-𝐄𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐲 𝐋𝐢𝐟𝐞 & 𝐅𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲-
Russell Bigelow "Russ" Davis was born on November 19, 1841, in Mansfield, Richland County, Ohio. He was the fourth child and third son of Samuel H. Davis and Nancy Ann Cantwell. His father was born in Pennsylvania but moved to Ohio in his early 20s. His mother was born in Steubenville, Jefferson County, Ohio. Russell's parents had 4 other children. Their first child and only daughter, Elizabeth Ann Davis, was born in 1835. Their first son, Stewart, died less than two months after he was born in 1837, while their second son, William Steward Davis, lived to the age of 2 and died just 4 months after Russell was born.
Russell had one younger sibling, a brother named Samuel Harry Davis. Samuel was born in 1843 but would die at the age of 18 on September 27, 1861, while serving in the Civil War as a Private/Musician with Company G of the 4th Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Thus, Russell and his sister, Elizabeth, were the only two children who truly would reach adulthood. Unfortunately, when Russell was around 10 months old, his father, Samuel, died at the age of 30; Russell would never know his biological father. In 1846, when Russell was 5 years old, his mother, Nancy, remarried to Wesley Quigley of Annville, Pennsylvania. In 1847, Nancy and Wesley would have a pair of twins, William Young Quigley and Nancy Quigley. Russell's half-brother William would live well into adulthood while his half-sister would die at the age of 4 years old in 1852. On August 9, 1849, Russell's mother died at the age of 32 in Mansfield, Ohio. Russell, who was just 8 years old at the time, had lost both his biological parents. It can be assumed that after the death of his mother, Russell's stepfather, Wesley, cared for him, his siblings, and his half-siblings, as Wesley Quigley never remarried and would live until 1874.

-𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐥 𝐖𝐚𝐫: 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝟐𝐧𝐝 𝐎𝐡𝐢𝐨 𝐂𝐚𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐫𝐲-
On March 7, 1863, at the age of 21, Russell Bigelow Davis enlisted as a Corporal in the 2nd Ohio Volunteer Cavalry Regiment and was mustered into Company F of the regiment. It can be presumed that Russell enlisted with the 2nd Ohio Cavalry while they were on duty in Columbus, the state capital of Ohio, which is just under 70 miles from Russell's hometown of Mansfield in Richland County, Ohio. Shortly after Corporal Russell B. Davis enlisted in the 2nd Ohio Volunteer Cavalry, the regiment was moved to Kentucky, where it conducted several operations against Confederate forces until June 27, 1863. On July 19, 1863, Russell fought with his regiment in the Battle of Buffington Island, also known as the St. Georges Creek Skirmish, which occurred around the Ohio River near Portland, Ohio, and Buffington Island, West Virginia. The battle was ultimately a victory for the Union Army, as the Union forces suffered only 25 killed and 30 wounded. The Confederates suffered more significant losses, with 52 killed, 100 wounded, and 750 captured.
Corporal Davis would later fight in the Battle of Blue Springs, which occurred on October 10, 1863, in Greene County, Tennessee. This battle, which was a part of the Knoxville campaign, was yet another Union victory, with the Confederates suffering 216 casualties while the Union Army suffered 100. Just over a month later, Russell B. Davis and the 2nd Ohio Cavalry would participate in the eighteen-day Siege of Knoxville, Tennessee, which occurred from November 17 to December 4, 1863. The Siege of Knoxville was also a victory for the Union's Army of the Ohio, as General Longstreet and his Confederate forces withdrew from Knoxville and headed Northeast. After the Siege of Knoxville had concluded, the 2nd Ohio Cavalry assisted in the pursuit of the retreating Confederates. However, this would culminate in the Battle of Bean's Station on December 14, 1863, in Grainger County, Tennessee. The Confederate Forces of Eastern Tennessee ultimately won this battle. Casualties totaled around 700 for Union and 900 for the Confederates; the Battle of Bean's Station marked the end of the fighting in the Knoxville Campaign. After the conclusion of the Knoxville Campaign, the 2nd Ohio Cavalry Regiment was re-enlisted on January 1, 1864, and was due to move farther east into Virginia to fight in Grant's Overland Campaign. However, Corporal Russell B. Davis did not re-enlist in the 2nd Ohio Volunteer Cavalry Regiment. Instead, Davis was discharged from his regiment on January 1, 1864, after he was offered a promotion to the rank of Captain in Company F of the Union Army's 10th Tennessee Volunteer Cavalry Regiment.

-𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝟏𝟎𝐭𝐡 𝐓𝐞𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐞 𝐂𝐚𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐫𝐲-
On February 25, 1864, Russell B. Davis, aged 23, was officially enlisted and mustered into the 10th Tennessee Volunteer Cavalry Regiment as a Captain in Company F; the name on his enlistment records was recorded as "Russ B. Davis." The company which Captain Davis commanded, Company F, was primarily comprised of men who were from other states; however, some were from the first 5 congressional districts of Tennessee. Shortly after Captain Davis joined the 10th Tennessee Cavalry, the regiment was on duty at Nashville and Pulaski, Tennessee, having been assigned the task of defending the Nashville & Chattanooga Railroad and the Nashville & Northwestern Railroad from Confederate operations. ‪From May 2‬ to 12, 1864, Captain Russ B. Davis and Company F were sent to scout through Hickman and Maury Counties in the west-central portion of Tennessee. Upon their return, Captain Davis and Company F were placed on detached service at McMinnville, Warren County, Tennessee. After returning to his regiment, Captain Russell B. "Russ" Davis sent the following report to Lieutenant-Colonel George Spalding, who commanded the 2nd Brigade, 4th Cavalry Division of the Army of the Cumberland:
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"CAMP GILLEM, TENN., May 12, 1864.
SIR: I have the honor to report that after an absence of ten days scouting my command, which on leaving camp consisted of three commissioned officers and sixty non-commissioned officers and privates, returned ‪this evening‬.
From the 2nd instant up to the 8th my time was employed in scouting through the counties of Hickman and Maury. On the evening of the 3rd, I sent Lieut. Creasy, of the Twelfth [Tennessee Cavalry], with a detachment of twenty-five men, up Piney River, with instructions to move from thence up Duck River, and cross, and report to me as soon as practicable, while myself, Lieut. Orr, and the remainder of the command moved in a southwest course that evening. Next morning, I crossed Duck River by means of a ferry, the river beyond fording. After crossing I divided my party and sent Lieut. Orr, with fifteen men, up Duck River, with instructions to report to me that night at Judge Walker's, on said river. During the day he pursued a guerrilla very closely, so near the man was obliged to swim the stream, abandon his horse, and seek refuge in the mountains, the horse being left to our mercy. The same day I moved up Blue Buck Creek to Walker's, where I encamped for the night. On the morning of the 4th I moved up Lick Creek and Leatherwood Creek some twelve miles, from thence across the bluffs on to Dunlap Creek, where I remained ‪until 8 p.m.‬, when I started in pursuit of three deserters from our army, who were reported to me as being in the country and also being connected with a band of guerrillas and horse-thieves. I succeeded admirably in capturing two of them, namely, H. Love and Thomas Fitzgerald; the third one not to be found; diligent search was made for him.
During the time I was south of Duck River, Lieut. Creasy was operating to a very good advantage north of the river. Up to this time he had captured two men, namely, Nat Suggs and Capt. George H. St. Claire, the former acknowledging to have been engaged in guerrilla warfare at one time, about a year ago, I think, about which time he, with others, fired upon a scouting party, and during the engagement said Suggs was wounded and paroled by Federal authority. The latter, St. Claire, claims to have been a captain in the One hundred and second Regt. Illinois Volunteers, and says his resignation was accepted by Gen. Rosecrans sometime in September last. He furthermore states that owing to some private difficulty between himself and Miss--, of Nashville, he left and moved to this mountainous region to act as a Federal spy; while on the contrary, citizens of the country have informed me that he had represented himself to them as being a deserter from the Union army, and had come among them to aid in carrying on a guerrilla warfare between the two parties; in no instance did he represent himself as being a Union man. Following the capture of the two above-named men, Lieut. Creasy heard of two guerrillas, and after striking their trail he pursued them o'er hill and dale until finally he was upon them, they being concealed in a house of ill-fame, situated in a most secluded spot on the top of a large bluff. The lieutenant, fearing escape on their part, dashed upon them alone and shot them both before any of his party were on the spot. Much credit is due Lieut. Creasy for his gallantry in this single contest. The names of the killed are Col. Pointer and Lieut. Buford. Four army pistols and three horses were found with them. The day following our parties united, and I selected the poorest horses and sent them under Lieut. Orr, with four prisoners, with orders to report at your headquarters, while myself and Lieut. Creasy, with the remainder, thirty-seven men, continued the scouts. Finding after three days' march my men wearied, and horses also, I deemed it prudent to return to camp. During the absence of ten days I found abundance of corn and long forage, also subsistence for my men. Perfect order was kept throughout the entire march, and the rights of law-abiding citizens respected by my entire party. I realized trouble by men not supplying themselves with extra horseshoes and nails. With this one exception all was right. I am, sir, most respectfully, your obedient servant, RUSS B. DAVIS, Capt., Tenth Tennessee Volunteer Cavalry."
