Reuben Davis, physician and fanner, residing on section 3, Hahnaman Township, is one of the extensive land-holders and truly
practical and representative men of Whiteside
County. The Parents of Dr. Davis, William
and Hannah (Appleton) Davis, were natives
of Maine, from which State they moved to Ohio,
where they resided the remainder of their lives.
They were the parents of 13 children, namely:
Eliphalet, John A., Mary A., Rhoda, Hannah, Reuben, Sarah, Francis A., Isaac, William, James E. and
Joshua C. One died in infancy.
Reuben Davis, subject of this biographical notice,
is a native of Ohio, where, in Morgan County, he was
born Oct. 17, 1819. The country was new in the
locality of his birth at that date, and his early education was consequently limited. His early years
were passed on the farm and in working on the
Ohio and Mississippi Rivers, which vocation he followed, more or less, until the date of his emigrating
to this State.
In 1845 Dr. Davis matriculated at the Medical
College at Cincinnati, Ohio, and followed the entire
curriculum of that institution, graduating with honors in March, 1849.
Soon after leaving the college, he engaged in the
practice of his profession in Perry Co., Ohio, and
followed the same with a flattering degree of success
until February, 1853. He then came to this county
and settled in Como, Hopkins Township, where he
continued to practice medicine over two years,
when he purchased land in Montmorency Township.
He moved upon his land and began to cultivate it
extensively, alternating his labors thereon by the
Practice of his profession.
In the fall of 1858 Dr. Davis moved into Hahnaman Township and settled on section 3, his present
residence He determined to make this his permanent home, and at once entered on the improvement
of the land, erected good buildings and otherwise
ornamented and improved his homestead, and at the
present time he has a home for himself and family
in which they all take pride, realizing it was procured
through arduous toil and untiring energy and determination. The Doctor has been a very extensive
land-holder in the county, owning at one time some
1,4oo acres. His landed possessions in the county
at present comprise some 645 acres, all improved,
and for his success in life he has none to thank except his own good judgment and energy, coupled
with the hearty co-operation of his good helpmeets.
Dr. Davis was united in marriage to Miss Mary
Ann Geddes in Morgan Co., Ohio, Dec. 17, 1839. She
was a native of Pennsylvania, in which State she
was born in March, 1819. The issue of their union
was five children. Two died in infancy and those
surviving are Naomi W., Martha J. and Thomas
H. B.
The wife and mother died in Morgan Co., Ohio,
March 28, 1848. In the same county Dr. Davis was
again married. This wedding occurred Oct. 2, 1849,
and Miss Elizabeth H. Work was the bride. She is
the daughter of David and Sarah (Ross) Work, natives of Ohio, and in which State she was born
May 6, 1832. By the latter union 12 children
have been born, namely: Francis C., Sarah X.,
Robert L., Thaddeus C., Hannah A., Mary G., W.
Alice, T. McClellan, Dora S., Reuben H., Jessie L.
and J. Darwin: ten of these are living.
Dr. Davis, although not seeking office, has almost
constantly been honored by the citizens of his township with some office. He was Supervisor six years,
Justice of the Peace iz years and Assessor and Collector several years. In fact, he has held almost
every office in the township, and at this writing is
performing the functions of the office of Township
Clerk and School Trustee. Politically, Dr. Davis is
a supporter of and believer in the principles of the democratic party and cast his first vote for Martin Van Buren in 1840.
As a truly representative man of whiteside County, and as one the citizens can but feel pleased to see represented among the portraits we give in this work, we give that of the subject of this biography. It is engraved froma photograph taken in 1884.
Dr. Reuben Davis is a native of Ohio and came to Whiteside county in 1854, settling first in Montmorency, purchasing land on section 22 of that town. He remained in Montmorency until 1857, when he moved to Hahnaman and purchased the large farm upon which he at present resides. The people of the town early discovered his fitness for public position and at the first election after the town was organized he was elected Collector. He was afterwards repeatedly elected Supervisor and Assessor of the town. Perhaps no man in Hahnaman has taken a more leading and active part in forwardin gthe interest of the town than Dr. Davis. He is a thorough agriculturist, justly priding himself upon the success of his crops and the superiority of his stock. During the first part of August 1877 he entered into teh mercantile business also, with one of his sons, at the village of Tampico, erecting a fine brick store for the purpose.
From Bent-Wilson 1877 Pg 236
