Rash's Surname Index
Notes for Jesse B. DAVIS
Source: "Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Chester County, Pennsylvania, comprising a historical sketch of the county," by Samuel T. Wiley
and edited by Winfield Scott Garner, Gresham Publishing Company, Philadelphia, PA, 1893, pp. 643-4.
"JESSE B. DAVIS, a leading citizen of Willistown township, who for nine years has been a justice of the peace at White Horse, and is favorably known in all parts of the county, is the younger of the two surviving sons of George and Ellen (Baugh) Davis, and was born at 'White Horse,' Willistown township, Chester county, Pennsylvania, March 31, 1831. There he remained until his ninth year, when he went to reside with his grandfather in West Goshen township. After two years passed in that township he removed to East Bradford, and two years later went to Delaware county, where he engaged in milling and has ever since resided. For a period of seven years he conducted the old Thomas mill on Crum creek, after which he began farming, and now owns a splendid farm containing one hundred and ten acres of choice and very valuable land, all well improved. On April 9, 1881, he was commissioned by Governor Beaver as a justice of the peace for Willistown township, and has been acceptably filling that office ever since, being now in the ninth year of consecutive service. In politics Squire Davis is independent, supporting such men and measures as in his judgment
are best calculated to advance the interests of the people and subserve the public good. He is a member of the Patrons of Husbandry, and for eight years was a member and officer - steward - of the Pennsylvania State Grange of that organization.
"On the 5th day of May, 1855, Squire Davis was united in marriage to Lydia Palmer, a daughter of James P. and Jane (Temple) Palmer, of the city of Philadelphia. To them was born a family of four children, one son and three daughters: Ella V., educated at the Friends' Central school in Philadelphia, and is now engaged as a teacher of music; William, living at home and assisting his father in the management of the farm; Jennie, deceased; and Anna, who received her education at the Friends' Central school in Philadelphia, and is an elocutionist, teaching privately, and living at home with her parents.
"The Davis family is of Welsh descent, and are among the older families of this State. Joseph Davis, paternal grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was a native of Willistown township, this county, where he owned the property now occupied by Algernon Lukens, consisting of two hundred acres of fine land. He was a noted dairyman in his day, and it is said his butter always brought the highest price in the market and was in constant demand. In politics he was a whig, and in religion a Quaker, being a member of the Willistown meeting at the time of his death, which occurred at Edgmont in 1848, after an active life of three quarters of a century. He had married Sarah Bishop, by whom he had a family of nine
children, six sons and three daughters: Joseph, William, James, Samuel, Jesse, Sarah (who married Jacob Huey of Kennett township), and George, father of Jesse B. They are all now deceased. George Davis (father) was born on the old homestead in Willistown township, as was all the
family, and he passed most of his life there. He was reared on the farm, obtained his education in the common schools, and after attaining his majority engaged in farming, stock dealing and hotel keeping. He owned
a farm of forty acres, was proprietor of the old White Horse hotel for many years, and became noted as a large cattle buyer, drover and butcher.
On one occasion he slaughtered the largest ox ever killed in the county, it is believed, which weighed two thousand two hundred and twenty-seven pounds, dressed. In politics he was a whig and republican, and was always active in the public movements of his community. He was prominent in the
celebration of November 20th, the anniversary of the Paoli massacre. In religion he was a Quaker, and a life long member of that Society. He died at William Hugh's hotel in West Philadelphia in 1838, while on a visit to
friends there, and his remains repose in the cemetery at Willistown. In 1837 he married Ellen Baugh, a daughter of Daniel Baugh, of Tredyffrin, and to their union was born a family of eight children, five sons and three daughters: Elizabeth, Alfred, Milton, John, Jesse, Joseph, Sarah and
Hannah. Alfred died from disease contracted while serving as a soldier during the civil war; Milton served under General Scott in the Mexican war as a member of the 68th United States infantry, and at the first call for
troops in 1861 enlisted in the 68th Pennsylvania infantry, as captain of Co. I, under Colonel Tipton, and was in fourteen regular engagements, had charge of his regiment as senior captain in the battle of Gettysburg, and
was killed soon afterward on the Rappahannock, in Virginia, by a stray shot fired by a Confederate picket; Joseph served as lieutenant of Co. I, 68th
Pennsylvania infantry, and was killed at the battle of Fredericksburg."
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