Davis, Lawrence

DAVIS

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 6/13/2021 at 14:23:48

LAWRENCE DAVIS
born Jan 26, 1852, PA

Lawrence Davis, one of the well known young men of Milo, was born in Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, January 26, 1852, a son of T.A. and Mary (Lawrence) Davis, natives of Wales. The father was born in Caermarthen Wales, in July, 1818, a son of William L. Davis, who came to America in 1843, landing in New York. In 1841 T. A. Davis crossed the ocean to New York on the three-masted sailing vessel, American Providence, having spent three months on the journey. He landed in this country a poor man. A few weeks after his arrival Mr. Davis emigrated to Carbondale, Pennsylvania, arriving there with less than fifty cents, but he soon secured work in the coal mines. He next found employment in a general store, afterward becoming a partner in the business, and in that capacity accumulated many thousand dollars. April 9, 1858, Mr. Davis came by rail to Iowa, crossing the Mississippi river at Burlington, and located in Monroe county, where he purchased 300 acres of land in Guilford township, a part of which was cultivated. The family resided there until 1880, and in that year came to Indianola. Mr. Davis and his son, Lawrence, soon afterward purchased the Somerset Water Mills, of which Lawrence, the subject of this sketch, was the manager until it was sold. Immediately after thus disposing of the Somerset Mills our subject and his father effected the purchase of the Milo Flouring Mill, at Milo, and has continued its operation very successfully ever since. Our subject rents his father’s interest in the enterprise and the business conducted under the firm name of Davis & Son, the interested principals being Davis and his son Albert. T. A. Davis met and married his wife, nee Mary Lawrence, in Luzerne county, Pennsylvania. They have had thirteen children, nine of whom are now living, namely: William, who resides near Greeley, Colorado; Lawrence, our subject; Albert, engaged in the hardware business in North Platte, Nebraska; George G., foreman of the Shuber oil works of Des Moines; Benjamin F., a hardware merchant of Hamburg, Iowa; Elizabeth, wife of Silas Keeney, engaged in the livery business; Phoebe J., wife of Bud Fortney, a carpenter of Indianola; Edward, engaged in the hardware business with his brother, Albert; and Elvira, wife of Harry Hartzler, a saddler of Indianola. T. A. Davis has retired from the active cares of life and resides in his commodious home on East Main street Indianola. In his political relations, he is identified with the Republican party. April 22, 1875, Lawrence Davis was united in marriage with Miss Elma Ward, a native of Warren county, Ohio, and a daughter of Owen and Mary Ellen Ward. To this union have been born two children, namely: Lillie L., who was born February 12, 1876, died February 1, 1892, and was laid at rest in the Odd Fellows cemetery at Indianola; and Albert L., born November 16, 1878, has developed a natural talent for mechanics. Mr. Davis owns and resides in a beautiful home across from the mill. Politically, he is a Republican, and cast his first presidential vote for Gen. U. S. Grant. He is now serving his seventh year as Justice of the Peace, has served as secretary of the School Board for seven years, and is secretary of the Warren County Peace Officers’ Association of Indianola. In his social relations, Mr. Davis is a Mason, Odd Fellow, and a Modern Woodman. Source: A Memorial and Biographical Record of Iowa, Lewis Publishing Co., Chicago, Illinois, 1896, vol.1, p.310