Chester County PA Archives Biographies.....William H. DAVIS, 1865 - 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
J. Robison normadeplume@wmconnect.com December 4, 2008, 7:08 pm

Author: Joseph F. McFarland

From 20th century history of the city of Washington and Washington County, 
Pennsylvania' by Joseph F. McFarland 1910
     WILLIAM H. DAVIS was born in 1865 on the old Davis homestead, which is 
located in South Strabane Township, about three and a half miles east of 
Washington, Pa., and is a son of William and Mary (KERR) DAVIS.
     William DAVIS, great-grandfather of our subject, and a native of Scotland, 
emigrated to this country at an early period and located in Washington County, 
Pa., where he passed the remainder of his life engaged in farming.  He was the 
father of the following children:  Elizabeth, Thomas, Sarah, William, Samuel, 
Joshua and Rezin.  He was a member of the Presbyterian Church and in politics a 
Whig of the old school.  Joshua DAVIS, grandfather of subject, was born October 
6, 1787, in West Bethlehem Township, Washington County, and obtained his 
education in the subscription schools of the neighborhood.  He married Mary 
MCNEELANCE and to them were born the following children:  William, Lucinda, 
George, Eliza and Margaret.  After his marriage Joshua DAVIS made his home for 
some time in West Bethlehem Township, subsequently moving to Buffalo Township, 
where he resided until late in life, when he went to live with his son William, 
where he died October 10, 1864.  He was survived by his widow until June 6, 
1871, and both were interred in the Washington Cemetery.  He was a member of 
the Presbyterian Church.  In politics he was originally a Whig, and later stanch
Republican.
     William DAVIS, father of our subject, was born October 6, 1810, in West 
Bethlehem Township, where, during his boyhood days he attended the schools of 
the neighborhood. Early in life he began working on his father's farm in North 
Strabane Township, where he devoted his time to agricultural pursuits and the 
growing of Saxony sheep.  He was very successful in both these industries, his 
flock of sheep numbering at one time 1,100 head, and he accumulated over 500 
acres of fine farming land.  Mr. DAVIS was a member and for many years elder in 
the Presbyterian Church of Pigeon Creek, and during the later years of his life 
was an elder in the First Presbyterian Church of Washington, Pa.  For several 
years he was a director of the First National Bank of Washington and for a 
period of nine years a member of the Washington County Poor Board, and held 
various other township offices.  Mr. DAVIS was married (first) on January 28, 
1836, to Juliet PALMER, who died October 11, 1841, and by whom he was the 
father of three children:  George, John K., and Mary Elizabeth.  On September 
23, 1853, he was united in marriage with Mary KERR, who was born in 
Finleyville, a daughter of David KERR and a granddaughter of James KERR, a 
native of Chester County, Pa., and a descendant of stalwart Scotch-Irish 
ancestors.  To them was born a son, William H., who is the subject of this 
sketch.
     William H. DAVIS was reared on the old DAVIS homestead which has been in 
the family for over 60 years and obtained his education in the public schools 
and Washington and Jefferson College, where he attended two years.  Upon 
leaving college he retuned to the farm where he has been very successful, 
owning the Littleton Stock Farm as well as two other tracts of land.  From 1889 
to 1893 he was also engaged in the wholesale and retail lumber business in 
Washington.  In addition to general farming he is interested in coal lands and 
the development of oil, and for 20 years has been breeding high class light
weight harness horses, having purchased in New York in 1902 the famous stallion 
From 20th century history of the city of Washington and Washington County, 
Pennsylvania' by Joseph F. McFarland 1910
     WILLIAM H. DAVIS was born in 1865 on the old Davis homestead, which is 
located in South Strabane Township, about three and a half miles east of 
Washington, Pa., and is a son of William and Mary (KERR) DAVIS.
     William DAVIS, great-grandfather of our subject, and a native of Scotland, 
emigrated to this country at an early period and located in Washington County, 
Pa., where he passed the remainder of his life engaged in farming.  He was the 
father of the following children:
Elizabeth, Thomas, Sarah, William, Samuel, Joshua and Rezin.  He was a member 
of the
Presbyterian Church and in politics a Whig of the old school.  Joshua DAVIS, 
grandfather of subject, was born October 6, 1787, in West Bethlehem Township, 
Washington County, and obtained his education in the subscription schools of 
the 
neighborhood.  He married Mary MCNEELANCE and to them were born the following
children:  William, Lucinda, George, Eliza and Margaret.  After his marriage 
Joshua DAVIS made his home for some time in West Bethlehem Township, 
subsequently moving to Buffalo Township, where he resided until late in life, 
when he went to live with his son William, where he died October 10, 1864.  He 
was survived by his widow until June 6, 1871, and both were interred in the 
Washington Cemetery.  He was a member of the Presbyterian Church.  In politics 
he was originally a Whig, and later stanch Republican.
     William DAVIS, father of our subject, was born October 6, 1810, in West 
Bethlehem Township, where, during his boyhood days he attended the schools of 
the neighborhood. Early in life he began working on his father's farm in North 
Strabane Township, where he devoted his time to agricultural pursuits and the 
growing of Saxony sheep.  He was very successful in both these industries, his 
flock of sheep numbering at one time 1,100 head, and he accumulated over 500 
acres of fine farming land.  Mr. DAVIS was a member and for many years elder in 
the Presbyterian Church of Pigeon Creek, and during the later years of his life 
was an elder in the First Presbyterian Church of Washington, Pa.  For
several years he was a director of the First National Bank of Washington and 
for a period of nine years a member of the Washington County Poor Board, and 
held various other township offices.  Mr. DAVIS was married (first) on January 
28, 1836, to Juliet PALMER, who died October 11, 1841, and by whom he was the 
father of three children: George, John K., and Mary Elizabeth.  On September 
23, 1853, he was united in marriage with Mary KERR, who was born in 
Finleyville, a daughter of David KERR and a granddaughter of James KERR, a 
native of Chester County, Pa., and a descendant of stalwart Scotch-Irish 
ancestors.  To them was born a son, William H., who is the subject of this 
sketch.
     William H. DAVIS was reared on the old DAVIS homestead which has been in 
the family for over 60 years and obtained his education in the public schools 
and Washington and Jefferson College, where he attended two years.  Upon 
leaving college he retuned to the farm where he has been very successful, 
owning the Littleton Stock Farm as well as two other tracts of land.  From 1889 
to 1893 he was also engaged in the wholesale and retail lumber business in 
Washington.  In addition to general farming he is interested in 
coal lands and the development of oil, and for 20 years has been breeding high 
class light weight harness horses, having purchased in New York in 1902 the 
famous stallion Moquette, who trotted to a record of 2:10 in 1892, which was 
at that time a record for four-year olds.  This animal is one of the best known 
horses of his age, having a world-wide reputation.
     Mr. DAVIS was married in 1894 to Annie MOWELL, a daughter of Solomon 
MOWELL and Permelia (ROSS) MOWELL.  Solomon MOWELL was a grandson of 
Peter MOWELL (or MOWL) who immigrated from Germany and after a brief residence
in Maryland came west to his final location in West Bethlehem Township.  
Peter's son Abram, who died at the ancestral home in 1861, was the grandfather 
of Mrs. DAVIS.  Her father, Solomon MOWELL, died in 1889, widely known and 
highly respected in the community where he had spent his long life.
     Mr. and Mrs. DAVIS have retired from the farm and are comfortably located 
at their 
home...Washington

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