Note from the Author Larry Davenport: The following recipe has been part of my branch of the Davenport clan since the 1830 health crusades of Sylvester Graham. Women marrying into our family were expected to "prove their worth" by baking a perfect loaf. My mother, Gladys Buchanan Davenport, went a step further by perfecting the recipe itself, translating it into mid-20th century equivalents and measures. I've kept her use of Crisco ("crystallized cottonseed oil," an all-vegetable lard-replacing shortening introduced in 1911) in keeping with those times. [Editor's note: the Crisco is for greasing the pan; it does not actually get used in the batter.]