Whiteside County IL Archives Biographies.....Davis, Reuben 
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Deb Haines http://www.rootsweb.com/~archreg/vols/00003.html#0000719 January 31, 2008, 1:03 am

Author: Portrait/Bio Album, Whiteside County IL 1885

Reuben Davis, physician and farmer, residing on section 3, Hahnaman Township, 
is one of the extensive land-holders and truly practical and representative 
men of Whiteside County. The parents of Dr. Davis, William and Hannah 
(Appleton) Davis, were natives of Maine, from which State they moved to Ohio, 
where they resided the remainder of their lives. They were the parents of 13 
children, namely: Eliphalet, John A., Mary A., Rhoda, Hannah, Reuben, Sarah, 
Francis A., Isaac, William, James E. and Joshua C. One died in infancy. Reuben 
Davis, subject of this biographical notice, is a native of Ohio, where, in 
Morgan County, he was born Oct. 17, 1819. The country was new in the locality 
of his birth at that date, and his early education was consequently limited. 
His early years were passed on the farm and in working on the Ohio and 
Mississippi Rivers ,which vocation he followed, more or less, until the date 
of his emigrating to this State. In 1845 Dr. Davis matriculated at the Medical 
College at Cincinnati, Ohio, and followed the entire curriculum of that 
institution, graduating with honors in March, 1849. Soon after leaving the 
college, he engaged in the practice of his profession in Perry Co., Ohio, and 
followed the same with a flattering degree of success until February, 1853. He 
then came to this county and settled in Como, Hopkins Township, where he 
continued to practice medicine over two years, when he purchased land in 
Montmorency Township. He moved upon his land and began to cultivate it 
extensively, alternating his labors thereon by the practice of his profession. 
In the fall of 1858 Dr. Davis moved into Hahnaman Township and settled on 
section 3, his present residence. He determined to make this his permanent 
home, and at once entered on the improvement of the land, erected good 
buildings and otherwise ornamented and improved his homestead, and at the 
present time he has a home for himself and family in which they all take 
pride, realizing it was procured through arduous toil and untiring energy and 
determination. The Doctor has been a very extensive land-holder in the county, 
owning at one time some 1,400 acres. His landed possessions in the county at 
present comprise some 645 acres, all improved, and for his success in life he 
has none to thank except his own good judgment and energy, coupled with the 
hearty co-operation of his good helpmeets. Dr. Davis was united in marriage to 
Miss Mary Ann Geddes in Morgan Co., Ohio, Dec. 17, 1839. She was a native of 
Pennsylvania, in which State she was born in March, 1819. The issue of their 
union was five children. Two died in infancy and those surviving are Naomi W., 
Martha J. and Thomas H. B. The wife and mother died in Morgan Co., Ohio, March 
28, 1848. In the same county Dr. Davis was again married. This wedding 
occurred Oct. 2, 1849, and Miss Elizabeth H. Work was the bride. She is the 
daughter of David and Sarah (Ross) Work, natives of Ohio, and in which State 
she was born May 6, 1831. By the latter union 12 children have been born, 
namely: Francis C., Sarah X., Robert L., Thaddeus C, Hannah A., Mary G., W. 
Alice, T. McClellan, Dora S., Reuben H., Jessie L. and J. Darwin; ten of these 
are living. Dr. Davis, although not seeking office, has almost constantly been 
honored by the citizens of his township with some office. He was Supervisor 
six years, Justice of the Peace 12 years and Assessor and Collector several 
years. In fact, he has held almost every office in the township, and at this 
writing is performing the functions of the office of Township Clerk and School 
Trustee. Politically, Dr. Davis is a supporter of and believer in the 
principles of the Democratic party and cast his first vote for Martin Van 
Buren in 1840. As a truly representative man of Whiteside County, and as one 
the citizens can but feel pleased to see represented among the portraits we 
give in this work, we give that of the subject of this biography. It is 
engraved from a photograph taken in 1884.

Additional Comments:
Portrait and Biographical Album of Whiteside County, Illinois, Containing Full-
page Portraits and Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative 
Citizens of the County. Chicago: Chapman Brothers, 1885.

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