina. He was born to this union in 1857. His parents moved to Alabama for awhile and then migrated on down to Texas. He was the youngest of five children. His parents settled in Columbus Texas where they died and are buried.. Frank Davis lived with his sister Mrs.Maggie Britt on the family estate consisting of about 1772 acres where he learned to farm and ranch. In the 1896 elections he ran for sheriff and was defeated by R.A. Rich. He then moved to Wharton and became a deputy under Rich.

Frank Barrett Davis was elected on November 8, 1898 and re-elected November 6, 1900 and served until November 4, 1902. James L. Davis who was his brother and his wife had passed away and Frank and his sister took on the responsibility of raising their nieces and nephews. Frank Barrett Davis remained a deputy until 1898 when he once again ran for Sheriff and was elected, He ran again in 1902 and this time he was once again defeated by Rabb A.Rich. When the job of sheriff-tax collector was made into two separate offices that year he became the tax collector. When his sister passed away he moved to Alpine and then on Del Rio and finally ended up in Roswell, New Mexico because of his health. His health was failing and he ended up in a sanitarium near Denver, Colorado.There he spent eighteen months and once his health was recovered he checked out.

He settled in Montrose,New Mexico and sold all his holdings in Wharton County. The Davis Children who had remained in Wharton were sent for and he continued raising them. When he died in 1912 only one nephew remained with him the others having all married and returned to Texas, S. W.Davis.

His body was sent back to Wharton County and he was buried by the Masonic Lodge, as he had been a member for a number of years.

Frank Davis never married,but he raised a large family as if they were his own.He was a good provider and a good example as any father would be to their children.1

1.Texas County Sheriffs


Frank B. Davis and his officers.

Sheriff Davis sitting on far right


Frank B. Davis sitting on right


Frank Barrett Davis and Menter Taylor


Frank B. Davis sitting on the right


Frank B. Davis in Colorado


Frank B. Davis shooting the shotgun


Frank Davis on left, playing "High Jinks"


Frank B. Davis in Colorado



This page researched and written by Janet Barrett Hobizal in June 2007,

From records found at the Wharton County Historical Museum


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