My Genealogy Hound

PROF. JOHN DAVIS, minister, educator, author, inventor and manufacturer, sprang from a Welsh and Irish ancestry, whose sympathies and services were identified with those of the father of our country in securing the liberties we now enjoy. William Davis and James Johnston, his paternal and maternal grandfathers, were Presbyterians by birth and profession, and entered the colonial army in the early history of the American Revolution, serving officially therein till peace was declared, after which they settled in Western Pennsylvania, where the former died, aged eighty-five years, and the latter aged one hundred and five, and Isabella Scott, wife of the former, aged seventy-five years, and Mary McClelland, wife of the latter, at the age of eighty-five. Henry Davis, the eldest son of William, and father of John, was born in 1787, and acquired early in life a classical and mathematical education. With the spirit and loyalty of his father to our flag he entered the American army in 1812, and remained as an officer therein till the troops were disbanded. He was for many years eminent in his profession as land-surveyor and civil engineer, and at various times held offices of public interest in both church and state. He was a man of vigorous intellect, stern integrity and unfaltering fidelity in the discharge of both private and public duties. At the age of twenty-four he married Jane Johnston, a lady of sterling qualities, and resident of Beaver county, Pa., where the subject of this sketch, John Davis, was born in 1821, and where his father died, aged seventy-four years, and his mother, aged eighty.

The mental traits of the father being inherited by the son, he was put early in life under the tuition of a private instructor. Having advanced in his studies sufficiently to enter regular academic classes, he enjoyed the advantages of several of the best educational institutions of our country.

Minister. Choosing the gospel ministry as a profession, he was graduated from the Western Theological Seminary in 1848, and while a post-graduate, the following year, in Princeton Theological Seminary, was unanimously elected pastor of a large and flourishing congregation in West Virginia. But his health being somewhat impaired by a long course of study, he declined this pastorate, and by medical advice retired from public duty for a time to recuperate. In this interim two pastoral calls were tendered him, one of which he accepted, and was ordained in 1851. The strain incident to public speaking in a few months induced him to resign his charge and enter upon the teacher’s profession, in which he labored for about thirty years. In 1853 he was married to Emeline Hays, a lady of culture and refinement, and fourth daughter of James H. Hays, many years identified with the coal interests of Pittsburgh. Resulting from this marriage was one daughter, Eva Hays Davis, a lady of liberal attainments and wife of William S. Huselton, M. D., one of the leading physicians and surgeons of Allegheny City.

Educator. Marked success crowned the efforts of Prof. Davis as an organizer, administrator and instructor in the higher departments of education, as well as in the management and supervision of public instruction in Allegheny City, and the imprint of his scholarly attainments and tact is reflected by many of her citizens and others who now adorn the learned professions and other honorable pursuits.

Author. Eminent as he was as an educator, he was equally so as an author. Being a zealous student of the natural sciences, their rich treasures were unfolded to his view, which took both form and expression in the various works which fell from his pen. They are fundamental in their character, dealing more with principle than with detail, and are used mainly as students’ textbooks in our educational institutions, and also in similar institutions of some foreign countries, in acquiring a knowledge of mathematical geography and astronomy.

Inventor. And to economize both time and labor, in acquiring a knowledge of mathematical geography and astronomy, he invented a series of instruments, now in practical use, whereby these sciences are illustrated with fidelity, and may be comprehended by the youthful mind at a glance. The largest of the series represents more than eighty movements of the principal bodies belonging to the solar system, and is the only one of its kind in existence.

Besides these educational improvements he has made many others, by applying science to the industries, which are now being manufactured under patent protection with profit, in various localities of our country, and several more of equal or still greater utility will ere long be brought into public use.