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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Chautauqua County, New York published by John M. Gresham & Co. in 1891.  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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GILBERT L. DAVIS is an artisan of recognized ability, whose well-trained hand has erected some of the most substantial and sightly buildings at the village of Falconer. He is a son of Simeon C. and Betsy P. (Benson) Davis and was born in the town of Carroll, this county, June 14, 1828. He is a grandson of Rev. Paul Davis, who came to the town of Carroll from the State of Vermont in 1816. Rev. Davis resided in Carroll until he died in 1826. He was an orthodox minister of the Baptist church, a pioneer — one of the first in that section, and he was a liberal and fair-minded man. Consider Benson, his maternal grandfather, was born in New Salem, Massachusetts, on September 4, 1766, and came to New York in 1816, where he followed farming at Carroll, Chautauqua county. During the second war with England he carried an old flint-lock musket and served throughout the struggle as a private. His death occurred at Falconer, April 3, 1855. He married Hannah Purington, in Massachusetts, and became the father of seven children. Simeon C. Davis was born at Wordsborough, Vermont, October 15, 1788, and lived on a farm until twenty-one years of age. He received a good education for that period and then learned masoning, which he pursued in connection with his farming. In 1814 he came to Chautauqua county and spent twenty-two years here farming and working at his trade. On the 11th day of August, 1814, he married Lydia Tobey, who bore him four children: Simeon C., Jr., died in June, 1890; Mary married A. F. Fairbank and died in 1873; Joseph died February 12, 1888; and John T., is now living in the town of Carroll, an industrious and thriving farmer. His first wife died on January 19, 1822, and September 26, 1822, he married Betsy P. Benson. The latter also became the mother of four children: Lydia A., married George A. Hall, of Kiantone town, died in 1873; Susan P. is the wife of Milo Van Namee, also of Kiantone; Gilbert L.; and Josiah, the latter a prominent engineer and surveyor of Jamestown. Simeon C. Davis was a whig and being a popular man, was elected to several of the town offices, his party being dominant at that time. He was strongly attached to the Baptist church and contributed very liberally to its support. When the country had been drained of its supply of men, who had gone into the army during the early war, he was one of the active promoters in organizing the boys’ regiment of home guards, which did such effective service in defending the frontier at Plattsburg, Vt. Simeon C. Davis was a public-spirited and generous man, patriotic and self-denying. He died in Carroll, May 12, 1836.

Gilbert L. Davis was born and educated a farmer and although he has learned the trade of carpentering, the fascinations of farm life cling to him and he makes his trade subservient to the tilling of the soil. He came to the town of Ellicott in 1875 and has since resided there.

On June 22, 1847, he married Adeline Van Namee, and reared three children: George G. was born May 9, 1848, and died November 2, 1885. He was educated in the common branches of English instruction and then went to the Medical department of the University of Michigan, from which he took the degree of M.D., following his graduation, he practiced at Frewsburg, New York, for fifteen years; James A. died in 1861, when twelve years of age; and Murray H. is a carpenter and joiner living at home.

Politically, Mr. Davis is a republican and takes an active interest in local affairs. He is now serving as justice of the peace, a position which he has held for fifteen years; besides this many offices of minor importance have been filled by him. Mr. Davis is a member of the Congregational church and has been prominently identified with improving the educational facilities of Falconer for many years.

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This family biography is one of 658 biographies included in Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Chautauqua County, New York published in 1891. 

View additional Chautauqua County, New York family biographies here: Chautauqua County, New York Biographies

View a map of 1897 Chautauqua County, New York here: Chautauqua County, New York Map

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