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On August 26, 1864, the 10th Tennessee Cavalry, along with the 12th Tennessee Cavalry, was ordered to Decherd, Franklin County, Tennessee, in an attempt to cut off the forces of Confederate Major General Joseph Wheeler, who was raiding Federal communication lines in Central Tennessee. On August 29, 1864, the 10th Tennessee Cavalry was organized as a part of an improvised force led by Union Major General Robert H. Milroy from Tullahoma to Murfreesboro, Triune, and Pulaski in engagements which prevented Confederate Brigadier General John Stuart Williams from breaking through the line of communications and rejoining General Wheeler. Soon after, the 10th Tennessee Cavalry began participating in the Franklin–Nashville Campaign, which was conducted from September 18 to December 27, 1864. Around the time of Confederate Major General Nathan Bedford Forrest's raid, beginning with the capture of Athens, Alabama, on September 24, 1864, it was reported that the 10th and 12th Tennessee Cavalry Regiments were in the saddle 8 days and nights, and traveled 230 miles, with frequent skirmishes, the chief of which were at the Elk River Bridge on September 25, 1864, and at Sulphur Branch and near Pulaski on September 26, 1864. In this campaign, 47 casualties were reported between the two regiments. As Lieutenant General John B. Hood's Confederate Army moved up into Northern Alabama, the 10th and 12th Tennessee Cavalry Regiments were sent ten miles northeast of Florence, Rutherford County, Tennessee to assist in the guarding of the north bank of the Tennessee River, to prevent Hood's Army from crossing. On November 5, 1864, both the 10th and 12th were stationed at Bough's Factory, near Lexington, Alabama, in an attempt to hold General Hood at Florence.

-𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝟏𝟎𝐭𝐡 𝐓𝐞𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐞 𝐂𝐚𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐫𝐲: 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐅𝐮𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞-
After a rapid exchange of correspondence between Assistant Adjutant General E. B. Beaumont and Major General James Harrison Wilson, the commander of the 10th Tennessee Cavalry, Lieutenant-Colonel George Washington Bridges, was arrested for neglect of duty and relieved of his command on November 28, 1864. After Lieutenant-Colonel Bridges was stripped of his command, Captain Russell B. "Russ" Davis of Company F was temporarily given command of the regiment. A day later, on November 29, 1864, the 10th Tennessee Cavalry was ordered to return to Nashville. The regiment was instructed to begin its march at 5:30 AM on November 30, 1864, for Nolensville, Williamson County, Tennessee, where it would watch for the movements of the Confederate Army in that vicinity.

-𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐅𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐤𝐥𝐢𝐧-
On November 30, 1864, the 10th Tennessee Cavalry Regiment fought in the Battle of Franklin, which unfolded a mere 14 miles from where they were initially sent to in Nolensville. During the battle, Captain Russell B. Davis was no longer commanding the regiment, as command had been turned over to Major William P. Story. During the Battle of Franklin, Captain Davis and the 10th Tennessee Cavalry fought with the 1st Brigade (commanded by Colonel Robert R. Stewart), Fifth Division (commanded by Brigadier General Edward Hatch), of the Cavalry Corps (commanded by Major General James H. Wilson). The Battle of Franklin would ultimately be a Union victory, but also one of the worst defeats of the war for the Confederate States Army, who were commanded by Lieutenant General John Bell Hood during the battle. The Confederate assault of 6 infantry divisions containing 18 brigades with 100 regiments numbering almost 20,000 men resulted in devastating losses to the men and the leadership of the Army of Tennessee, as 14 Confederate generals (6 killed, 7 wounded, and 1 captured) and 55 regimental commanders were casualties. Around 9,000 men became casualties on both sides, roughly 6,000 of them Confederates. However, even after this disastrous defeat, General Hood doggedly pursued the Union forces of Lieutenant General John McAllister Schofield with his diminished army to fight again at the Battle of Nashville.

-𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐍𝐚𝐬𝐡𝐯𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞 & 𝐀 𝐁𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐭 𝐑𝐚𝐧𝐤-
A short time after the Battle of Franklin, Captain Russell B. Davis, and the 10th Tennessee Cavalry would participate in their final major battle, the Battle of Nashville. The Battle of Nashville occurred on December 15–16, 1864 in Nashville, Tennessee. Despite his previous defeats, Confederate General John B. Hood continued to drag his bloodied Army of Tennessee, approximately 30,000 strong, north towards Tennessee's capital city, which was now protected by 55,000 Union troops.
A man in Hood's situation, where he is undoubtedly outnumbered, would ordinarily have ceased all further offensive operations. But John Bell Hood was a determined man, and his situation was dire; at that same moment, Major General William Tecumseh Sherman's troops were nearing the gates of Savannah, Georgia. By recapturing the manufacturing and supply center at Nashville, Hood sought to draw the wrathful Ohioan (Sherman) into a wasted pursuit and thus spare the citizens of the Confederacy further harm. Hood's designs went beyond simply taking Nashville. After taking the city, he planned to move north into his home state of Kentucky to gather provisions and volunteers, and then turn east to join Robert E. Lee's beleaguered forces in Virginia, all while keeping ahead of Sherman's army. Given the reluctance of Kentuckians to rally to the Stars and Bars during the 1862 Heartland Offensive, when Confederate prospects were not nearly so dim as in the winter of 1864, the two-limbed general's plan was exceptionally optimistic.
On December 15, 1864, the first day of the Battle of Nashville, the 10th Tennessee Cavalry Regiment was engaged on the Charlotte and Harding Pikes. During the last charge of the day, the regiment's commander, Major William P. Story, was mortally wounded and would later die on December 27, 1864. After Story's wounding, Major James T. Anderson took command of the 10th Tennessee Cavalry. On December 16, 1864, the regiment was engaged on the Hillsboro Pike during the battle and then on the Franklin Pike ‪on December 17th‬ after Hood's army began its retreat. The 10th Tennessee Cavalry then joined in the pursuit of General Hood's forces through Pulaski, Tennessee, to Lexington, Alabama, where it broke off the pursuit on December 27, 1864. Overall, the regiment suffered only 35 casualties during the Franklin–Nashville Campaign. Ultimately, the Battle of Nashville would be one of the largest victories achieved by the Union Army during the Civil War, largely destroying the Confederacy's Army of Tennessee and effectively ending the war in Tennessee. After the Battle of Nashville, the Confederate Army in the Western Theater had lost nearly 75% of its fighting force. During the Battle of Nashville, the Union force had suffered around 3,000 casualties while the Confederate force had suffered 6,000 casualties. After the conclusion of the Battle of Nashville, Brigadier General Edward Hatch, the commander of the Union Cavalry Corps' 5th Division, under which the 10th Tennessee Cavalry served as a part of the 1st Brigade, is known to have reported that "Captain Russ B. Davis of Company F, 10th Tennessee Cavalry, behaved with great gallantry." For his "great gallantry" at the Battle of Nashville, Captain Russell B. "Russ" Davis of the 10th Tennessee Cavalry Regiment, Company F was awarded the rank of Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel.

-𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐎𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐥 𝐖𝐚𝐫 & 𝐌𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐎𝐮𝐭-
On February 3, 1865, the 10th Tennessee Cavalry Regiment was transferred to the 7th Cavalry Division headquartered at Gravelly Springs, Alabama. On March 17, 1865, the regiment was ordered to the Post of Natchez, Mississippi, where Brigadier General John W. Davidson was in command. On April 20, 1865, General Davidson ordered two companies of the 10th Tennessee Cavalry to Rodney, Mississippi, to break up "gangs of thieves and 'jayhawkers'" in the area, and guard against any crossing of the Mississippi River from the opposite side. One of these companies was Company F, which was still commanded by Captain Russell B. Davis, but the identity of the other company is not known. On May 3, 1865, when there were rumors that Confederate President Jefferson Davis might attempt to escape across the Mississippi River, Brigadier General Davidson complained that he had no cavalry fit for patrol and scouting duty, as the 10th Tennessee was practically dismounted, with over 100 unserviceable horses. On the 18th, in a report of the forces under his command, he listed: "10th Tennessee Cavalry in a miserable condition, no horses, recommend be mustered out." This was not a new development though, as, throughout its term of service, the 10th Tennessee Cavalry was poorly equipped and significantly under strength. Nonetheless, even without the most robust numbers and best equipment, the 10th Tennessee Cavalry became a hard-fought regiment of the Union Army. On May 25, 1865, the regiment was relieved from duty at Natchez and Rodney, Mississippi, and ordered to report to Nashville. When it arrived on June 10, 1865, the regiment was ordered to report to Lieutenant Colonel George G. Miner, Commanding Cavalry Depot, at Edgefield. On June 13, 1865, the regiment was ordered to Johnsonville, Tennessee, for garrison duty. Several weeks later, on August 1, 1865, in Nashville, Tennessee, Captain Russ B. Davis and the rest of the 10th Tennessee Cavalry Regiment were officially mustered out of federal service. After being mustered out of the Union Army, Russell Bigelow Davis presumably returned to Mansfield, Richland County, Ohio.

