1823
James E. Davis received as a candidate for the ministry October 14, 1823.
Candidate - Illinois Presbytery - Cumberland Synod
[Source: [Source: Logan, J. B. History of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Illinois, Containing Sketches of the First Ministers, Churches, Presbyteries and Synods; also a History of Missions, Publication and Education. Alton, Ill.: Perrin & Smith, 1878, page 35]

1825
James E. Davis was licensed to preach October 11, 1825 at Village church, White county, Illinois.
Minister - Illinois Presbytery - Cumberland Synod
[Source: [Source: Logan, J. B. History of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Illinois, Containing Sketches of the First Ministers, Churches, Presbyteries and Synods; also a History of Missions, Publication and Education. Alton, Ill.: Perrin & Smith, 1878, page 37]

1836
Resolved, That a new Presbytery (Mackinaw) be stricken from Sangamon Presbytery, to be composed of the following members, Neill Johnson, James McDowell, James E. Davis and Archibald Johnson.
[Source: Logan, J. B. History of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Illinois, Containing Sketches of the First Ministers, Churches, Presbyteries and Synods; also a History of Missions, Publication and Education. Alton, Ill.: Perrin & Smith, 1878, page 70]

1836
Marion congregation of the Cumberland Church was organized November 6, 1836 by Rev. James E. Davis.
Marion Cumberland Presbyterian Church, De Witt, De Witt County, Illinois. Name changed to Ewing in 1890. Name changed to De Witt in 1890. Became PCUSA in 1907. Dissolved in 1921.
[Source: Inventory of the Church Archives of Illinois Cumberland Presbyterian Church.1942, page 79]

1837
James E. Davis
Minister - Mackinaw Presbytery - Sangamon Synod
Commissioner to General Assembly in Princeton, Kentucky, May 3, 1837.
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1837]

1838
James E. Davis, with his elder John Dickey were present at the meeting of Sangamon Synod on October 18, 1838.
Minister - Mackinaw Presbytery - Sangamon Synod
[Source: Logan, J. B. History of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Illinois, Containing Sketches of the First Ministers, Churches, Presbyteries and Synods; also a History of Missions, Publication and Education. Alton, Ill.: Perrin & Smith, 1878, page 71]

1856
James E. Davis, Hopedale, Ill.
Minister - Mackinaw Presbytery - Sangamon Synod
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1856, page 60]

1860
James E. Davis, Hopedale, Ills.
Minister - Mackinaw Presbytery - Sangamon Synod
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1860, page 99]

DAVIES, JAMES E.--Was born in Mechlenburg County, N.C., October 20, 1787. He was a child of pious parents and received the benefit of early religious training, and during the great revival of 1800 he became converted and made a profession of religion.

Rev. Archibald Johnson, of Atlanta, Illinois, furnishes the following record:--"His way to the ministry at that time was quite difficult. To come up to the standard of the Presbyterian Church was almost impossible, and such as were licensed or ordained without the literary qualifications required by the Confession of Faith, were licensed and ordained under protest by the most orthodox members of Presbytery, and even those who voted for such licensures and ordinations, had no thought of changing the policy of the Church, or continuing the practice longer than obvious necessity required it. On April 20, 1809, he married Miss Mary Taylor, of Wilson County, Tenn., whither he had removed with his father some years before. This circumstance made it more difficult for him to prepare for the ministry than ever. Even after the modification of the Confession of Faith by the Cumberland Presbyterians, a poor man with a dependent family could not well take the time to obtain what was made indispensable. It was also expected that each candidate would itinerate for some years, and thus learn to preach by practice. This was impracticable for a man with a family. Then the Churches lacked faith as to the success of such, and many would do all they could to discourage them. Invidious distinctions would sometimes be made between the married and unmarried. Bunyan's Giant Grim has crippled some, and conquered others of this class. In 1818 Father Davies removed from Tennessee to Jefferson County, Illinois, where he resided for eleven years. During this time he was licensed to preach by the Illinois Presbytery, which was erected by the General Synod in 1822. About this time I became acquainted with him, and have known and loved him ever since. I was present when he made his first effort after he joined Presbytery. His remarks were based on the words of Nicodemus, 'How can these things be?' He was quite short, yet the congregation pronounced it a success. In 1829 he moved to Tazewell County, Illinois, where he has resided ever since. He was ordained by Sangamon Presbytery some twenty-seven or Twenty-eight years ago, and he lived in the bounds and was made a member of Mackinaw Presbytery, when it was formed, in 1836. He was very punctual in attending the judicatures of the Church, and spent much time in preaching until age and hard labor so enfeebled him that, at this own request, both Synod and Presbytery excused him from attending their sessions, only at his own discretion. He was not what might be called a great preacher, but was emphatically a good man, a man of much prayer."

He died at his residence, at Hopedale, Illinois, October 22, 1862. His end was peace.
[Source: The Presbyterian Historical Almanac, 1863]

"In the Fall of 1830, JAMES E. DAVIS, a licentiate, moved from Southern Illinois, and settled near what is now Hopedale. He professed religion early in life, and had deep impressions that it was his duty to preach, but never joined Presbytery till the Fall of 1823, the second meeting of Illinois Presbytery. He was then some forty years of age, had but little education, had a large family, and pecuniarily was only in moderate circumstances. He was licensed in 1825, and was ordained by the Sangamon Presbytery in 1834. He was able in prayer and exhortation, and had a few discourses that he preached acceptably and ably. He went several times to the General Assembly. He lived to a good old age, raised a respectable family, several of whom died before he did."
[Source: Logan, J. B. History of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Illinois, Containing Sketches of the First Ministers, Churches, Presbyteries and Synods; also a History of Missions, Publication and Education. Alton, Ill.: Perrin & Smith, 1878, pages 102-103]