- GERMAN HARMON DAVIS, a retired merchant of Janesville, is
numbered among the
- pioneers of 1849. He is a native of Vermont, born in Windsor
County, May 20, 1820. His mother, Betsy (ACKLEY) DAVIS, was
also a native of the same State, while the family of the father,
Daniel L., was from New Hampshire. Both families were of early
New England ancestry. In his native county our subject grew
to manhood, and about the time he reached his majority engaged
in merchandising in the town of Reading, that State. On the
20th day of March, 1842, he was united in marriage with Miss
Nancy WILLIAMS, a native of Chester, Vt., and daughter of Rufus
WILLIAMS, of that place. Their union was blessed with three
children, two daughters and one son, all of whom are yet living.
Emma, the oldest daughter, married D. J. MINOR, of Janesville,
a dealer in boots and shoes; Addie married O. C. FORD, also of
Janesville, and who is engaged in milling in that city; George
W., married Miss Minnie GREAVES, and now resides in Chicago,
where he is engaged in the merchant tailoring business.
- Closing out his mercantile business in Reading, Mr. DAVIS
went to Windsor, Vt., where he
- engaged in the hotel business, which he conducted but a short
time. Believing that the opportunity for securing a competence
was far better in the West than in the East, Mr. DAVIS concluded
that he would emigrate to the new State of Wisconsin. Accordingly
in the spring of 1849, he landed at Janesville, who at once purchased
a farm in Plymouth Township, to which he removed and for the
next two years engaged in its improvement. He then returned
to Janesville, and purchased the "Stage House," that
stood near the corner of East Milwaukee and Main streets, where
the Myers House now stands. This hotel he managed for two years
and then engaged in general merchandising for the next three
or four years. closing out his store, he engaged in the produce
business, in which he continued fifteen years, and returned once
more to hotel life, managing the Commercial House for some years.
This house he subsequently leased and it was burned down in
December, 1887, while occupied by a tenant.
- In 1868, Mr. DAVIS was called upon to mourn the death of
his wife. She was a most estimable
- woman and had a large circle of warm hearted friends. In
1872, he went East, and on the 27th day of June of that year,
he was again united in marriage, choosing as a companion Mrs.
Minnie DAVIS, the widow of his brother. Mrs. DAVIS, who is a
native of Brandon, Vt., had been twice married. Her first husband
was O. G. BILLINGS, by whom she had one daughter, Gertie Belle,
who died at the age of seven years.
- Returning to Janesville with his bride, Mr. DAVIS has since
made this his home. One child has
- been born to them, Edward G., who yet remains at home with
his parents. Mrs. DAVIS, in her new home, has surrounded herself
with many friends and is universally esteemed by all. A member
of Trinity Episcopal Church, she takes special interest in the
work of that society. Mr. DAVIS is not a member of any church,
but is an ardent Odd Fellow, a member of the Janesville City
Lodge, No. 90, and one who in his life endeavors fully to carry
out the motto of the order, "Friendship, Love and Truth."
- Since coming to Rock County, Mr. DAVIS has been fairly prosperous.
He is the owner of some
- valuable property on West Milwaukee street, with a frontage
of 212 feet, on which stands a frame house on the corner, a three-story
brick, twenty-four feet front, and a two-story frame, twenty-four
feet front, on the site of the old hotel. A Republican in politics,
he has never sought political office, preferring the quiet life
of a citizen. As he nears his three score years and ten, he
can look back upon a life well spent, with the satisfaction of
knowing that friends he has many and enemies few.
-
- Taken from "The Portrait and Biographical Album of
Rock County, Wis." (c)1889, pp. 239-240.
-
- Courtesy of Carol
|