Genesee-Kent-Livingston County MI Archives Biographies.....Davis, John W. 1848 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/mi/mifiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com December 26, 2006, 1:01 am Author: Chapman Bros. (1892) JOHN W. DAVIS. One of the most prominent financiers and successful business men in Fenton is the gentleman whose name appears above. He is a native of Waterloo, Seneca County, N. Y., and was born November 17, 1848. He is the son of William Davis, of the same State, and his father was an extensive stock-buyer. He came to Michigan in 1849, and located at Grand Rapids, Kent County, and was there engaged in buying stock and shipping it East until 1863, when he enlisted in the Twenty-sixth Michigan Infantry, and served until the close of the war. After the war Mr. Davis, Sr., continued the business in which he had previously been interested, but located in Lenawee County. There he still lives, and has taken an important position in social life in that place. He had been Deputy Sheriff of Kent County for several terms. His wife, who was a Miss Elizabeth Rich, of New York, is still living. Of a family of six children, all of whom are living, our subject is the eldest son. He received very limited educational advantages and came to Fenton in 1865, where he attended the public school. The same year, however, he commenced clerking in a dry-goods store and remained there eighteen months. He later became a clerk in a drug store, and there remained for three and a half-years. In 1869 he engaged in the drug and grocery business for himself, being located on the south side of the river. He continued in this business until November, 1890, when he sold out and is now retired. In 1881 Mr. Davis erected a two-story brick block, in which he conducted his business for some time. In 1886 he built another brick block across the street, which he still owns. After selling out his business, in 1890, our subject opened a grocery store in Detroit, but it is now conducted by his brother, Mr. Davis buying and. shipping produce from this point to Detroit. In February, 1890, he purchased a farm of one hundred and eighty acres just across the line in Tyrone Township, Livingston County. On June 29, 1869, he of whom we write was united in marriage with Ida B. Earl, a native of New York. She is a daughter of Oscar and Maria Earl, of New York. They came to Michigan in 1868, and now reside in Fenton. Our subject and his wife are the parents of three children, whose names are: Flora B., Harry E. and J. Warne. Mr. Davis is a Republican in his political sentiments. He has been an office-holder in various local positions. He was Clerk of Fenton Township for eight years and City Clerk for twelve years. He was a member of the School Board for one term. Socially he belongs to the Masonic fraternity, also to the Royal Arcanum; to the Knights of Honor and the Ancient Order of United Workmen. Both our subject and his wife are Presbyterians. Mr. Davis is a prominent stockholder in the Fenton Union Agricultural Society. He breeds a fine lot of trotting stock. Since locating in the town Mr. Davis occupies a fine residence on the corner of Rockwell and Adelaide Streets. It is a two-story story frame structure of a pleasing style of architecture and nicely finished and furnished. Our subject's daughter, Miss Flora, is a highly accomplished musician and altogether a very pleasing and popular young lady. She is a successful teacher of vocal music in this town and neighboring cities, having spent one winter in Lansing. Additional Comments: Extracted from: Portrait and Biographical Record of Genesee, Lapeer and Tuscola Counties, Michigan, Containing Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens, Together with Biographies of all the Governors of the State, and of the Presidents of the United States Chicago: Chapman Bros. 1892 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/mi/genesee/bios/davis412gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/mifiles/ File size: 4.2 Kb