BIO: John H. DAVIS, Beaver County, PA
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BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES. This Volume Contains Biographical Sketches
of Leading Citizens of Beaver County, Pennsylvania. Buffalo, N.Y.,
Chicago, Ill.: Biographical Publishing Company, 1899, pp. 405-407.
_________________________________________________________________
DR. JOHN H. DAVIS. We may safely say that there is no physician and surgeon
in Beaver county better or more favorably known to the public, than the
gentleman whose name heads these lines, who commands an excellent practice in
the vicinity of Hookstown, where he is located. He has made a specialty of
surgery, having had a most thorough training in that direction, and he is
very frequently called to attend cases in Pittsburg, Beaver, and Liverpool.
The profession of medicine is not the only sphere in which he shines,
however, for as an impersonator he has almost a national reputation. Unlike
most of the followers of the latter profession he recites from his own works,
and is thus enabled to give to his renditions that peculiar earnestness and
desired expression, which none but an author can give to his compositions.
Dr. Davis comes of an old and highly respected family of Beaver county, and
his great-grandfather, a mechanic by trade, came from his native country,
Wales, and located in Western Pennsylvania. His grandfather was John Davis,
who was born in West Elizabeth, Pennsylvania, and moved to Beaver county
about sixty years ago. His occupation was that of a boat builder, but after
locating in this county, he turned his attention to tilling the soil. He
purchased 200 acres of land in Moon township, this becoming the old
homestead, and in addition, owned one-hundred and forty acres in Independence
township, He died in 1884, having lived a long and useful life. In politics,
he was a Republican, and a prominent one, but was not an office seeker.
James Davis, the father of John H., was born on the farm in Moon township in
1847, and received a good scholastic training in the public schools, after
which he attended, and was graduated from, Edinboro State Normal School. He
then taught school for two terms, after which he bought the 140 acres of land
owned by his father in Independence township, where he has since been actively
engaged in agricultural pursuits. He has greatly improved his property, and
has one of the finest farms in the county, making a specialty of truck
gardening. He is a Republican in politics, and is an enthusiastic supporter
of that party. He was united in hymeneal bonds with Susan C. Engle, who is a
native of Vanport but whose family now resides in Raccoon township, Beaver
county. The following children blessed their home: Dr. John H., the subject
of this record; Frank F., a graduate of Cleveland University, who is now
actively engaged in practice in East Liverpool, Ohio; Henry, who lives at
home; Maggie; Annie; and Blanche. Mr. Davis is now serving as justice of the
peace.
Dr. John H. Davis was born on the old homestead, and after receiving a common
school training, he took a course in Sheffield
406 BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES
Academy and Slippery Rock Normal School. He then took an advanced course in
literature under a private tutor and a classical course at Cleveland. He
developed exceptional talent as an elocutionist and ventriloquist, and
traveled two years as a public reciter and impersonator. His interpretations
of emotional lines are of a high order, and are rendered with much dramatic
ability. With the cleverness of a true artist, he adapts himself to the
character of his piece, and at times shows such realistic feeling that a
sympathetic wave sweeps over his hearers, carrying them beyond the affairs of
their every day life to the scene portrayed by the rendition. His humorous
selections are equally well received, as he injects his own bright, vivacious
and humorous spirit into the character he produces. In such entertainments the
troubles of the audience are cast into the background, and merriment reigns
supreme. He was everywhere well received, and has more than one thousand
testimonials from some of the most learned men in the different sections of
our country, speaking in the highest praise of his ability, and commenting
favorably on his dramatic powers and keen sense of humor. There are but eight
authors in the United States who recite from their own works, and we take
great pleasure in reproducing one of Dr. Davis' poems. It was written when
our country was at fever heat over the destruction of the battleship Maine,
and when first given to the public at New Cumberland, West Virginia, was
enthusiastically received. It is as follows:
WHEN A NATION MOURNED THE MAINE.
