David J. Davis
Source: History of Buffalo and Pepin Counties, Wisconsin, Volume 2 Illustrated; compiled by Franklyn Curtiss-Wedge, published by H. C. Cooper, Jr. & Co., Winona, Minn. (1919) pages 625-626 transcribed by Mary Saggio.
DAVID J. DAVIS, pioneer of Buffalo county, early surveyor and farmer, and in his day one of the foremost men in the county, was a native of Wales, in which country he was married to Margaret Jeffers, both being then quite young.
A civil engineer by profession, on coming to the United States in 1828, he became connected with the coal mining industry, residing for some time in Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania. After being for a number of years superintendent of coal mines, he was sent by a New York company to open a coal mine in West Virginia and from that state came in 1855 to Wisconsin, being joined in the same year by two of his sons, Phillip and James, the mother with the two other sons, Henry and Thomas, coming in the following spring.
Here Mr. Davis found a good field for the exercise of his talent as a surveyor, and in the course of time surveyed a considerable part of Buffalo county, especially in the neighborhood of Fountain City and Alma and the roads of Glencoe township. In this township he located a tract of 120 acres of land, all prairie and stumps, and without buildings. On it he erected a log house, 14 by 15 feet in size, and a log stable, and began the work of improvement, being assisted by his sons. In the following spring the family got a cow. From that beginning he made steady progress in prosperity, his sons operating the farm while he was away surveying. A man of great public spirit, he took a special interest in the construction of roads, and to advance that work in the county often made the surveys for nothing. He also donated liberally to the different churches in the township. As a member of the school board he rendered good service, and he was the first treasurer of Glencoe township, though without seeking the office, accepting it only when urged to serve. He was also a prominent member of the organization known as Patrons of Husbandry, and donated land for the old Grange hall, which was built on his farm. Few men, if any, were more highly esteemed, or better deserved the respect of the citizens of the community.
Both he and his wife lived to a venerable age, each passing away when about 86 years old, his death occurring November 7, 1888.
At the time of the Civil War two of the sons, James and William, enlisted, and the latter was killed at Roanoke, Va. After the war Henry went west. Then James and Thomas conducted the farm together for some eight years, after which it was taken over by the latter, who is the present proprietor.
Mr. and Mrs. Davis were the parents of ten children as follows:
1. David, born August 3, 1829;
2. Elizabeth, April 14, 1831;
3. William, March 31, 1834;
4. Mariam, January 19, 1836;
5. Ann, April 7, 1838;
6. Philip, February 17, 1840;
7. Manuel, January 22, 1842;
8. James, October 7, 1844;
9. Henry, August 24, 1846, and
10. Thomas, January 1, 1850.
Source: History of Buffalo and Pepin Counties, Wisconsin, Volume 2 Illustrated; compiled by Franklyn Curtiss-Wedge, published by H. C. Cooper, Jr. & Co., Winona, Minn. (1919) pages 625-626 transcribed by Mary Saggio.
DAVID J. DAVIS, pioneer of Buffalo county, early surveyor and farmer, and in his day one of the foremost men in the county, was a native of Wales, in which country he was married to Margaret Jeffers, both being then quite young.
A civil engineer by profession, on coming to the United States in 1828, he became connected with the coal mining industry, residing for some time in Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania. After being for a number of years superintendent of coal mines, he was sent by a New York company to open a coal mine in West Virginia and from that state came in 1855 to Wisconsin, being joined in the same year by two of his sons, Phillip and James, the mother with the two other sons, Henry and Thomas, coming in the following spring.
Here Mr. Davis found a good field for the exercise of his talent as a surveyor, and in the course of time surveyed a considerable part of Buffalo county, especially in the neighborhood of Fountain City and Alma and the roads of Glencoe township. In this township he located a tract of 120 acres of land, all prairie and stumps, and without buildings. On it he erected a log house, 14 by 15 feet in size, and a log stable, and began the work of improvement, being assisted by his sons. In the following spring the family got a cow. From that beginning he made steady progress in prosperity, his sons operating the farm while he was away surveying. A man of great public spirit, he took a special interest in the construction of roads, and to advance that work in the county often made the surveys for nothing. He also donated liberally to the different churches in the township. As a member of the school board he rendered good service, and he was the first treasurer of Glencoe township, though without seeking the office, accepting it only when urged to serve. He was also a prominent member of the organization known as Patrons of Husbandry, and donated land for the old Grange hall, which was built on his farm. Few men, if any, were more highly esteemed, or better deserved the respect of the citizens of the community.
Both he and his wife lived to a venerable age, each passing away when about 86 years old, his death occurring November 7, 1888.
At the time of the Civil War two of the sons, James and William, enlisted, and the latter was killed at Roanoke, Va. After the war Henry went west. Then James and Thomas conducted the farm together for some eight years, after which it was taken over by the latter, who is the present proprietor.
Mr. and Mrs. Davis were the parents of ten children as follows:
1. David, born August 3, 1829;
2. Elizabeth, April 14, 1831;
3. William, March 31, 1834;
4. Mariam, January 19, 1836;
5. Ann, April 7, 1838;
6. Philip, February 17, 1840;
7. Manuel, January 22, 1842;
8. James, October 7, 1844;
9. Henry, August 24, 1846, and
10. Thomas, January 1, 1850.
David J. Davis
Source: History of Buffalo and Pepin Counties, Wisconsin, Volume 2 Illustrated; compiled by Franklyn Curtiss-Wedge, published by H. C. Cooper, Jr. & Co., Winona, Minn. (1919) pages 625-626 transcribed by Mary Saggio.
