Biographical Sketch of John H. DAVIS (1893); Chester County, PA

Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by John Morris <jMcDmorris@comcast.net>.

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Source: "Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Chester County, Pennsyl-
vania, comprising a historical sketch of the county," by Samuel T. Wiley
and edited by Winfield Scott Garner, Gresham Publishing Company, Phila-
delphia, PA, 1893, pp. 405-6.

"JOHN H. DAVIS, senior member of the firm of Davis & Mowrey, at Spring
City, and a gentleman who has served for several years in the common
council of that borough, is a son of William D. and Sarah (Cook) Davis,
and was born at Parker Ford, Chester county, Pennsylvania, July 16, 1853.
He was reared principally in East Coventry township, and secured a good
education in the public schools of his neighborhood.  After quitting the
school room he served an apprenticeship at the carpenter trade, and fol-
lowed that occupation for a number of years.  About 1889 he abandoned his
trade and embarked in the coal and feed business at Spring City, under the
firm name of Davis & Mowrey, his partner being Joseph I. Mowrey, a sketch
of whom will be found elsewhere in this work.  The firm has been quite
prosperous, and has built up an extensive and lucrative trade.  Its busi-
ness includes coal, wood, flour, feed, lime and sand, and any article in
these various lines can always be obtained at the lowest prices, from this
well-known firm.  They own and operate a chopping mill in connection with
their feed department, and their business has more than doubled during the
last two years.  The firm is on the highway to unusual prosperity, and
well deserves its success.

"Mr. Davis was wedded to Lydia Mowrey, a daughter of Samuel and Leah
Mowrey, of Spring City, and to this union has been born five children:
Blanche, Laura (deceased); Bertha, Arthur (also dead); and Walter.  Mr.
Davis is a member and steward of the Methodist Episcopal church, at Spring
City, and in politics a stanch republican.  He was elected a member of the
borough council in 1887, and ably discharged the duties of that position
for a period of three years.

"This paternal grandfather of the subject of this sketch.  John Davis was
born in Montgomery county, and during the latter part of his life lived in
Limerick township, Montgomery county.  He married, and was the father of
seven children, four sons and three daughters: David, Elizabeth, Susan,
William D., Nathan, Michael and Kate.  Elizabeth married John Rapor; Susan
married John Loag; and Kate wedded Joseph Essick.

"The second son, William Davis (father), was born at Limerick, Montgomery
county, December 21, 1817, where he grew up and received a fair education
in the common schools.  After attaining manhood he learned the carpenter's
trade, and for several years followed it exclusively.  Later he removed
to Schuylkill county, engaged in the lumber business for ten years, where
he was quite successful, then moved back to Chester county and engaged in
farming to some extent, and became quite prosperous.  In his political
belief he was a stanch republican, and held the office of school director
in his township for a number of years.  He was a member of the German
Reformed church, in which he served as trustee for a long time.  In 1842
he married Sarah Cook, a daughter of Samuel Cook, of Chester county, and
to their union was born eight children, six sons and two daughters: Allen
S., Kate (married Irwin Brownback), Benjamin and Thomas (twins), Emma
(wedded Edgar Leopold), John H., (subject of this sketch), Edwin W., and
George E.  The father, William D. Davis, died at his home, in East Coven-
try township, on March 13, 1890, at the advanced age of seventy-two years.
His wife survives him, being now in the seventy-fourth year of her age."