My Genealogy Hound

William A. Davis, a prominent merchant of Bay Siding, is a native of Georgia, born September 7, 1843, and is a son of John and Margaret (Lewis) Davis, natives of South Carolina. The parents passed their youth in their native State, and soon after their marriage moved to Georgia, and there reared their family. The father engaged very successfully in farming until his death, in 1857. His wife died about eighteen months later. W. A. Davis, the immediate subject of this sketch, attained his majority in Georgia, and became familiar in his boyhood home with intelligent farming. In 1873 he came to Craighead County, Ark., and located on Crowley’s Ridge, where he engaged in farming until 1888. He then moved to Bay Siding, purchased a lot, erected a building and engaged in merchandising. He keeps a good stock of general merchandise, and by polite attention, energy and fair dealing, has established a good custom, doing an annual business of about $12,000. In the fall of 1888 he was married in this county to Miss Jane Tyler, born and reared in this State. She died eighteen months later leaving one child, Henry, now a lad of seven years. In 1884 he selected as his second wife, Laura Martin, a native of Arkansas, and this union has been blessed by two children: Josephine and Lura. Mrs. Davis is a member of the Baptist Church, and is active and zealous in all church work.