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Below is a family biography included in the Biographical Annals of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania published in 1904 by T. S. Benham & Company and The Lewis Publishing Company; Elwood Roberts, Editor.  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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THE DAVIS FAMILY. The first ancestor of whom we have any authentic information was Samuel Davis, born in Wales in 1710, who with three brothers came to America and settled in Plymouth township, where he purchased a large tract of land. May 24, 1736, he married Jane Rees, daughter of John and Hannah Rees, and their children were: David, born February 4, 1737; John, born September 6, 1738; Stephen, born October 3, 1740; Hannah, born July I, 1743; Katherine, born July 3, 1744; Samuel, born January 1, 1747; Mary, born October 19, 1750; and Daniel, born May 3, 1751. The mother of these children died in giving birth to her youngest child. In 1753 Samuel Davis married Susannah Hughes, a widow, and their children were: William, born March 25, 1754, died in infancy; and Thomas, born August 9, 1756.

Stephen Davis, son of Samuel and Jane Davis; married Mary Shafer, and their children were: Susan, born June 18, 1766; Rees, born October 13, 1769; Stephen, born July 18, 1777; Catherine, born 1767; Daniel, born June 6, 1772; Betsey, born 1775; Samuel, born 1782; Mary, born 1784; and Hannah, born 1785. Stephen Davis, father of these children, died November 11, 1808, survived by his widow, who passed away September 21, 1825.

Rees Davis, son of Stephen and Mary Davis, married Rebecca Roberts, and their children were: Thomas, Rebecca, William, mentioned hereinafter, and Daniel.

William Davis, son of Rees and Rebecca Davis, was born in Plymouth township, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, February 25, 1793. He was reared and educated in his native county, and during his active years of life was extensively engaged in wagoning and hauling freight to and from Philadelphia during the erection of the buildings of Girard college, and he hauled much of the marble building stone from Upper Merion township to the college grounds. The latter years of his life were spent in West Conshohocken, where he was regarded as an exemplary citizen. He married Phoebe Supplee, born March 13, 1791, daughter of John and Rachel Supplee, and their children were: Jane, born January 6, 1812, died young; Rachel, born September 7, 1814, died young; Rebecca, born September 21, 1816, became the wife of Godfrey M. Young; Evan, born September 13, 1818, died young; Mary, born June 4, 1820, became the wife of David Horton; Catherine, born April 11, 1823, died young; Mark, born May 3, 1825, died young; William, born September 13, 1826; Charles, born December 2, 1828; Rees, born October 23, 1830, died young; George W., born July 13, 1832; and Andrew, born May 7, 1835, died young. The mother of these children died November 24, 1862. Mr. Davis chose for his second wife Lydia Supplee, born February 28, 1797. There was no issue of this marriage. Mr. Davis died August 15, 1878, aged eighty-four years. Mr. Davis and also his son, William Davis, Jr., were instrumental and rendered important service in the organization of and procuring the franchise for the erection of the Matsonsford bridge across the Schuylkill river at West Conshohocken.

William Davis, Jr., son of William and Phoebe Davis, was born near the old Swede church in Upper Merion township, Montgomery county, September 13, 1826. When about the age of three years he came with his parents to West Conshohocken, where he was reared to manhood and attended the schools of the neighborhood. He remained under the parental roof until about the age of twenty, when he began business on his own account in the anthracite coal trade. In 1850 Mr. Davis engaged in mercantile business at West Conshohocken in partnership with his brother, Charles Davis, and his brother-in-law, David Horton, under the firm name of William Davis, Jr. & Co. This business arrangement was successfully continued up to 1860, when the firm was reorganized, William Davis, Jr., and his brother, George Davis, constituting the firm, which then engaged in the lumber and coal trade in addition to the mercantile department, at West Conshohocken, and continued up to 1870. In that year George Davis withdrew from the firm, and William Davis. Jr. conducted the business alone up to 1877, when he admitted his two sons-William Egbert and Reese P.- into partnership. This arrangement was successfully continued by the father and sons, and under their united and well- directed efforts the business was developed to one of the most important enterprises in West Conshohocken, the firm name of William Davis, Jr. & Co. becoming well and favorably known for their straightforward and honorable business methods. In 1902 the firm relinquished the mercantile department of their business and has since entirely confined their efforts to their lumber and coal trade, which has now attained to considerable magnitude.

William Davis, Jr., has proved himself worthy of commendation, and by his enterprise and progressiveness has contributed to the material advancement of the neighborhood in which his active years of life have been spent. He was one of the charter members of the First National Bank of Conshohocken, and served as a member of the board of directors for many years; he also served for many years as treasurer of the Merion Building and Loan Association. For about a quarter of a century he was a member of the school board, taking an active interest in the advancement and improvement of the educational system, and in fact it can be truthfully said that Mr. Davis gave liberally of his time and substance for every enterprise that had for its object the advancement of the material and moral welfare of the community. During recent years, owing to the impairment of his hearing, he partially relinquished active business pursuits, leaving the details of his business interests to others.

On June 1, 1853, Mr. Davis was married to Emily Yocum Egbert, daughter of David N. and Maria (Yocum) Egbert, of Lower Merion township, and her birth occurred May 13, 1826. Their children were: Julia D., born April 7, 1854, died April 2, 1863; William Egbert, born July 7, 1855; Reese P., born August 30, 1857; Francis M., born August 17, 1859, died April 3, 1863; Emily Yocum, born November 27, 1866; and Clarence H., born September 16, 1869; died in 1874.

Reese P. Davis, son of William and Emily Y. Davis, was married October 6, 1887, to Jennie J. Henderson, born November 16, 1861, died August 10, 1895, daughter of Charles and Mary Emily (Rambo) Henderson, of Upper Merion township, Montgomery county. To this marriage were born two children: John Kersey, born February 24, 1891; and Emily Mary, born December 19, 1894. On September 13, 1898, Reese P. Davis married Virginia N. Dunglison, who was born March 15, 1860, daughter of J. Robley and Bella (Wallace) Dunglison, and granddaughter of the celebrated Dr. Robley Dunglison, who came from England by request of Thomas Jefferson to take charge of the Medical Department of the University of Virginia, and who later became dean of the Jefferson Medical College of Philadelphia. Dr. Dunglison became famous as a writer and lecturer, and was the author of the “Dunglison Medical Dictionary,” which has become known the world over. Two children were the issue of the marriage of Reese P. and Virginia Norris (Dunglison) Davis, namely: Norris Dunglison, born July 5, 1899; and William, born March 11, 1901.

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This family biography is one of more than 1,000 biographies included in the Biographical Annals of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania published in 1904 by T. S. Benham & Company and The Lewis Publishing Company.  For the complete description, click here: Biographical Annals of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania

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

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