CHARLES H. DAVIS

 

     Charles H. Davis, controlling an important and lucrative business in Derby as a real-estate agent, has been a resident of Lucas county since 1875 and has been prominently connected with business affairs in this city for about thirty-three years.  He was born in Schuyler county, Missouri, in Lancaster, December 15, 1853, and is a son of William J. and Nancy I. (Roe) Davis, natives of Virginia, the former born October 14, 1823, and the latter April 22, 1826.  The parents removed from Missouri to Illinois where they remained for two years, going from there to Virginia.  The father was well known in military circles there, being second lieutenant in the Twentieth Virginia Regiment, State Militia, commissioned May, 1844, the document being dated at Richmond, July 3, 1844, and signed by James McDowell, governor of that state.  From Virginia Mr. and Mrs. William Davis moved to Kentucky and there on the 1st of September, 1861, the father enlisted in the Union army, joining Company I, Third Kentucky Volunteer Regiment, and dying while in the service of his country on October 15, 1862.  Three of his brothers were also members of the Union army.  Mr. Davis’ wife survived him many years, dying in Derby, May 18, 1906.  She was a granddaughter of John and Nancy Roe, the former born October 22, 1769, and the latter December 30, 1770.  Her parents were Edmund and Isabella Roe, the former of whom was born May 9, 1797, and died in 1882.  The latter’s birth occurred December 29, 1796, and her death in 1883.  This family also sent a representative to the battlefields of the Civil war, Edward Washington Roe, uncle of the subject of this review, having been killed at the siege of Vicksburg.  Mr. and Mrs. William J. Davis became the parents of seven children:  a son who was born December 19, 1845, and who died in infancy; James A., born April 14, 1847, who died April 3, 1907; John W., who was born March 9, 1850, and who resides in Oklahoma; Edward, who was born June 6, 1852, and who died February 7, 1853; Charles H., of this review; Tolbert H., who was born November 25, 1856, and who died November 6, 1860; and Mrs. Sarah Isabelle Patton, who was born August 24, 1859, and who died at Shenandoah, Iowa, May 27, 1887.

     Charles H. Davis was reared in Kentucky and acquired his education in the public schools of that state.  After laying aside his books he turned his attention to farming and this occupation he followed for some years thereafter, first in Kentucky and then in Lucas county, Iowa, where he removed in 1875.  He engaged in agricultural pursuits here for five years and at the end of that time moved into Derby where, with the exception of two years, he has since continued an esteemed and respected resident.  For sixteen years after his arrival here he conducted a large and profitable mercantile establishment, building up an extensive and representative patronage which was accorded him in recognition of his upright and honorable business methods, his progressive standards and his earnest desire to please his customers.  When he disposed of this enterprise he turned his attention to banking and for two years thereafter acted as assistant cashier of the Home State Bank of Humeston.  He then entered into partnership with Mr. Crocker of Chariton and together they established a bank in Derby, which under their able management became one of the strong and reliable moneyed institutions of this part of the state.  Mr. Davis severed his connection with banking interests here in 1905 and about 1908 accepted the appointment of postmaster of the city, discharging his important duties in a prompt, capable and thoroughly satisfactory way.  Failing health obliged him to resign this office and he has since that time devoted his attention to the real-estate business, handling a great deal of valuable property.  He has at different times owned a number of fine farms in Lucas county and is now the proprietor of one hundred and sixty acres of choice land in Kansas, besides having a half interest in a forty acre tract in Union township and ten acres adjoining Derby.  He has dealt extensively in Derby town property and his own home in this city is an attractive, modern and comfortable residence.

     On the 7th of February, 1875, Mr. Davis was united in marriage to Miss Susan M. Sowder, who was born in Claiborne county, Tennessee, January 6, 1851. She is a daughter of Henry M. and Rachel (Osmus) Sowder, also natives of that state, the father residing in Lucas county, where the mother passed away.  In this family were twelve children:  Mrs. Ann C. Smith, of Washington, D. C.; Jane, who died in infancy; Mrs. Davis, wife of the subject of this review; David L., residing in Union township; Mrs. Millie Woods, deceased; William H., who resides in Lucas county; Benjamin F., deceased; Emanuel M., who makes his home in Derby; Malinda, who died at the age of eighteen; Cordelia, who passed away at the age of sixteen; Mrs. Sarah Smith of Humeston, Iowa; and a son, who died in infancy.  Mr. and Mrs. Davis became the parents of four children:  William H., who was born April 13, 1878, and who is now engaged in the real-estate business in Chillicothe, Missouri; Flora B., who was born September 28, 1879, and who died September 14, 1881; Frances M., who was born December 5, 1880, and who died February 16, 1881; and Robert T., who was born May 25, 1883, and who is now residing at Verndale, Minnesota.

     It is not alone along business lines that Charles H. Davis has done splendid work for Derby, for he has been a force in the political life of the city for more than a quarter of a century and through active official service has done much to promote material development.  As mayor he gave to Derby a straightforward, businesslike and constructive administration, and he was for twenty years township clerk and a member of the school board.  During the long period of his residence here no progressive public project has lacked his hearty cooperation and intelligent support, and his name stands for progress, reform and advancement along all lines.

 

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