DAVID J. DAVIS, pioneer of Buffalo county, early surveyor and farmer, and in his day one of the foremost men in the county, was a native of Wales, in which country he was married to Margaret Jeffers, both being then quite young.
A civil engineer by profession, on coming to the United States in 1828, he became connected with the coal mining industry, residing for some time in Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania. After being for a number of years superintendent of coal mines, he was sent by a New York company to open a coal mine in West Virginia and from that state came in 1855 to Wisconsin, being joined in the same year by two of his sons, Phillip and James, the mother with the two other sons, Henry and Thomas, coming in the following spring.
Here Mr. Davis found a good field for the exercise of his talent as a surveyor, and in the course of time surveyed a considerable part of Buffalo county, especially in the neighborhood of Fountain City and Alma and the roads of Glencoe township. In this township he located a tract of 120 acres of land, all prairie and stumps, and without buildings. On it he erected a log house, 14 by 15 feet in size, and a log stable, and began the work of improvement, being assisted by his sons. In the following spring the family got a cow. From that beginning he made steady progress in prosperity, his sons operating the farm while he was away surveying. A man of great public spirit, he took a special interest in the construction of roads, and to advance that work in the county often made the surveys for nothing. He also donated liberally to the different churches in the township. As a member of the school board he rendered good service, and he was the first treasurer of Glencoe township, though without seeking the office, accepting it only when urged to serve. He was also a prominent member of the organization known as Patrons of Husbandry, and donated land for the old Grange hall, which was built on his farm. Few men, if any, were more highly esteemed, or better deserved the respect of the citizens of the community.
Both he and his wife lived to a venerable age, each passing away when about 86 years old, his death occurring November 7, 1888.
At the time of the Civil War two of the sons, James and William, enlisted, and the latter was killed at Roanoke, Va. After the war Henry went west. Then James and Thomas conducted the farm together for some eight years, after which it was taken over by the latter, who is the present proprietor.
Mr. and Mrs. Davis were the parents of ten children as follows:
1. David, born August 3, 1829;
2. Elizabeth, April 14, 1831;
3. William, March 31, 1834;
4. Mariam, January 19, 1836;
5. Ann, April 7, 1838;
6. Philip, February 17, 1840;
7. Manuel, January 22, 1842;
8. James, October 7, 1844;
9. Henry, August 24, 1846, and
10. Thomas, January 1, 1850.
Source: History of Buffalo and Pepin Counties, Wisconsin, Volume 2 Illustrated; compiled by Franklyn Curtiss-Wedge, published by H. C. Cooper, Jr. & Co., Winona, Minn. (1919) pages 625-626 transcribed by Mary Saggio.
DAVID J. DAVIS, pioneer of Buffalo county, early surveyor and farmer, and in his day one of the foremost men in the county, was a native of Wales, in which country he was married to Margaret Jeffers, both being then quite young.
A civil engineer by profession, on coming to the United States in 1828, he became connected with the coal mining industry, residing for some time in Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania. After being for a number of years superintendent of coal mines, he was sent by a New York company to open a coal mine in West Virginia and from that state came in 1855 to Wisconsin, being joined in the same year by two of his sons, Phillip and James, the mother with the two other sons, Henry and Thomas, coming in the following spring.
Here Mr. Davis found a good field for the exercise of his talent as a surveyor, and in the course of time surveyed a considerable part of Buffalo county, especially in the neighborhood of Fountain City and Alma and the roads of Glencoe township. In this township he located a tract of 120 acres of land, all prairie and stumps, and without buildings. On it he erected a log house, 14 by 15 feet in size, and a log stable, and began the work of improvement, being assisted by his sons. In the following spring the family got a cow. From that beginning he made steady progress in prosperity, his sons operating the farm while he was away surveying. A man of great public spirit, he took a special interest in the construction of roads, and to advance that work in the county often made the surveys for nothing. He also donated liberally to the different churches in the township. As a member of the school board he rendered good service, and he was the first treasurer of Glencoe township, though without seeking the office, accepting it only when urged to serve. He was also a prominent member of the organization known as Patrons of Husbandry, and donated land for the old Grange hall, which was built on his farm. Few men, if any, were more highly esteemed, or better deserved the respect of the citizens of the community.
Both he and his wife lived to a venerable age, each passing away when about 86 years old, his death occurring November 7, 1888.
At the time of the Civil War two of the sons, James and William, enlisted, and the latter was killed at Roanoke, Va. After the war Henry went west. Then James and Thomas conducted the farm together for some eight years, after which it was taken over by the latter, who is the present proprietor.
Mr. and Mrs. Davis were the parents of ten children as follows:
1. David, born August 3, 1829;
2. Elizabeth, April 14, 1831;
3. William, March 31, 1834;
4. Mariam, January 19, 1836;
5. Ann, April 7, 1838;
6. Philip, February 17, 1840;
7. Manuel, January 22, 1842;
8. James, October 7, 1844;
9. Henry, August 24, 1846, and
10. Thomas, January 1, 1850.
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