Headstone Info: J. J. Frazee (Mrs I. I.) sister

Amanda Keron Davidson was the 8th of 11 children born to Jacob Ellis Davidson and Mary Bowles Winn. Her father, a native of Kentucky, was a Farmer. He had married her mother, a native of Virginia, on February 16, 1826 in Barren, Kentucky. They remained in Kentucky, [where their 1st six children were born] until 1833 or 1834 when they relocated to Illinois, where Amanda's monument states she was born. The next son, Norville, was born in 1839, in Iowa and 2 younger sisters, Isabella Irene and Missouri Vitula, were born in Missouri as well as the youngest child, Alexander. The family came West to Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, California in 1852. By June 1870, census records showed her parents had a farm valued at $14,000. Five children, including Amanda, still lived in the family's home. Smith Ellis, age 43, was listed as a farmer. Younger brother Norville, age 30, was listed as a "Daguerrian"[pre-tin type photographer] ; younger sister Isabella, 26, was listed "at home" and younger brother Alexander, 23, was a farm hand. Many changes occurred during the following decade and by 1880, when the census was taken on June 17, 1880, Amanda was still living with her parents (as was the custom), who were now living on Morgan St. in Santa Rosa. Her father, now 78, still listed himself as a Farmer, but her mother, now 75, was listed as having "paralysis". Smith Ellis, now 53, continued to farm their land and Amanda, now 43, was listed as "at home". I would assume she cared for her mother and performed the chores her mother once had as well as other duties so the farm continued to operate. Her mother died on May 23rd, 1883 and was buried at the Santa Rosa Rural Cemetery. Her father followed on November 25th, 1884 and was interred next to his wife of 57 years. Smith Ellis moved into a boarding situation although he continued to farm the land where he and his family had lived for many years. He was killed on April 18th, 1906 when debris from the San Francisco 1906 Earthquake fell on him, killing him. Santa Rosa felt the quake quite strongly as did many other towns thru out the area. Amanda was also in a room and board situation, living with Maria Whiteley who had five persons boarding in her home. Amanda died on November 22nd, 1906 and was buried at Santa Rosa Rural Cemetery, sharing a monument with her sister Missouri Vitula Davidson, who had died 50 years before her. May they all Rest in Peace in Paradise.
Amanda and Missouri Davidson were my 2nd cousins, 4x removed, as their father, Jacob Ellis Davidson, was one of my Davidson 1st cousins 5x removed.
Respectfully submitted October 2020
by Kathie L. Webb Blair, Portland, Oregon