G. Walter Davies
G. Walter Davies is a scion of
the third generation of the Davies family in Clayton
county and the name which he bears was not only one of
prominence and influence in connection with the early
stages of development and progress in the county but has
also continued to exert distinctive force in the
furthering of the civic and industrial prosperity of this
favored section of the State, with long and effective
association with the basic enterprise of agriculture. He
whose name initiates this paragraph is one of the
representative farmers of Mendon township, known for his
energy, progressiveness and good judgment in connection
with business affairs and his loyalty to the duties and
responsibilities of citizen ship, so that it is but in
natural sequence that to him goes forth the full tide of
popular confidence and good will in the county that has
ever been his home and in which he has found ample
opportunity for effective achievement.
Mr. Davies was born in Mendon township, this county, on
the 6th of January, 1873, and is a son of Thomas M. and
Louisa (West) Davies, the former of whom was born in
Cumberlandshire, in the extreme northwestern part of
England, on the 24th of September, 1842, and the latter
of whom was born at Waukesha, Wisconsin. Thomas M. Davies
was a lad of about ten years when he accompanied his
parents on their removal from England to America, in
1852, and his father, Lewis Davies, became one of the
pioneer settlers at McGregor, Clayton county, Iowa, in
the vicinity of which now vigorous little city he
obtained a tract of land and instituted the reclamation
of a farm, both he and his wife having passed the residue
of their lives on this old homestead. Thomas M. Davies
gained his elementary education In his native land and
supplemented this by attending the schools of McGregor.
He continued to be associated with the operations of the
home farm until there came to him the opportunity to pay
the highest possible tribute of loyalty to his adopted
country. With the outbreak of the Civil war he
subordinated all else to go forth in defense of the
Union. He enlisted in Company B, Fourth Towa Volunteer
Infantry, with which he served as a gallant but youthful
soldier until some time after the expiration of his term
of enlistment. He was at the front with his command for a
period of ten months and then received his honorable
discharge, his continued interest in his old comrades in
arms being indicated by his active affiliation with the
post of the Grand Army of the Republic at McGregor, where
he is now living virtually retired. After his return to
Clayton county Mr. Davies engaged in farming on his own
responsibility. In Mendon township he purchased a quarter
section of fertile land, and there he continued his
successful enterprise as an industrious and
discriminating agriculturist and stock-grower until
advancing years and generous prosperity justified his
retirement from the heavy labors and responsibilities
that had so long been his portion. He is aligned as a
stalwart supporter of the cause of the Republican party,
to which he has paid allegiance from the time of
attaining to his legal majority, and both he and his wife
hold membership in the Congregational church at Mc
Gregor. Of their children the subject of this review is
the eldest; William is deceased; Birdie is the wife of
Melvin Robbins, of this county; and Lillian and Harry
remain at the parental home.
G. Walter Davies gained his early education in the
excellent schools of Mendon township and there continued
to assist in the work and management of his father’s
farm until he had reached his legal majority. After being
employed thereafter as a farm hand for one year he
initiated independent activities as a farmer, his
operations being continued on rented land in his native
township until 1901, when he purchased his present
homestead place, his original purchase having been of one
hundred and fifty-four acres, to which he has since added
an adjoining tract of forty-six acres. Thrift and
indomitable energy have been exemplified by Mr. Davies in
his farming operations and he has achieved independent
and substantial prosperity through his well-ordered
endeavors, his excellent farm being devoted to
diversified agriculture and the raising of approved
grades of live stock. Mr. Davies was reared in the faith
of the Republican party and such have been his personal
convictions that he has never wavered in his allegiance
to this staunch organization and his confidence in its
ultimate return to supremacy in national affairs has not
waned in the least. His progressiveness and public spirit
have been shown in loyal support of community interests
and in according co-operation in the furtherance of
enterprises advanced for the general good of his native
county and State.
He is, in 1916, president of the Mendon Township Farmers’
Institute, an office of which he has been the incumbent
for two years, and prior to assuming this position he had
served one year as vice- president. He has served since
1912 as school director of his district, and both he and
his wife are zealous members of the Congregational church
at McGregor.
September 14, 1898, recorded the marriage of Mr. Davies
to Miss Elma Haymond, daughter of George and Catherine
(Doak) Haymond, of Winterset, Madison county. Mr. and
Mrs. Davies have no children.
source: History of Clayton
County, Iowa; From The Earliest Historical Times Down to
the Present; by Realto E. Price, Vol. II; page 82-83
-OCR scanned by Sharyl Ferrall
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