My Genealogy Hound

M. T. Davis one of the firm of the Aurora Mercantile Company, was born in Tyler County, W. Va., December 12, 1848, and is a son of Absalom and Sarah (Holmes) Davis, who were also natives of West Virginia, and of Scotch descent. The Davis family settled in Virginia at an early day, the paternal grandfather, Jonathan being a soldier in the Mexican War. He died in Pike County, Mo., in 1863. The father of M. T. Davis was a farmer by occupation, and remained in Virginia until 1852, when he moved westward and located in Pike County, Mo and there resided until his death, which occurred in 1873. His widow is still residing on the old homestead. They were the parents of six children, five of whom are living: Napoleon, Mansfield T., Elizabeth J. (wife of H. M. Hopke), Asa M. and Emma (wife of J. T. Malone). Virginia is deceased. M. T. Davis was reared in Pike County, Mo., and was educated in the common schools, and attended college for about five months. He remained on the farm until nineteen years of age, and then began clerking in a store at New Hartford, continuing that occupation for two years. He was then taken into partnership, and the firm was known as Motley & Davis until 1874, when Mr. Davis sold his interest, and began merchandising for himself at Wellsville, Mo. In 1877 he came to Aurora and began merchandising with J. B. Miller, and has continued the same up to the present time. They carry a very large and select stock of goods and employ ten clerks in their store and bank, the latter institution being organized the same time the store was. He is cashier of the bank and is secretary and treasurer of the mercantile company. Mr. Davis was first married in 1875 to Mary N. Stone, of Warren County, who died in 1881, having borne two children, only one of whom is living, Ernest E. The one deceased was Katie. In 1883 he was united in marriage to Addie H. Gibson, of Lawrence County by whom he has two children: Allen M. and Millie A. Mr. Davis is a Mason, and a Knight Templar in the same.