George Davis, M. D.

DAVIS, HUDSON, NICHOLS

Posted By: Anne Hermann (email)
Date: 12/30/2009 at 01:10:30

J. W. Ellis, History of Jackson County, Iowa, 1910

GEORGE DAVIS, M. D.

For more than a quarter of a century Dr. George Davis was engaged in active practice of medicine at Canton, but he has now practically retired from professional circles and finds rest and recreation in the supervision of his farming interests, for he is the owner of a valuable property of two hundred and eighty acres, located on sections 8 and 17, Brandon township, and the fine home which he occupies in the village of Canton is surrounded by a tract of forty acres. Dr. Davis was born in Shade Gap, Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, September 8, 1852, a son of John and Nannie (Hudson) Davis. The parents were likewise natives of the Keystone state, whence a removal was made in 1858 to Tennessee, the family home being established near Nashville, that state. The father was also a physician and engaged in practice in Tennessee, where the mother passed away. The father afterward removed from the south to Marion county, Illinois, and after following his profession there for some time, was also called to his final rest. In the family were three sons: Theodore, a resident of Williamson county, Illinois; George, of this review; and Joseph, deceased.
Dr. George Davis was a little lad of six years at the time the family removed to the south and it was in the latter district that his literary education was acquired in one of the old time log schoolhouses. After reaching mature years he decided upon the practice of medicine as a life work and to that end entered the medical department of the State University at Nashville, the M. D. degree being there conferred upon him in 1873. Following his graduation he began practice near Nashville, where he made his home until 1882 and then, seeking a broader field for his labors, he made his way to Jackson county and opened an office in Canton, where he has since made his home. Throughout a long period he was actively engaged in practice and during this time the people of the community became so attached to him and have such confidence in his skill and ability that many are still loath to dispense with his services and he also treats many poor of the community. However, he has largely put aside professional duties and now gives his time to his invested interests. He owns a nice home in Canton, which stands in the midst of forty acres of land, and he likewise owns a farm of two hundred and eighty acres on sections 8 and 17, in Brandon township. He is managing the work on the latter place but hires others to do the actual labor. He raises mules to a considerable extent and at one time shipped from Illinois to his farm a drove of forty mules. He is also a fancier of dogs.
Dr. Davis was married in 1878 to Miss Viola Nichols, by whom he has had four children: John, who is engaged in farming at Western, Nebraska; Bertie, the wife of Leroy Bigford, who lives with her father; James, who resides in Chicago, Illinois; and George, Jr., who is with his elder brother in Nebraska.
In politics Df. Davis is a republican, while his fraternal relations connect him with the Modern Brotherhood of America at Canton, of which he is a charter member and has passed through all the chairs. In his professional career he has performed many acts of charity, never refusing to answer the call of those in distress even when he knows there will be no compensation. His life of industry has brought him a rich reward in the high estimate his acquaintances place upon him both as a physician and a man and the rest which he is now enjoying from the strenuous duties of the medical practitioner is richly deserved.