Untitled From Commemorative Biographical Record of the Counties of Rock, Green, Grant, Iowa and Lafayette, Wisconsin, publ. 1901- page 468-469

WILLIAM W. DAVIS has devoted himself to the agricultural interests of the town of Platteville, Grant county, and now in his old age has a wide circle of friends who esteem him for his upright and manly life, and love him for those personal qualities of heart and mind that have been conspicuous throughout his career.

Mr. DAVIS was born in Franklin county, N.Y., April 27, 1833, and is the son of Thomas Jefferson and Mary (BELL) DAVIS, who were both natives of the State of New York, and born on the shores of Lake Champlain. Thomas DAVIS was the son of John and Eunice (BUTLER) DAVIS, the former born in England, and the latter in the State of New York, where they both died; they left a large family, of whom Daniel DAVIS was a resident of Canada. Thomas DAVIS settled in Franklin county, and was a fruit farmer for many years. He sold out, and re-established himself in Monroe county, in the same State, and this became his home until his death. They both lived to be very old people, and reared a family of seven children. (1) Amelia was born in New York, and died when a young woman. (2) Benjamin married and settled in his native State, where he died some years ago, leaving a wife but no children. (3) Ruth is the wife of Harvey CHASE, and resides near Rochester, N.Y. (4) Chauncey was a soldier in the 13th N.Y.V.I. during the Civil war; he married a lady of Monroe county, settled on her farm, and has two children, Frank and Emma, both residents of that State. (5) Joseph M. was a soldier in the 140th N.Y.V.I. during the war of the Rebellion, and lived in New York a number of years after the war. He then came West and took up a government claim near Yorktown, N. Dak., and made his home in the Prairie State some years, after which he moved to Minneapolis, and engaged in lumbering. He married a lady from his native State, and she died in Minneapolis, leaving two children, William and Emma. (6) Emma is married and lives on a Minnesota farm.

William W. DAVIS, who completes the above family, was reared to manhood under the parental roof in Monroe county, where he received an excellent education, and for a time followed the vocation of a teacher. In 1856 he came to Platteville on a business errand for a stock farm in New York, and, after transacting the business entrusted to him, concluded to remain in Platteville. Here he was engaged in mining and in other work until the breaking out of the Civil war. In 1861 he enlisted in Company C, 7th Wis. V.I., and was the first of that noble army that rallied to the support of the imperiled Republic. He was under Captain Naysmith, and was sent to the army of General McDowell in Virginia, and his first experience in real warfare was at the battle of Bull Run. He participated in many small battles, and was at Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville. His regiment was engaged in South Mountain, and here Mr. DAVIS was seriously wounded, and was detained in the hospital seven months. When the young soldier had regained his health, he rejoined his regiment at Culpeper Court House, in time to bear a hand in the terrible struggle in the Wilderness in May, 1863, and there he was again wounded, in the eye. There was a continued fight until the line of battle was stretched in front of Petersburg, where Mr. DAVIS was twice wounded. He was knocked down at Gettysburg by an artillery wagon, and had ribs broken and other injuries inflicted on him. While lying on the ground he was taken prisoner by the Rebels, and imprisoned in Libby prison and on Belle Isle. He was exchanged at City Point, and he was honorably discharged from the service at Madison, Wis. in September, 1864. The war-worn veteran resumed peaceful occupations with a zest that only those can know who have led stormy years on the tented field, and engaged in farming near Platteville for two years.

In 1871 he married Miss Martha E. BENNETT, the estimable daughter of Anson and Elvira J. BENNETT, old and honored residents of Grant county. Mrs. DAVIS was born in February, 1851, and grew up on the BENNETT homestead. She was educated in the public schools, and is a lady of character and refinement. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs.. DAVIS settled on what was known as the PHILLIBROOK farm, where they still live. They are the parents of four children: Benjamin A., born in 1872, married Miss Elsie NICHOLAS, and resides on a Platteville farm; they have one son, Raymond. William A., born in 1875, married Miss Cora AUSTIN, and has his home on the DAVIS homestead. Jennie M., born in 1881, married Warren VANETTA, and lives on a Harrison township farm. Nellie B. is a student of the home schools. Mr. DAVIS has been a Republican since the Civil war, though his father was an old Jackson Democrat. He is a member of Platteville Post, G.A.R. Mrs. DAVIS belongs to the Free Methodist Church.



This biography generously submitted by Carol Holmbeck