Honorable William Davis, Jr.

biography

Davis, Honorable William Jr. , deceased. Among Meadville’s most honored citizens was the gentleman whose name here appears. For nearly half a century he was identified with the business, social and educational development of the city, and throughout this long period he constantly grew in the respect and esteem of the community. With respect to the family history, we learn that his grandfather, James Davis, was an early settler from Franklin County, Penn., settling here in 1795. His parents, James and Mary (Cotton) Davis, are described as being pious, well-informed people, who took all pos­sible care in preparing their son for his station in life. Judge Davis was born in Vernon Township, Crawford County, September 7, 1812, at a time when his father was absent from home doing military service for the country in the war with Great Britain. His education was procured mostly from private schools. He remained with his father until he attained his majority. At the age of twenty-two he married Miss Mary Johnston, daughter of Lancelot Johnston, Esq., who still survives him. One year after his marriage he came to Meadville and engaged in the shoe and leather business, and from 1835 to 1863 continued in that branch of the mercantile trade in this city. His public life began in 1840, when he was elected to the borough Council, where he continued three years. In 1846 he was elected Burgess of the borough, and served three terms. As a Whig candidate in 1849 he was elected County Treasurer, at a time, too, when the Democratic party held a large majority in the county. In 1857 he was chosen one of the Trustees of Allegheny College, and held the position with credit to himself and honor to the institution until his death, June 30, 1881. In this connection we remark that he always took a deep interest in all educational matters, not only in the college but also in the public schools of the city, having been many years officially connected with their management. He was elected Associate Judge of the county in 1863, again in 1868, and again in 1873, covering a period of fifteen years, a distinction never enjoyed by any other occupant of the office. The arduous duties of his position were discharged with eminent satisfaction to the members of the bar as well as to his constituency. Judge Davis was an active member of agricultural organizations, and took a deep interest in projects having for their aim the improvement of farming. He was an honorary member of the Crawford County Historical Society from its organization until his demise. He was for twenty years a Director of the Crawford County Mutual Insurance Company, and for several years its faithful Treasurer. Judge Davis was a man of fine personal appearance; in disposition most amiable. When the personal delinquencies of any of his acquaintances was the subject of conversation he participated as little as possible, and as soon as opportunity offered changed the subject by referring to redeeming traits in their character. He was a beloved member of the First Presbyterian Church, and for a great number of years served upon the Board of Trustees of that body. His every day life was a beautiful exhibit of practical, self denying Christianity, and few, if any possessed in so large a degree that charity which "thinketh no evil, suffereth long and is kind." He died as he lived, with an unwavering faith in his Divine Master and an unswerving devotion to right and duty. Six of Judge Davis’ children survive: the eldest child and daughter, Mary, is the wife of Dr. J. C. Cotton, of Meadville; second daughter, Ellen. is the wife of Dr. J. P. Hassler, of Cochranton; youngest daughter, Emma, is unmarried; eldest son, James J., is Secretary and Treasurer of the Water Gas Company, of St. Louis, Mo.; second son. Henry L., is connected with the Philadelphia branch of the Standard Oil Company, of which he is one of the managers; the youngest son, William W., is teller in the Oil City Trust Company Bank of Oil City, Penn.

History of Crawford County, Pennsylvania:containing a history of the county, its townships, towns, villages, schools, churches, industries, etc., portraits of early settlers and prominent men, biographies, history of Pennsylvania, statistical and miscellaneous matter, Chicago: Warner, Beers & Co., 1885, page 725-726.