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Below is a family biography included in the History of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania published in 1889 by A. Warner & Co.   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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JOHN B. DAVIS, proprietor of Davis View general store, Elizabeth, is a son of Francis and Mary A. (Wilson) Davis, and was born in what is now Lincoln township, this county, in 1839. In 1705 his great-grandfather, Francis Davis, moved from Maryland to Big Sewickley creek, near West Newton, Pa., where for many years he owned a farm, and reared a large family, chiefly boys. Of these Ephraim (grandfather of our subject) for many years lived at the mouth of Turtle creek, on the Monongahela river, the place being now known as Port Perry. His sons were William, a farmer and doctor; Samuel, a farmer; John, a Baptist minister and doctor, and Francis (father of John B.), who was a farmer, a manufacturer of barrels and general merchant. The daughters of Ephraim Davis were Nancy, Polly and Hannah, all married well. Hannah became the wife of the youngest son of Judge Wallace of the superior court in Pittsburgh, owning then the greater part of Braddock as a farm.

Francis Davis was born on the farm now owned by Wilson Wall, near Elizabeth, and lived for many years near West Newton. He was married to Mary Ann Wilson, whose mother was a daughter of Col. Louder, of Philadelphia, and witnessed Washington’s grand reception in that city. Mr. and Mrs. Francis Davis lived many years at what is now called Davis View, one and a half miles below Elizabeth, on the Monongahela river, in Lincoln township. The father died Aug. 16, 1883, aged eighty-two; the mother, April 28, 1864. Of their sons, John B. (unmarried) and E. A. survive (latter of whom was for eight years postmaster at Elizabeth, and also a merchant there and in Allegheny), and of their daughters there are yet living Mrs. McNaught, a widow, residing on the old homestead at Davis View, and Mrs. R. A. Tower, also a widow, now living in Allegheny.

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This family biography is one of 2,156 biographies included in the History of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania published in 1889 by A. Warner & Co.

View additional Allegheny County, Pennsylvania family biographies here: Allegheny County, Pennsylvania Biographies

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