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Below is a family biography included in The History of Miami County, Ohio published by W. H. Beers & Co. in 1880.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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ALLEN H. DAVIS, farmer, retired; P. O. West Milton; born Sept. 16, 1815, on the place on which he resides; is a son of Samuel and Dorcas (Jones) Davis. They were born in the State of Georgia, and with their parents removed to Ohio in the year 1803 or 1804. They first settled for a short time in Preble Co., in order that he might prospect here and locate a home. On Section 17, he found the desired place, and was influenced by three springs, which were so situated as to give his sons, who came with him, homes with the advantage of never-failing water. At this time, the face of the country was so densely covered with forest that they were obliged to cut a road through the woody labyrinth of their new home in order to have access to their neighbors, some three miles south. They set to work to erect a cabin, using only such material as the forest would give. Their father, Abiatha, owned a horse, and he carried his hardy sons provisions, while they were felling the trees, and erecting the house, they camping out while doing the work. After its completion, the family moved into their new quarters, which was either in the fall of 1803, or the spring of 1804. His son John settled at the north spring; Samuel, father of our subject, at the south one; Abiatha himself locating at the center one; Benjamin inherited his father’s place at the center spring. On these farms his sons made permanent homes for years, and reared their families. In after years, Benjamin disposed of his and removed to Iowa, where he died in 1876. The other sons John and Samuel remained on their forest homes till their decease. Amos, eldest son of Abiatha, settled in Preble Co., from where he removed to Iowa, where he subsequently died. Samuel Davis departed this life June 30, 1870, aged about 84 years, his wife having died previously. They were parents of six children, three of whom are living, viz., Riley, Allen H. and Mary (now Mrs. Curtis). The deceased are Keziah, Nancy and Lindley. Abiatha was the father of four sons and three daughters, viz., Amos, Rachel, Samuel, John, Sallie, Lydia and Benjamin, Our subject was reared on his father’s farm, and, until he was 16 years of age, labored thereon, then went to Troy, in which place he learned the printer’s trade with John T. Tullis, with whom he remained more than a year, when, on account of failing health, he was obliged to abandon the printer’s sanctum, and immediately thereafter engaged in teaching, which he followed about seven years, exclusively in this county. Dec. 13, 1838, he celebrated his marriage with Nancy Hale, a daughter of John Hale, who was a native of Maryland; he removed to this county in 1836 or 1837. After his marriage, our subject followed teaching and farming for a short time, when he was elected Justice of the Peace. The accumulation of official business required so much time that teaching had to be abandoned. In 1840, he located on 120 acres of land, in Section 12, that he had purchased the year previous; his land was partly improved, and he soon added 40 acres. Here he lived until 1867, at which time he returned to the old home farm, for the purpose of making the remaining years of his parents comfortable. He now owns the old homestead, and his declining years are being spent in the shadow of the odd dwelling. He has held the office of Justice of the Peace for twelve years, and has also filled the office of School Director and Superintendent of Public Instruction. His education was received in the common schools, in which, by dint of hard labor and studious habits, he stored his mind with useful knowledge, a great deal of which was obtained without the aid of an instructor. Five children have been given to them, of whom four are living, viz., Olive, N., Malcolm H., Alma A.; Mary and Martha deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Davis have been members of the Christian Church for ten years, in which they are zealous workers, discharging every Christian duty with cheerfulness. Their children, with the exception of one, are co-workers with their parents in the church, which is a source of satisfaction to their aged parents.

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This family biography is one of 964 biographies included in The History of Miami County, Ohio published in 1880 by W. H. Beers & Co.  For the complete description, click here: Miami County, Ohio History and Genealogy

View additional Miami County, Ohio family biographies here: Miami County, Ohio Biographies

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