"Sarah Davis" [1799-November 15,1886]

Was one of the leading free African Creek merchants who lived in the Creek Agency settlement,west day Muskogee before (and after) the Civil War.Sarah was born in the Old Creek Nation in 1799 and was formerly a slave of William McIntosh's daughter Rebecca and accompanied the emigration party led by Ben Hawkins and John Sells to the Native American Territory in 1830.After Rebecca immigrated to Texas,Sarah was sold to D.N. Mcintosh and worked as a house slave/servant for him.By 1853,she had earned enough money to buy her freedom as well as freedom for her two daughters,Elizabeth & Julia.Sarah owned and operated a hotel/boarding house in the Creek Agency village which also offered entertainment.Her seven room establishment was frequented by travelers,traders and Native American Agency employees and earned a reputation as a friendly,clean,and convivial place.The popularity of Sarah's place probably had as much to do with her outgoing personality and the charms of her two daughters as with its being the only place within hundreds of miles where one could find a clean  bed and hot meals,dancing,and music,all under the same roof.Sarah also claimed and improved a considerable number of acres north of the Agency village toward the Arkansas River and established a thriving farm and ranch there with the help of her grandson,Joseph P.Davison.James Coody Johnson was also a grandson of Sarah's by her daughter Elizabeth.Sarah died at the creek agency.