Biography - David Davis
David DAVIS, grocer and banker, Litchfield. David DAVIS, deceased, the father of our subject, was born in 1785, of Welsh parentage, near Genoa, Italy, and, at the age of fourteen years, came to the United States. In New York City he learned the baker's trade, and from that city moved to St. Louis, Mo., when it was but a French village; he was in the regular army five years; he participated in the war of 1812, and was wounded in the battle of Queenstown, with a saber, which enabled the enemy to take him prisoner, which they did, carrying him on flatboats to Boston, Mass., where he was confined and compelled to endure many privations. He lived in St. Louis, Mo., until about 1840, when he removed to Madison County, Ill., where he engaged in farming sixteen years or thereabout, coming to Litchfield in f1856. After coming to Litchfield, he was the business partner of his son, the subject of his sketch, until 1872, in which year he died, in his eighty-seventh year, having lived a life of honor. David DAVIS was born in Madison County, Ill., in December, 1838; he received his education in his native county, and, at the age of sixteen years, came with his parents to Litchfield, Ill., where, until 1858, he successively engaged his services as clerk and book-keeper in several business houses of the city. In September, 1858, he engaged in the grocery trade, being one of the first grocers of Litchfield; he opened his line of groceries in the building now occupied by Mr. HOOG as a sack depot. In 1871, Mr. DAVIS erected his present building, on the same block, but located on the corner of State and Edward streets, where he has since conducted a flourishing wholesale and retail business. In 1870, he became a stockholder in the Litchfield Bank, and, the following year, was elected its President. Shortly after this election, they re-organized the bank as a private bank, under the firm name of BEACH, DAVIS & Co.; of the new departure Mr. DAVIS is one of the managing partners. That he is an estimable citizen is evident from the fact that he has been three times elected Mayor of Litchfield, the elections being made by the Independents; he served in 1875, 1876 and 1879; in 1866 and 1867, he was elected Alderman. December 23, 1868, he married Miss Blanche KEATING, of Rockbridge, Greene Co., Ill., and has four living children, two being deceased.
Extracted 19 Nov 2016 by Norma Hass from 1882 History of Bond and Montgomery Counties, Illinois, Part 2 Biographical Department, page 139.
