William Davis
William Davis, deceased, was born near Maysville, Ky., October 18, 1797. He was a son of William and Elizabeth Davis. His father died when William Davis, the subject of this sketch, was yet a small boy. When he had attained the age of eighteen years, or in the spring of 1816, he came to Shelby County, Ohio, and located in Turtle Creek Township. He entered a piece of land a short distance west of Hardin, on which he erected a cabin, and cleared some land during the summer, and in the fall of the same year (1816) he returned to his native State, and brought his mother with four children, viz., James O., Tuble C., Hiram A., and Elizabeth, to their new home in Shelby County. Mr. D. remained on the land with his mother for a number of years, and assisted her in taking care of, and providing for, the younger members of the family. He was a man of unusual strength; his equal was hardly known in Shelby County. He was considered one of the leading men of the county in his time. He was always found among those who were in favor of any thing that was for the benefit of the neighborhood, and for the advancement of education or religion. He was elected to different ofllces, but never accepted any of them higher than township trustee.
September 11, 1821, he married Mrs. Eliza Roby, née Safford. Miss Safford was born near Concord, Mass., June 15, 1792, and came to Ohio with her first husband, Mr. Roby, in 1819, and settled three miles south of Hardin, Shelby County. Mr. and Mrs. Davis settled on the home farm in Turtle Creek Township near Hardin, on which they resided many years. They passed the remainder of their days in Shelby County, most of the time in Turtle Creek Township, with the exception of about one year, which time they spent in Iowa and Illinois. He died August 17, 1866, at the residence of his son, Hiram A. Davis. His companion survived him until March 15, 1874, when she died at the residence of Hiram A. Davis. Mr. Davis stood six feet two inches in height, and weighed 220 pounds, and many of the citizens of Turtle Creek and adjoining townships well remember his stately form. He reared a family of six children, viz., Maria, Caroline, Calista M., Emelin A., Hiram A., and Adelma Ann. Maria and Adelina A. are now dead.
From History of Shelby County, Ohio; R. Sutton & Co, Philadelphia PA, 1883