James Bailey Davis (KWJX-KR1)and Catherine Kirby (KWJX-KRB) a Heber Fort Family written by Jason Moulton

James Bailey Davis was born on 19 February 1827, in Wilsford, Wiltshire, England, United Kingdom, his father, Robert Davis, was 31 and his mother, Mary Ann Bailey, was 25. He married Catherine Kirby on 11 December 1855, in Bountiful, Davis, Utah, United States. They were the parents of at least 4 sons and 4 daughters. He immigrated to Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah, United States in 1853 He died on 5 January 1915, in Orangeville, Emery, Utah, United States, at the age of 87, and was buried in Orangeville, Emery, Utah,

Catherine Kirby was born on 15 January 1831, in Grahamstown, Albany, Cape Province, South Africa, her father, Robert Kirby, was 26 and her mother, Ellen Coughlan, was 25. She married George Hayter Jr about 1850, in England, United Kingdom. They were the parents of at least 1 daughter. She lived in Washington, Utah, United States in 1870 and Panaca, Lincoln, Nevada, United States in 1880. She died on 28 June 1900, in Orangeville, Emery, Utah, United States, at the age of 69, and was buried in Orangeville Cemetery, Orangeville, Emery, Utah, United States.

Catherine married James Bailey Davis, 11 December 1855. Her daughter, Agnes was adopted by James Davis. Catherine and her husband were real pioneers. They helped to build up Bountiful. While there they had two children, Joseph Henry, born March 1856, and Mary, born Aug 1857.

Between 1859-60, James and Catherine moved to Heber and built their cabin in the Heber Fort on the north side. The winters were bitter and there were snow slides in the canyon cutting Heber off from Provo valley. They lived in Heber until 1868/69 when they were called to settle in Southern Utah and Nevada. They moved to Panaca, Nevada where James Bailey Davis was listed as an Elder on the Panaca records in 1869. They lived in a dugout until James could build a home. When they moved into their cherished home they had the first coal-oil lamp in Panaca.

In about 1884 they moved to Orangeville, Utah. James made his living being a “shoe Cobbler” he was also a builder of homes. James was a marvelous musician and entertained on many occasions by playing his violin. Catherine died June 28, 1900. James, died January 6th 1915. They are both buried in the Orangeville, Utah cemetery.

Children of James and Catherine

Joseph H. Davis was born on 9 May 1856, in Bountiful, Davis, Utah, United States, his father, James Bailey Davis, was 29 and his mother, Catherine Kirby, was 25. He married Emma Keele on 7 March 1878, in St. George Utah Temple, St. George, Washington, Utah, United States. They were the parents of at least 1 son and 4 daughters. He lived in Lincoln, Nevada, United States in 1900 and Meadow Valley Wash, Lincoln, Nevada, United States in 1900. He died on 19 December 1923, in Corvallis, Benton, Oregon, United States, at the age of 67, and was buried in Corvallis, Benton, Oregon, United States.

Mary Catherine Davis was born on 22 August 1857, in Bountiful, Davis, Utah, United States, her father, James Bailey Davis was 30 and her mother, Catherine Kirby, was 26. She married Edward Samuel Gentry on 17 November 1873, in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah, United States. They were the parents of at least 5 sons and 4 daughters. She lived in Nevada, United States in 1870 and Washington, Utah, United States in 1870. She died on 5 May 1936, in Panaca, Lincoln, Nevada, United States, at the age of 78, and was buried in Panaca, Lincoln, Nevada, United States.

James Davis was born on 15 March 1860, in Heber City, Wasatch, Utah, United States, his father, James Bailey Davis, was 33 and his mother, Catherine Kirby, was 29. He married Sarah Ann Geary on 11 September 1882, in Panaca, Lincoln, Nevada, United States. They were the parents of at least 4 sons and 2 daughters. He lived in Washington, Utah, United States in 1870 and Panaca, Lincoln, Nevada, United States in 1880. He died on 25 April 1900, in Otto, Fremont, Wyoming, United States, at the age of 40, and was buried in Burlington Cemetery, Burlington, Big Horn, Wyoming, United States.,

Ellen Catherine Davis was born on 14 May 1862, in Heber City, Wasatch, Utah, United States, her father, James Bailey Davis, was 35 and her mother, Catherine Kirby, was 31. She married Joseph Stanton Grange on 22 October 1878, in Panaca, Lincoln, Nevada, United States. They were the parents of at least 2 sons and 6 daughters. She lived in Nevada, United States in 1870 and Panaca, Lincoln, Nevada, United States in 1880. She died on 15 December 1950, in Orangeville, Emery, Utah, United States, at the age of 88, and was buried in Orangeville, Emery, Utah, United States.

Annie Davis was born on 2 September 1864, in Heber City, Wasatch, Utah, United States, her father, James Bailey Davis, was 37 and her mother, Catherine Kirby, was 33. She married Frank Carroll on 23 August 1883, in Lincoln, Nevada, United States. They were the parents of at least 3 sons and 2 daughters. She lived in Yerington, Lyon, Nevada, United States in 1930 and Ogden City Legislative District 1, Ogden City Election Precinct, Weber, Utah, United States in 1940. She died on 7 May 1958, in Ogden, Weber, Utah, United States, at the age of 93, and was buried in Mount Pleasant, Sanpete, Utah, United States.

William K Davis was born on 4 January 1868, in Utah, United States, his father, James Bailey Davis, was 40 and his mother, Catherine Kirby, was 36. He lived in Washington, Utah, United States in 1870 and Panaca, Lincoln, Nevada, United States in 1880. In 1910, at the age of 42, his occupation is listed as painter self-employed.

Robert Kirby Davis was born on 13 August 1870, in Panaca, Lincoln, Nevada, United States, his father, James Bailey Davis, was 43 and his mother, Catherine Kirby, was 39. He married Maud Merretta Miles on 12 May 1896. They were the parents of at least 4 sons and 5 daughters. He lived in Castle Dale, Emery, Utah, United States in 1900 and Orangeville, Emery, Utah, United States for about 10 years. He died on 3 May 1938, in Price, Carbon, Utah, United States, at the age of 67, and was buried in Orangeville, Emery, Utah, United States.

Emily Jane Davis was born on 22 March 1873, in Panaca, Lincoln, Nevada, United States, her father, James Bailey Davis, was 46 and her mother, Catherine Kirby, was 42. She married Benjamin Franklin Luke on 22 February 1893, in Orangeville, Emery, Utah, United States. They were the parents of at least 2 sons and 3 daughters. She lived in Orangeville, Emery, Utah, United States in 1910. She died on 20 September 1912, in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah, United States, at the age of 39, and was buried in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah, United States.

James and Catherine also had a stepdaughter from Catherine’s first marriage who was raised as their own child.

Agnes Maria Katherine Hayter was born on 2 June 1851, in London, England, her father, George Hayter Jr, was 21 and her mother, Catherine Kirby, was 20. She married Robert Gordon on 3 June 1870, in Panaca, Lincoln, Nevada, United States. They were the parents of at least 6 sons and 6 daughters. She lived in Washington, Utah, United States in 1870 and Clover, Tooele, Utah, United States in 1880. She died on 29 June 1909, in Huntington, Emery, Utah, United States, at the age of 58, and was buried in Huntington, Emery, Utah, United States.

Heber Valley Heritage Foundation