John O. Davis
JOHN O. DAVIS, merchant. Tiro; is a son of John and Mary (Hamilton) Davis, and was born in Crawford Co., Ohio in 1839. His father was a native of Maryland, and was born in 1791. The mother was a native of Pennsylvania, and was born in 1796. They were married in Columbiana Co., Ohio, and came to Crawford Co. in 1832, locating in Sandusky Township. There were born to them the following family--Julia A., Susan, Jonathan, Keziah, Henry, Mary. James, Jefferson, Joseph, Louisa, William, Martha and .John O. Of these, Susan, Keziah, Mary and Joseph are dead. Julia is the widow of John McIntire and lives in Illinois: Susan married a Mr. Mills: Jonathan married Margaret Hudson, and lives in Hardin Co.. Ohio: Keziah married Dr. T. A. Mitchell: Henry married M. A. Stone, and lives in Shelby, Ohio: Mary married Samuel Anderson: James married Catharine Mickey, and lives in Crestline. Ohio; Jefferson married Amanda Fox: Joseph married Louisa Fisher; Louisa is the wife of G. H. Lee: William married Leah McCrady, and lives in Galion, and Martha married John Dempsey, and lives in Shelby, Ohio. John was reared and educated in the country. In 1859, he was united in marriage with Rachel M. Rigby, daughter of Nimrod Rigby, and by her has three children William B., born Nov. 8, 1800; George H., born May 3, 1868, and John H., born Jan. 7, 1872. Mr. Davis owns 80 acres of land in Auburn Township, and acres in Kansas. He also owns a fine business house in Tiro, the upper story being the I. O. O. F. Hall. The store in the building is as fine a grocery store as is usually found in large cities. The firm name of the owner is Davis & Mitchell. Mr. Davis being the junior partner. Mr. Davis is a member of the I. O. O. F., and a Republican in politics. He served faithfully in the late war, enlisting in Company H. 123d O. V. I. He was discharge June 15, 1865. He was in some of the hardest contested battles of the war was taken prisoner at Winchester and for third day was confined in Belle Island. After being exchanged, he again joined his regiment, an was again taken prisoner, and served some months in Andersonville and Florence, suffering all the agonies of starvation and disease He was finally exchanged, Dec. 6, 1864, and since that time Mr. Davis makes Dec. 6 his holiday. His brother William was in the 101st Regiment, and served as Quartermaster Sergeant, but was promoted to lieutenancy. Mr. Davis was a Sergeant in his regiment. Both John and William Davis were said to have been brave and gallant soldiers, and were always found in the thickest of the fight. Much honor and credit is due them for the heroic part they took in the war.
From History of Crawford County and Ohio, Baskin & Battey, Historical Publishers, Chicago, 1881