Biographical Sketch of H. W. DAVIS (1893); Chester County, PA Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by John Morris . *********************************************************************** USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: Printing this file within by non-commercial individuals and libraries is encouraged, as long as all notices and submitter information is included. Any other use, including copying files to other sites requires permission from the submitters PRIOR to uploading to any other sites. We encourage links to the state and county table of contents. http://www.usgwarchives.net/ *********************************************************************** Source: "Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Chester County, Pennsyl- vania, comprising a historical sketch of the county," by Samuel T. Wiley and edited by Winfield Scott Garner, Gresham Publishing Company, Phila- delphia, PA, 1893, pp. 827-8. "H. W. DAVIS, a courteous and pleasant gentlemen, and one of the prosper- ous farmers of Charlestown township, is a son of William J. E. and Hannah (Rixstine) Davis, and was born in East Pikeland township, Chester county, Pennsylvania, September 12, 1858. He received his education in the public schools of Charlestown, to which township he was taken when quite young by his parents. Leaving school he became an apprentice to the trade of miller, but not liking milling, he made satisfactory arrangements and in 1879 canceled the remaining part of his apprenticeship. He then engaged in farming, which he has followed ever since, where he now resides in Charlestown township. His farm contains seventy-five acres of fertile and well watered land, which is finely improved and highly cultivated. On it he has established a first-class dairy, whose products are in good demand. In his agricultural pursuits of farming, stock-raising and dairying, he has been successful, and particularly in the latter branch has built up a prosperous and flourishing business. Politically he is a democrat, and is a member of Phoenix Lodge, No. 212, Independent Order of Odd Fellows; and of Pikeland Reformed church, in which he has served as a deacon for the last twelve years. "On February 24, 1881, Mr. Davis was united in marriage with Clara March, a daughter of John and Margaret (Pennypacker) March. To Mr. and Mrs. Davis have been born four children, two sons and two daughters: Mabel, Hannah M., William J., and Hosea K. "H. W. Davis is of German descent, and his paternal grandfather, Isaac M. Davis, was a life-long resident of Charlestown township, where he owned a fine farm of one hundred and forty-one acres near Phoenixville. He was a man of more than ordinary intelligence, always took an active part in the interests of the Democratic party, and served for many years as a deacon in the Phoenixville Baptist church. He married Sarah J. Evans and reared a family of six children, four sons and two daughters: Charles R., Margaret, William J. E., Roger, Sarah, and Isaac M., Jr. "William J. E. Davis (father), was born on the home farm in Charlestown township, May 11, 1828. He followed farming during the active years of his life, and now resides near the village of Charlestown. He is a demo- crat in politics, and married Hannah Rixstine, only daughter of Henry Rixstine. They had four children: B. Frank, H. W., the subject of this sketch; Ida V. March, and Charles R. Mrs. Davis was educated in Professor Bolmar's boarding school at West Chester, and taught several terms. Henry Rixstine, maternal grandfather, was a native of the northern part of the county, and settled about 1830 on the farm where H. W. Davis now resides. Henry Rixstine was a democrat, a member of Pikeland Reformed church, and married Rachel Yeager, by whom he had one child, Mrs. Hannah Y. Davis, the mother of H. W. Davis."