-𝐋𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐀𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐥 𝐖𝐚𝐫-
On September 13, 1866, Russell B. Davis, aged 25, married Olive Marie Ticknor, aged 21. Olive had been born on March 4, 1845, in Versailles, Cattaraugus County, New York, and seemed to have resided in the State of New York up until she met Russell. Shortly after the two married, they moved to McMinnville, Warren County, Tennessee, a location where Russ had previously been stationed while serving with the 10th Tennessee Cavalry. It seems Russell and Olive lived in McMinnville for about a year before moving to Centralia, Marion County, Illinois, in 1867. On July 6, 1867, Russell and Olive's first child, Frank Harry Ticknor Davis, was born in Centralia, Illinois. The 1870 U.S. Federal Census shows the family as living in "Ward 1" of Centralia, Illinois. The Census also lists Russell's age as 29 years old, records his occupation as "Bookkeeper," shows that his real estate was valued at $1,000, and that his personal estate was valued at $400. The census lists Olive's occupation as "Keeping House."

-𝐋𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐀𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧, 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐨𝐭𝐚-
Russell B. Davis, his wife, and son would live in Centralia for a total of 3 years before relocating to Austin, Mower County, Minnesota, in late-1870 or early-1871. Shortly after moving to Austin, Minnesota, Olive gave birth to a daughter, Della Eva Davis, on April 26, 1871. Unfortunately, Della died at just over a year old on August 8, 1872. The Mower County Transcript, the primary newspaper of the area, published a very brief obituary after the death of Della; "A little child of Col. R. B. Davis died this morning."
A newspaper article from the June 13, 1872 printing of the Mower County Transcript outlines the plans for Mower County's Fourth of July Celebrations. It seems that Russell B. Davis, who is referred to as "Col. R. B. Davis" in the article, was chosen to be the "marshal" (presumably the grand marshal) of Mower County's 1872 Fourth of July parade. It seems that Russell B. Davis served as the head of the City of Austin's Executive Committee for the planning of such patriotic and celebratory parades and events and also served as the head of the committee "On Races" for the City of Austin. This is quite interesting because the KKK was planning "a general 'stampede'" of the parade, and Russell B. Davis, who was the marshal of the parade, was tasked with controlling the group during the celebrations and the ensuring the safety of all individuals at the event. Additionally, other Mower County Transcript articles from the early 1870s show that Russ B. Davis worked as the "City Recorder" [City Clerk] of Austin, Minnesota and that he wrote several articles for the newspaper. These articles were very similar to modern-day press releases from the local government of a town or city and described the official meetings and events occurring within the city and county. Russell also worked as "the General Agent of the Home Life Insurance Company of New York for Southern Minnesota and Northern Iowa." The June 19, 1873 printing of the Mower County Transcript states "We publish, today, the business card of Col. R. B. Davis, who is General Agent of the Home Life Insurance Company of New York, one of the best institutions of the kind doing business in this country. The Colonel is deservedly popular and successful." The business card also shows that Davis's office was in the Mower County Court House, specifically "1st Door South."
