BIO: Thomas R. DAVIS, Clearfield County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Judy Banja & Sally Copyright 2005. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/clearfield/ NOTE: Use this web address to access other bios: http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/clearfield/1picts/swoope/swoope.htm _____________________________________________________________ From Twentieth Century History of Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, and Representative Citizens, by Roland D. Swoope, Jr., Chicago: Richmond-Arnold Publishing Company, 1911, page 485. _____________________________________________________________ THOMAS R. DAVIS, postmaster at Ventland, Pa., where he is also express agent, also conducts a small store in the same building, which he owns together with five other pieces of property. For twenty years Mr. Davis has lived at this place but he was born in Schuylkill county, Pa., February 29, 1848, and is the only survivor of a family of eleven children born to his parents who were David and Elizabeth (Reese) Davis, natives of Wales. Thomas R. Davis had very little chance in his boyhood to gain an education as he was sent to work in the mines when he was eleven years of age and mining was his main occupation until 1898 when he was appointed postmaster and later added his other responsibilities. For some time before leaving coal mining, he filled the office of check-weighman at the mines. Mr. Davis was married May 21, 1870, to Miss Margaret Terrell, a daughter of John and Hannah Terrill, the former of whom was born in Ireland and the latter in Huntingdon county. Mr. and Mrs. Davis have had the following children: David; Richard, who is deceased; T. H. S.; Jennie, who is deceased; Elizabeth, who is deceased, was the wife of J. W. Withrow; and Edward, Matilda, Blaine, Alfretta, Edith and Clifton M. Mr. Davis and family attend the Methodist Episcopal church. In politics he is a Republican and has served as school director in both Bigler and Decatur townships. He is identified with the organization known as the Brotherhood of America. He is a well known and highly respected citizen.