BIOGRAPHY: Davis HENRY, Mifflin County, PA

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The Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of the Juniata Valley, Comprising 
the Counties of Huntingdon, Mifflin, Juniata, and Perry, Pennsylvania.
Chambersburg, Pa.: J. M. Runk & Co., 1897, Volume I, page 579.

  DAVIS HENRY, Reedsville, Mifflin county, Pa., son of John and Rhoda (Taylor) 
Henry, was born on the Henry homestead.  William Henry, his grandfather, who was 
Irish by birth, came to this country, and after residing for several years in 
Lancaster county, removed to Armagh township, Mifflin county, and in a few years 
more made his final removal to Brown township, near Cedar Hill.  His wife, with 
whom he had been acquainted from childhood in the home land, crossed the sea in 
the same vessel with him, but they were not married until after their arrival in 
America.  They had six or seven children.  One of their sons, William Henry, 
Jr., made for himself a memorable record in the war of 1812.  He was one of the 
volunteers from Pennsylvania in the United States naval service, and was on 
board Commodore Perry's fleet.  In the noted combat on Lake Erie, September 10, 
1813, remembered as "Perry's victory," young Henry's conduct was such as to win 
for him the award of a medal for "gallant and meritorious services," from the 
Pennsylvania legislature, in session November 19, 1819, during the 
administration of Gov. William Findley.  The brave young marine had been married 
but one year when he died, in 1825 or '26;  the medal is now a prized relic in 
the family.  The elder William Henry and his wife lived to an advanced age;  the 
former died in 1822, the latter in 1828.
  Their son John, father of Davis Henry, was born in Lancaster county, Pa., in 
November, 1787.  During the residence of the family successively in Armagh and 
in Brown townships, he received his education in the common schools of those 
districts.  He was of a thoughtful mind, and obtained a considerable fund of 
general information.  He cultivated his father's farm, residing at home until he 
was thirty-seven years of age, after which he began farming on his own account, 
on another place belonging to his father.  Industry and skill in agriculture, 
combined with uprightness of character, made him a prosperous man.  Mr. Henry, 
who was a Democrat, took a lively interest in local politics.  In 1851, he was a 
candidate for the office of associate judge, but was defeated in the convention, 
although the popular preference was in his favor.  At the suggestion of his 
friends, Mr. Henry ran for the office on an independent ticket, and was elected 
by a small majority.  Mrs. John Henry was Rhoda, daughter of Samuel W. and 
Elizabeth (Davis) Taylor.  One of their children, William, died aged two years;  
the others are:  James Beatty, who married Jennie E. Thompson;  Samuel W. T.;  
John, married Rebecca L. Garver;  Francis;  William;  Davis;  Robert P.;  
Elizabeth (Mrs. John P. Taylor), who died in consequence of an accident in 
Philadelphia;  Joseph R.;  Nancy J. (Mrs. John R. Garver);  Mary T. (Mrs. 
William B. Kyle);  and Rhoda G. (Mrs. William H. Taylor).  Some forty years ago, 
several of Judge Henry's sons, following the general impulse of the times, went 
to California;  first James Beatty, in 1852;  then Samuel in 1854, John in 1855, 
Francis in 1856, William in 1858, and Davis in 1860.  William was taken ill and 
died in Central America, and Samuel W. T. died in San Francisco;  but Joseph, 
Francis, and James Beatty returned, and passed the remainder of their lives at 
home.  Robert P. Henry died in Philadelphia.  The declining years of Judge Henry 
and his excellent wife were spent in well-merited comfort and leisure;  he died 
in 1867, being just one day less than eighty years of age.  Mrs. Henry soon 
followed, aged about sixty-three.
  During his boyhood, Davis Henry attended the common schools of Brown township.  
While still a young man, he had charge of his father's farm, and continued in 
the same occupation from the time of his return from the visit to California, 
mentioned above, until the year 1891.  He afterwards removed to his pleasant 
home in Reedsville, where he now resides.  He is a prominent member of the 
Patrons of Husbandry.
  Davis Henry was married, December 7, 1876, to Rebecca, daughter of John and 
Margaret (Watt) Gilliland.  Their only child was John Foster, who died when he 
was one year old.  Mr. and Mrs. Henry are members of the Reedsville Presbyterian 
church.