Davis was also a prominent member of the Freemasons and an officer of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Austin Lodge, No. 20. Davis is known to have attended the 1873 session of the Grand Lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows in Lake City, Minnesota, which, after returning to Austin, he described as "numerously attended and enthusiastic." On July 14, 1873, Russell's wife, Olive, gave birth to a second daughter, Beatrice Florence Davis. A newspaper article from the July 24, 1873 printing of the Mower County Transcript announced the birth of Beatrice, stating, "R. B. Davis' wife bore him a young daughter, on Monday of this week. The Colonel reports the mother and child are doing well. The father is happy." It seems Russ B. Davis, or "the Colonel," was quite well-liked in Austin, Minnesota, both professionally and socially. He is referred to frequently in articles within the Mower County Transcript, with only one showing a bit of disdain for "the Colonel." The single newspaper article which shows contempt for "the Colonel" describes an event in which Russ B. Davis filed a complaint about a man named C. L. West hunting doves within the city limits of Austin, which violated an ordinance that prohibited the discharge of any firearms within the city's limits. Davis' complaint led to West being arrested on the violation of the ordinance, but he was released soon after, as he and several other hunters had apparently required permission from the City of Austin to hunt within the city's limits. The conclusion of the August 13, 1874 article describing this event is as follows, "It is scarcely necessary to say that West was acquitted. He had done no wrong and of course no action against him could be sustained. We are told that Davis [Russell B. Davis] knew that the Club had the permission of the Mayor, and that he began the prosecution out of spite, relying upon some technicality to secure a conviction. Such electioneering as that will not help Davis in his scheme of becoming the anti-monopolist candidate for County Auditor." It seems Davis left Austin, Minnesota, briefly towards the end of May 1875. An article from the May 20, 1875 issue of the Mower County Transcript states, "Colonel R. B. Davis rode out last Saturday and seemed invigorated by inhalation of the fresh and balmy air. We hope to see him on the streets again as usual before long."

-𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡-
Russell Bigelow "Russ" Davis died on May 27, 1875, in Austin, Mower County, Minnesota, at the age of 34 years old. His obituary, published in the Mower County Transcript on May 27, 1875, reads: "It is our sad duty to record the death of Colonel R. B. Davis, of this city, which occurred at his residence last night. The immediate cause, was organic disease of the heart, aggravated by a very serious functional derangement of the kidneys. The Colonel was about forty years of age, intelligent and capable to a degree which would have distinguished most men. He was kind-hearted and genial, attaching himself strongly to family and to friends. He was elected to the office of City Recorder last year, and was a prominent member of the Masonic Fraternity, and also of the Order of Odd Fellows. He will be buried from the Methodist Church ‪on Friday, at 4 o'clock‬ P. M., in observance of Masonic rites. To his stricken wife and two little children, we extend the full measure of our sympathy." Russell B. Davis was buried in Oakwood Cemetery in Austin, Mower County, Minnesota, on May 28, 1875. On June 3, 1875, Austin Lodge, No. 20 of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, published this statement in the city's newspaper: "Hall of Austin Lodge No. 20 I.O.O.F., A. A. Harwood having been appointed a committee for the preparation of Resolutions commemorative of Bro. R. B. Davis, deceased, presented the following report, which was unanimously adopted, June 1st, 1875, viz: WHEREAS, He, without whose notice not even a sparrow falls to the ground, has suffered death to remove our beloved brother, not from our fraternal circle only, but from the life which now is, to that which awaits each one of us; and WHEREAS, In his departure we find new evidence that everything human is mortal; that the tenure of life is uncertain and that it is but a single step from the activities of the world, to the silence of the grave: therefore RESOLVED, That we now and here renew our pledge of constancy to each other, and of fidelity to truth; and that we re-consecrate ourselves to the illustration of those virtues, and the promotion of those principles which constitute the rule of a correct life. RESOLVED, That benevolence, generosity, and disinterested friendship were distinguishing traits in the character of our deceased brother, rendering him at all times more willing to suffer an injury than to inflict one. RESOLVED, That we will be constrained by his example to emulate the good and to avoid the evil, which, strangely associated, wander together through every avenue of this life. RESOLVED, That to the widow and children of the deceased, we extend the sympathy of brothers--ready at all times to render that material aid which the exigencies of their situation may demand, and the rules of the order permit. RESOLVED, That as a mark of respect for deceased, the principal chairs of the Lodge be draped in mourning for the period of thirty days. RESOLVED, That the Secretary be instructed to enter this preamble and these resolutions upon the records of his office and transmit a copy of the same to the widow of the deceased, and also to the city papers for publication." After Russell had died and been buried, his wife, Olive, moved back to "her eastern home" in the State of New York, bringing her children with her to receive their education in New York. Unfortunately, her only daughter, Beatrice, died in 1883 at the age of 9 years old. Beatrice was later buried next to her father in Oakwood Cemetery. The only child of Russell and Olive Davis who would survive to adulthood was their son, Frank. In 1893, Olive and her son moved to South Dakota, where they would remain for the duration of their lives. Olive would never remarry and died in 1921 at the age of 76 years old. Frank Harry Ticknor Davis would die in 1945 at the age of 78.

Contributor: Robert Mayer III (50468536)