My Genealogy Hound

JOHN DAVIS. In narrating the lives of many prominent citizens and old settlers of the county we find no one more worthy of mention, or whose long life of usefulness is more worthy to be chronicled, than John Davis. He is one of the county’s most worthy citizens as well as one of its oldest settlers and wealthiest farmers, and his honesty and integrity are proverbial in the community. He was born in Cambria County, Pa., January 14, 1820, and although he has passed the allotted age of man, three-score years and ten, time has dealt leniently with him, and he is still in the enjoyment of comparatively good health.

Benjamin Davis, his father, was a native of Wales, but when a small boy he came with an uncle to the United States. His father had died in the Old Country. The father of our subject grew to manhood in this country, and was married to Miss Catherine Williams, a native of Pennsylvania, where she was reared. Her father, Robert Williams, was a native of Wales and came to America when a young man. Mr. and Mrs. Davis were married in Pennsylvania, and in 1848 came to Michigan, locating in Berrien County, where they erected a log house. Mrs. Davis, the mother of our subject, died in this house a week after coming to Michigan. The father was eighty-three years of age at the time of his death. Their union gave them nine children, our subject being the third child in order of birth, and the second son.

The latter was reared and educated in his native State, and was twenty-eight years of age when he came to Michigan. Previous to that, when but eighteen years of age, he began learning the carpenter trade, and in 1844 was married in his native State to Miss Nancy Mills, who was born in Pittsburg, Pa., July 15, 1818. Her father, Robert Mills, was a native of Delaware, but died in Pittsburg, Pa. Her mother was also a native of Delaware, but died in Pennsylvania. They were the parents of six children, Mrs. Davis being the fourth daughter. After his marriage Mr. Davis located in Ebensburgh, Pa., and there resided until 1848, when, as before stated, he came to Michigan.

About 1861 Mr. Davis moved with his family to Berrien County and settled on his present farm. In 1862 he enlisted in Company F, Twenty-fifth Michigan Infantry, as a private, and served until the close of the war. He was promoted to the rank of Corporal, was in seventeen prominent engagements, and was with Sherman on his march to the sea, but never received a wound. He was honorably discharged at Salisbury, N.C., and subsequently returned to his farm. To Mr. and Mrs. Davis were born seven children. William E. died while serving his country; Charles L. is a prominent farmer of Niles Township; Francis A. is a traveling man; Alwilda A. is now in Nebraska; Frederica died when three years of age; Marshall H. died at the age of three months; and May E., wife of B. W. Tooley, resides in Kalamazoo, Mich.

Socially, Mr. Davis is a member of Frank Graves Post No. 64, G. A. R., at Niles. In politics he is a Democrat, but he voted for Abraham Lincoln in 1864. He has held a number of township offices, the most prominent being Township Treasurer and Justice of the Peace. Mrs. Davis has a Bible two hundred and forty-five years old, and a vest that her father wore when married.