Barbour County, West Virginia Biography of William Oscar DAVIS ************************************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: Material may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material, AND permission is obtained from the contributor of the file. These pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for non-commercial purposes, MUST obtain the written consent of the contributor. Submitted by Valerie Crook, , March 2000 ************************************************************************** The History of West Virginia, Old and New Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc., Chicago and New York, Volume III, pg. 349-350 WILLIAM OSCAR DAVIS has been a pharmacist for over a quarter of a century, and for the greater part of that time has been in the drug business at Philippi. His liber- ality as a citizen and his work in behalf of community advancement are facts as well known and appreciated as his business success. Mr. Davis was born near Uhriehsville, Tuscarawas County, Ohio, September 6, 1872. Remotely he is of wealthy ancestry. His grandfather, Gan Davis, spent his life as a farmer in Tuscarawas County and is buried at Freed Springs Church in that county. His children were Alexander, a resident of Uhrichsville, and a veteran Union soldier; John W.; Jane, wife of Nathan Smith and a resident of Uhrichsville; Lou, who died at Uhrichsville, wife of J. Dutton; Sophia, who died in Colorado Springs, Colorado, was the wife of Charles Long; Marshall, of Uhrichsville; James, a paint contractor at Canton, Ohio; and Margaret, widow of Charles Gintz and living at Uhrichsville. John W. Davis, father of William Oscar Davis, was born in Tuscarawas County and married Catherine J. Dutton, a native of the same county. Her father was William Dutton, who married Miss Burriss. John W. Davis was a farmer in Tuscarawas County, in later years became a carpenter, and was a mechanic in the railroad shops at Dennison, Ohio, when he was accidentally killed February 20, 1907, at the age of about sixty-three. His widow died at Canton, Ohio, in 1914. Their children were: Ed. N.; Frank E.; James O.; William Oscar; Jessie Mabel, wife of C. W. Lykes, of Canton, Ohio; Verna V., wife of Fred Hall, of Houston, Texas; and John B., of Houston. William Oscar Davis lived on his father's farm until lie was about twelve years of age. He learned his first spelling and arithmetic lessons in a country school, later attended the Uhrichsville High School, and in 1894 entered the College of Pharmacy at Scio, Ohio. This school was subsequently moved to Pittsburgh and is now the Pittsburgh College of Pharmacy. After completing his course Mr. Davis entered actively upon the practice of pharmacy. In the meantime during vacations, he had worked in drug stores, and what he calls "the hardest job he ever had" was selling subscription books and during one summer he was with a crew of young fellows making and selling views. After completing his course of pharmacy he was employed by the Graham Drug Company at Zanesville, Ohio, for one year, for two years was prescription clerk with a firm at Mannington, West Virginia, and in March, 1899. came to Philippi and succeeded to the drug business of D. F. Everett, for over twenty years he has conducted a high class drug store and pharmacy, and while that is a business demanding close personal attention he has not neglected some of the duties of citizenship. He was for several terms a member of the City Council, and was on the council when the sewerage system was provided and some of the street paving done. He has been ready with his interest and aid in other community interests, notably when Broaddus College required extra funds to carry on its work of higher education. He is a member of the Kiwanis Club, is a Scottish Rite Mason. He has done all the work in Philippi Lodge of Odd Fellows, of which he is a past grand, and he is a member of the Methodist Church, while Mrs. Davis is a Presbyterian. At Uhrichsville, Ohio, December 27, 1897, Mr. Davis married Miss Jessie B. Adrian, a native of the same city and daughter of William and Agnes (Sterling) Adrian. Mr. and Mrs. Davis have three children: Adrian P., now associated with his father in business, who passed the exam- ination before the draft board, but was not called to service before the armistice was signed; Margaret Eliz- abeth, member of the class of 1923 in the Philippi High School; and Curtis Virginia, in the grammar school.