Do you remember the night
When a nation lost the Maine?
When our jolly tars were murdered
By the crimsoned hand of Spain?
Their graves are decked with laurels,
Their names are on tablets of fame
But it counts for naught when we think of the time
When a nation mourned the Maine.
The Cubans sang their funeral dirge
When they heard of that terrible blow.
Let us sing it again as a nation,
Oh! Sing it sweet and low.
Let us sing it over and over again,
Until nations catch the refrain,
And our hearts will throb as they did at the time
When a nation mourned the Maine.
You remember in 1775
When our nation was distressed;
When we were bound down in bondage
And by cruel tyrants pressed.
We gave the blood of Warren
And thousands we need not name.
We forgive it all, but never forget
When a nation mourned the Maine.
Our minds go back to '61,
When the Freedmen's hands were bound;
We can see the blood of old John Brown
As it "crieth from the ground."
The heart of the nation divided,
And our swords together came,
But even that is not half so sad
As when a nation mourned the Maine.
Do you remember Admiral Dewey?
How he to Manila went?
How he stole right into the harbor,
On death and destruction bent?
And his cannons' mouths were opened
And poured forth their deadly rain.
Don't you think the Admiral thought of the time
When a nation mourned the Maine?
BEAVER COUNTY 407
Our glorious armies will conquer
All the armies that Spain may send.
Her cities may smoulder in ashes.
Her Kingdom in fragments rend;
Her men may fall in the cannon's glare;
Aye! Fall like sickled grain;
But that cannot atone the time
When a nation mourned the Maine.
Our hearts entwine the Maine
As there in the mud she lies.
Let us rear t0 her a monument -
One that will kiss the skies.
Yes, we will raise the brazened shaft,
And in glorious words proclaim,
These are they who died for a nation
That mourns the Maine.
The silent daisies shall nod their heads
O'er the graves of the heroes we love,
And the God of mercy shall hide his face
In the starry throne above,
And the blackbird shall pipe his lay
O'er the land where freedom came.
Ah! little knows of the wounded hearts
When a nation mourned the Maine.
There is a day that will surely come,
When justice will be shown;
When the Son of Man shall open His court
In front of the great white throne.
'Tis there that a nation shall be avenged -
Avenged of that terrible stain,
When a nation was plunged in sorrow,
When a nation mourned the Maine.
Dr. Davis' success was not only a great pleasure, but it enabled him to
secure the necessary funds to attend college, and satisfy his ambition to
become a physician. In the fall of 1890, he entered the Cleveland Medical
College, in which he devoted one year to hard and careful study. The next
four years were spent in the Cleveland University of Medical Surgery, where
his training was of the best, and in 1895 he was graduated under H. F.
Bigger. During the summer of the same year, he located at Georgetown, Beaver
county, Pa., and engaged in practice in partnership with Dr. M. S. Davis. One
year later they dissolved partnership, and in 1896, the subject hereof located
at Hookstown, where he has since remained and has built up an enviable
practice. He is very popular with his fellow-citizens, who repose in him the
greatest confidence, and his success is due solely to his own efforts. He has
kept thoroughly abreast of the times in the advance made in the science of
medicine and surgery, but nevertheless still devotes a portion of his time to
literature.
In October, 1897, Dr. Davis was joined in matrimony with Maggie Blackmore, a
daughter of John Blackmore, of Hookstown, and they have one child, James, who
was born February 12, 1899.
Dr. Davis is a member of the Beaver County Medical Society; the State Medical
Society of Pennsylvania; the American Medical Society; fraternally, he belongs
to the blue lodge, F. & A. M., of Smith's Ferry; I. O. O. F., of Smith's
Ferry; and the Jr., O. U. A. M. He was a state delegate of the latter order
at the age of eighteen, and enjoyed a fine trip to Washington, Atlantic City
and Philadelphia. Politically, he is a stanch Republican, whilst in religious
faith and fellowship, he is a Presbyterian.