DAVIS: Of Geary District.
William H. Davis, old William, long a resident and the miller at Osbornes Mills, was born in Rockingham County, Virginia, in the year 1816, son of Mathew S. Davis, soldier of 1812; was there apprenticed to a millwright, and learned that trade; went from there south, from place to place at mill work; came up the Mississippi, Ohio, Great Kanavha, and settled in Kanawha County about the year 1846. There about the year 1853 or 1854 united in mhrriage with Mary Catherine Hill, born in Kanawha County, 1828. Of this marriage foursons and three daughters grew up; their names, Mathew H., born about the year 1858; Albert Gallatin, 1856; John R., 1865, and William Willis, 1867. The names of the daughters: Adelaid, wife of Fred M. Hinzman; Susan died, and Lucy, who became the wife of J. P. Myers. William H., first named, became proprietor and manager of Osbornes Mills, December 25, 1866.
Mathew H. Davis, above named, married twice, first Ida E. Carder, of Kanawha County. Of this, four children were born. His second marriage was with Sarah E. Rogers, of Clay County, daughter of Levi and Naomi (Skidmore) Rogers. We have no record of Albert G. Davis.
John R. Davis, son of William H. and Mary Catherine (Hill), above mentioned, for several years, taught school and assisted in running the mill--Osbornes Mills.
William Willis Davis, son of William H. and Catherine (Hill) Davis, above, also did his first work as helper about the mill; taught several terms of free schools of Roane County; was conspicuous in the first of the Teachers Institutes of the county at Spencer; married Ella, daughter of Benjamin Hickle, of upper Spring Creek, Aug. 29, 1891, his age, 22, hers 22; of this marriage were born four daughters and one son; their names: Bly, Pansy, Gypsy, wife of Harry Vance of Spencer; Faustine, a Miss at home; and the son, Glenn, now (1926) a young man at home.
Willis W. Davis and wife Ella have a nice farm home on the State road, Spencer to Clay. Willis was Democratic nominee, 1924 campaign, for the office of sheriff.
Source: History of Roane County, West Virginia, 1774-1927 William H. Bishop, Esq. p 501-502
Submitter: Sandy Spradling, November 28, 1999
