William A. Davis (Farmer, Post-office, Madison)
Mr. Davis has been living on the place where he now resides for 36 years. He has a good farm of 1,860 acres, and is regarded as an energetic farmer and worthy citizen. His parents, James and Elizabeth (Fox) Davis, were among the first settlers of Ralls county, or rather they came with their parents, respectively, way back in the "twenties." They had but two sons, William A. and James C., now of Moberly. The father died in 1876, and the mother in 1878. They left a farm of over 300 acres. Mr. Davis was reared to be a farmer, an occupation he has since followed. In the spring of 1848 he was married to Miss Martha J. Yeager, a daughter of Aaron and Verrilla Yeager. They have been blessed with ten children; Verrilla E., the wife of George W. Ellsberry; James C., Thomas J., Cleopatra, the wife of Andrew Alexander, of Moberly; Aaron V., Billy U., Gabriel W., Oral W., Zulah M. and Ernest T. The part of Ralls county in which Mr. Davis was born was included in Monroe county after its organization, so Mr. Davis may be said to be a native of this county, and has therefore lived in it since the first streakings of earthly light illuminated the canopy of his globular optics, or, in other words, from the time of his birth. Mr. Davis is one of those earnest, sterling men who believes that one should prosper only by honest industry, and all through life should maintain the strictest faith with his neighbors, his family, his church and his God. He is a very sincere member of the Christian Church, and believes that the code of the true church is to be found in the Bible, which he believes in from Genesis to Revelations, without the cross of a t or the dot of an i, and not in catechisms or anything of that sort. He is one of those true, plain-minded Christian men, neither bigoted nor intolerant, who believe that all men will be saved who live according to the teachings of the Bible, regardless of sect or similar doctrines.
(Src Book: History of Shelby and Monroe County, Missouri)

Obituary: WILLIAM A. DAVIS died at his home at
Ash Monday night and was buried on Wednesday. This announcement will be sad news
to hundreds of our readers who have enjoyed the friendship of this sturdy old
pioneer for many years. With one exception he was the oldest native of what is
now known as Monroe County, having been born in Middle Grove in 1827. This
county was a part of Ralls County at that time. Mr. Davis was a prominent member
of the Christian Church and was a good citizen at all times and under all
circumstances. His funeral was preached by Elder C. H. Strawn. (Src): Unknown Missouri Newspaper.

Obituary: William A. Davis, one of Monroe
county's best known, most highly respected and honored citizens, died after an
illness of several weeks duration, at this home, about four miles northwest of
town, on Monday evening, June 4th, 1900. Mr. Davis was a man of indomitable
energy, genial disposition, and indulgent father and kind neighbor, and through
his long and eventful life has won and retained the friendship of all with whom
he came in contact, and leaves behind him, not only a large family of children,
all of whom are grown and useful citizens, but leaves a host of warm personal
friends, to mourn his death. He was something over seventy years of age at the
time of his death. His funeral was preached by C. H. Strawn, of Paris, and his
remains laid to rest at Ash yesterday. (Src):Unknown Missouri Newspaper.