HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY
OHIO

"Perhaps no man in the county had a more general acquaintance with all classes of people, or who was more respected."

Marion Township
WILLIAM DAVIS was born in 1808 in the State of Maryland. His father was a native of Wales. Mr. Davis emigrated to Ohio in 1833. In 1830 he was married to Margaret Lafferty. He was one of the early settlers of the township, and owned a very large tract of land, which was improved by his industry and good management, and became very valuable. Mr. Davis was a man of untiring industry, and energy. No obstacle was so great that he did not overcome it. No labor was too severe for his performance. No duty was left undone. No promise unredeemed. He settled in the wilderness, and commenced life with a determination to succeed, if industry, economy and fair dealing would bring success, and he did succeed, as the broad acres of rich lands under a high state of cultivation, with good farm building, fully attest.
Mr. Davis had family of eleven children seven boys and five girls. All of his children who are now living, reside in the county. Mr. Davis joined the Baptist Church in 1842, and was a member at the time of his death. Although possessing but a limited common school education, Mr. Davis was always the friend and patron of schools and churches. His influence and his means were always in their favor.
Mr. Davis enjoyed the confidence of his neighbors for his intelligence and integrity, and by their votes he held the office of Justice of the Peace for a number of years, and was also a County Commissioner for three years, although the political party to which he belonged was greatly in the minority. He lived to see the county, in which he spent more than thirty years of his life, become prosperous and wealthy; dotted all over with the richest of farms, and with beautiful and substantial farm buildings. He was for many years one of the largest dealers in live stock in the county, and by his liberality in prices, and his prompt payments, he relieved many a poor family from want, if not from actual suffering. Perhaps no man in the county had a more general acquaintance with all classes of people, or who was more respected. Mr. Davis died in 1863.
†Source 1: History of Hancock County, Ohio By D. B. Beardsley, Findley, O. - Publ. Springfield, O. Republic Printing Company - 1881 Page 410