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         EDWARD J. DAVIS, a farmer of Louisa County, now residing in Clifton, is a native of Wales. His parents, John and Elizabeth (Benjamin) Davis, were also born in that country, where the death of the father occurred in 1867, his wife having departed this life five years previously. Both parents were members of the Calvinistic Church, and they had reared a family of seven children, two of whom are citizens of this State: Vaughn, now residing in Red Oak, and Edward. Our subject was reared upon a farm, and in 1851, on attaining his majority, emigrated to America. After reaching this country he first settled at Utica, N. Y., where he resided for four years. Removing to Montrose, Susquehanna Co., Pa., he made that his home for a year, and then learned the trades of a stonemason and plasterer, after which he came to Iowa, locating in Lyons, where he remained four months. His next place of residence was LaCrosse, Wis., where he lived for three years, when, in 1859, he came to Louisa County, locating in Columbus City Township. His first purchase of land consisted of eighty acres, and a few months later he bought 120 acres on section 4 of the same township, which he improved and made his home until 1882, when he moved to Clifton. He is the owner of a handsome residence in the village, and at one time he owned 316 acres of land in Louisa County.

On the 11th of February, 1864, Mr. Davis led to the marriage altar Miss Ann Morgan, who was born in Wales, and is a daughter of John Morgan, who emigrated with his family to this country in May, 1844, settling near Utica, N. Y., where they remained six months and then removed to Newark, Ohio, and resided there one year, and then came to Iowa in November, 1845. Mr. Davis and his wife are members of the Calvinistic Church, in which he holds the office of Deacon. He has served in various official positions of the township, and in political sentiment is a Republican. In 1860 he made a trip to Colorado, where he remained for over three years, engaged in mining, and was quite successful. As there was no railroad west of Washington, Iowa, he made the trip across the plains with an ox-team. He was three months on the way, and returned in the same manner. At several different times since then he has gone to Colorado, and five times he has crossed the ocean. The year following his marriage he visited his native land, and thus in traveling over the country has learned much more than could ever be gained from text-books. Mr. Davis has always taken an active part in the public affairs of the county, as well as in the church work, and is a respected citizen of the community where he resides. He is now living a retired life, having acquired a competency enabling himself and good wife to spend the evening of their lives in ease. He can now look back upon a well-spent life of usefulness.