Rev. J. P. Davis

biography

Davis, Rev. J. P., post-office Pardoe, pastor of the old Springfield Church, was born October 31, 1842, near Hartstown, Crawford Co., Penn. His father, Andrew Davis, came from his native country, Ireland, to Philadelphia when he was twenty-one years of age. He was a weaver by trade, and while thus engaged married Hannah Porter, a native of Ireland, who immigrated to Philadelphia two years after her parents. The marriage ceremony, which occurred December 11, 1825, was performed by the Rev. Dr. Potts, he being twenty-seven and she eighteen years of age. In 1829 he came to Pittsburgh to look up a home, and later his wife and three children followed by means of a six-horse team. They were eighteen days making the journey, which was multiplied in the hardships by the driver, who was a colored man, being drunk the greater part of the way. In a few weeks they removed to Warren County, Penn., and there operated a farm for three years. They then moved to Mercer County, and subsequently bought a farm in South Shenango Township, Crawford County, where he died September 21, 1884, leaving a widow and seven children: John S., Ann, Walter L., Margaret I., James P., Thomas D. and Mary E. The following are dead: William, William (2), Andrew, Andrew (2), Hugh C. and Emma J. He was at a time a Seceder in church relations, but died a member of the United Presbyterian Church. His wife was one time a member of the New Light Covenanter Church, but united with her husband in his religious beliefs. Our subject attended the common schools, and was graduated at Monmouth College, Monmouth, Ill., in 1871. He taught district schools before entering college. He entered the theological seminary at Allegheny City in 1870, and graduated from that institution in 1872. He was licensed May 3, 1871, by the Lake Presbytery, was ordained and installed by the Frankfort Presbytery September 3, 1872, as pastor at Hookstown and Tumlinson’s Run, and served there until 1874. He was installed pastor of Mt. Prospect, in Chartier’s Presbytery, June 29, 1875. He was released from this in 1886, and on December 1, 1886, he was given charge of the old Springfield congregation. He is well worthy to follow the much-beloved Rev. Edward Small, who has gone to his reward. He was married, June 26, 1872, to Maggie McMichael, by the Rev. Dr. H.H. Hervey. She is a sister of Judge McMichael, of Lawrence County. By this union he has five children: Walter H., Eva M., Sarah E., J. Paul and Howard M. His wife is a consistent member of his church. Rev. Davis has by a vast amount of labor prepared a very interesting history of the Davis and Porter families, which is, of course, too long for a general work of this kind.

History of Mercer County, Pennsylvania: its past and present : including its aboriginal history, its early settlement and development, a description of its historic and interesting localities, sketches of its boroughs, townships and villages, neighborhood and family histories, portraits and biographies of pioneers and representative citizens, statistics, etc. : also, a condensed history of Pennsylvania. Chicago, Ill.: Brown, Runk & Co., 1888.