Hall J. Davis, b. 17 Mar 1848

TOLMAN, DAVIS, DURGIN

Posted By: Donna Moldt Walker (email)
Date: 3/3/2004 at 08:29:09

Hall J. Davis, Postmaster and general merchant at Miles, has been a man more than ordinarily successful in life, and occupies a good position in his community. He was born March 17, 1848, near West Newfield, York Co., Me., within about thirty miles of Portland and Augusta, was reared to farm pursuits and received his education at the village school. At the age of nineteen he started for Iowa, his destination being Vernon Prairie, Clinton County, where he carried on farming two seasons. He then embarked in business at Sabula in partnership with H.R. Canfield, and later was married to Miss Marcia Tolman. Mrs. Davis is the daughter of Daniel and Almira (Davis) Tolman, who were pioneers of Vernon Prairie, but at that time were living at Lyons; they are now deceased.

The wife of our subject, was born in Massachusetts, and was brought by her parents to Iowa when a child. Her education was completed in the college at Fulton, Ill. The young people commenced housekeeping at Sabula and at the expiration of eight years Mr. Davis started a branch store at Miles and removed thither in September, 1871. It will thus be seen that he is the pioneer business man of this place. He enjoyed a good patronage from the first and it is rapidly increasing. He also has a half interest in a mercantile establishment at Ida Grove in Ida County, which is operated under the firm name of Lusk & Davis. In addition to this he owns a half interest in a stock of merchandise at Lost Nation, conducted under the firm style of Davis & Ahrens. In 1875 Mr. David became sole controller of the business at Miles and was appointed postmaster under Arthur in 1882. He and J.P. Morton are the only Postmasters in this section who held over through the Democratic administration. Mr. Davis, politically, is a sound Republican. He put up his elegant residence in 1877, and is the father of three children - Mary, Lucy and Bruce. The two first mentioned are attending college at Grinnell, taking the classical couse as members of the class of 1892. Socially, Mr. Davis has been a leading member of the I.O.O.F. at Miles, which is now upon the point of consolidating with the lodge at Sabula. He also belongs to the A.O.U.W. Mrs. Davis is a member of the Congregational Church.

Joseph and Rebecca (Durgin) Davis, the parents of our subject, were natives of the Pine Tree State. The Davis family originated in Wales while the mother of our subject traced her ancestry to Scotland. Joseph Davis was a life-long farmer and spent his entire life in his native State, dying at the age of sixty-three years. The mother subsequently came West and died in Washington township, this county, in 1880, when seventy-six years old. The parental family consisted of five sons and four daughters.

("Portrait and Biographical Album of Jackson County, Iowa", originally published in 1889, by the Chapman Brothers, of Chicago, Illinois.)