Garfield Davies Bio
Monongalia Co. WV

The History of West Virginia, Old and New
Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc.
Chicago and New York, Volume 11
Page 175



   In the impersonal discharge of their official duties a large majority
of the incumbents of public office appear to feel that they have fully
fulfilled their responsibilities. In a way this may be true, but, and
this is a fortunate thing for various of our communities, there are
others who are not satisfied merely with taking care of their duties by
rote and rule, but are constantly seeking opportunities by which they
may benefit their communities and add to the value of their service. In
this latter class undoubtedly stands Garfield Davies, clerk of the
Circuit Court of Monongalia County, and a public-spirited citizen whose
ideals of citizenship have found an outlet in his identification with a
number of constructive and beneficial civic movements.
   Mr. Davies was born August 14, 1888, in Wales, and is a  son of
William A. and Mary (Phillips) Davies, both also natives of that
country. His father, an ironworker in Wales, brought the family to the
United States in 1892, and was one of the first expert workmen to come
to this country when the steel industry was beginning to assume
important  proportions, through expansion. He located at Gas City,
Indiana, where he was employed in the mills until 1905, in which year he
removed to Morgantown, where he has been living.
   Garfield Davies received his early education in the public schools of
Gas City, where he had arrived as a lad of four years. From 1902 to 1904
he attended the Marion (Indiana) Normal School, and his business
experience was commenced in the latter years as bill clerk for the
Vonnegut Hardware Company of Indianapolis, where he advanced by
promotion to the position of credit man of that company, with which he
continued for eight years. During that period he applied himself at
night to the reading of law, and was admitted to the Indiana bar in
1909, at the age of twenty-one years. He entered the University of West
Virginia in the spring of 1914, taking parts of the arts and science
course and a part of the law course.
   In the winter of 1917-1918 Mr. Davies worked at the Bertha Mine near
Morgantown, and five months later was called to the main office of that
corporation at Pittsburgh. After two weeks he left that concern and
returned to Morgantown, where he accepted a position as court reporter.
He thus became well known to the public because of his daily attendance
at court proceedings, and this, in connection with his knowledge of the
law, his general popularity and his all-around ability, caused him to be
considered as good material for the public office. In the spring of 1920
he was successful in the republican primaries for the nomination for the
office of Circuit Court clerk of Monongalia County, and in the ensuing
election was put into office by a large majority for a term of six
years, starting January 1, 1921. His record thus far has been an
excellent one and his conscientious and energetic services has won him
the esteem of his fellow-officials and the confidence of the public.
   During the World war, being prevented by physical disabilities from
entering the United States service as a soldier, Mr. Davies became
secretary to the Advisory Board of Monongalia County, which body worked
in conjunction with the Draft Board and performed other valuable
service. Mr. Davies is secretary of Monongalia Lodge No 10, I. O. O. F,;
secretary of Orphans' Friend Chapter No. 14 of that order; manager of
Camp No. 6931, Modern Woodmen of America; and an active member of
Monongalia Lodge No. 264, Loyal Order of Moose. He has been associated
with several movements for the welfare and recreation of boys and young
men, and is director of the Sunday School choir of the First Baptist
Church of Morgantown, of which he is an active member. Energetic,
enterprising and public-spirited, he is a force for advancement and
progress in his city, where his acquaintance is wide and his friends are
legion.
   On August 5, 1920 , at Morgantown, Mr. Davies was united in marriage
with Miss Martha Elizabeth Snyder, a daughter of Allison W. Snyder, a
well-known agriculturist carrying on operations on his valuable property
located in the vicinity of Kingwood, Preston, West Virginia.