ELMORE M. DAVIS owns and cultivates an excellent farm of one hundred and forty-two and one-half acres pleasantly situated in White Eyes township not far from the village of Fresno.  Everything about the place indicates that he is in touch with the modern spirit of progress which is manifest in agricultural lines.  He was born in Adams township, Coshocton county, Mar. 28, 1856, and is a son of James R. and Rachel Jane (Kimball) Davis, of whom mention is made on another page of this work in connection with the sketch of their daughter, Myra Davis.  The paternal grandparents were John and Ann Davis while the maternal grandparents were Abner and Nancy (Jeffries) Kimball.
     Upon the home farm Elmore M. Davis was reared and there remained until thirty-five years of age. He acquired a common-school education and when not busy with his text-books worked in the fields, early becoming familiar with the best methods of tilling the soil and carrying on the farm. He afterward rented his mother's farm for six years and was quite successful in its cultivation, acquiring thereby a capital that enabled him to later purchase a farm.
     In 1891 Mr. Davis was united in marriage to Miss Martha J. Wier, who was born in White Eyes township, Nov. 24, 1861, a daughter of Samuel and Eleanor (Elliott) Wier, of whom mention is made on another page of this volume in connection with the sketch of Allen Wier.  Following his marriage Mr. Davis purchased the farm whereon they now reside.  They first invested in ninety acres of land but as their financial resources have permitted they have added to this property and now own one hundred and forty-two and one-half acres, constituting a well improved farm in White Eyes township.  Here Mr. Davis raises the cereals best adapted to the soil and climate and in addition he makes a specialty of raising cattle and other stock.
     Mr. and Mrs. Davis are members of the United Presbyterian church and he has served as one of its trustees for eight years.  He is also generous in his contributions to its support and is a helpful worker in its various activities and interests.  He gives his political allegiance to the republican party but has no desire for office, preferring to concentrate his time and energies upon his business interests in which he is now meeting with signal success.
Source: Centennial History of Coshocton County, Ohio - Vol. II - Chicago - The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co. - 1909 - Page 295

JAMES DAVIS
His Autobiography.

     I was born in Wales, Oct. 31, 1827, and emigrated to the United States in 1841.  Left home about last of July of that year.  Left Swansen, Wales, on steamboat for Liverpool, England, on the 5th day of August.  I left Liverpool on a sailing boat for New York and arrived at New York on the 22d of September, 1841, being on the sea about seven weeks.  I journeyed from New York to Albany by steamboat, then to Buffalo by canal, from Buffalo to Cleveland and thence by canal boat to Roscoe, arriving there on Sunday.  Then we walked out to the Coalport coal bank and afterward my brother Benjamin and myself went up to Holmes county to dig coal.  As the sale of coal was poor, Brother Ben came down to Coalport and I went to school in December, 1841, and during January and February, 1842, in Holmes county.  I came down to Coshocton county and worked with my brother Ben in a coal mine in the summer and went to school in the winter.  Ben and I worked in partnership in coal mining and boated coal to Newark and Columbus in 1848 on the Ohio canal, selling mostly fine coal to the penitentiary and along the canal.  I was married on the 26th of May, 1853, and my brother Ben and I worked together until he died on the 6th of March, 1855.  After that I worked on the canal bank and carried on business by myself.  In 1872 I moved over to creek farm and turned my attention to farming.  I must confess I had good success all these times, but don't you forget I worked hard all these years.  I bought land near Franklin Station.  I farmed very extensively and also operated in the sand business.  I made money enough to pay for all the land and build some very good houses.  I am able to pay all my debt by selling some of my land.  I believe I have told all the good I have done and now ask somebody else for the bad deeds I have done.  In the fall of 1863 and spring of 1864 I built a canal boat for boating coal, the name of the boat being Ben Butler.  In the summer which I paid twelve hundred dollars.  In the spring of 1865, when the Civil war ended, I worked in coal bank about three months and then quit and took up farming.
Source: Centennial History of Coshocton County, Ohio - Vol. I - Chicago - The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co. - 1909 - Page 487

MYRA J. DAVIS is the owner of a valuable farming property which has long been in possession of the Davis family, who have been residents of this county from pioneer times.  She was born Sept. 29, 1844, on the farm and in the house where she now lives, her parents being James R. and Rachel (Kimball) Davis. Her father was born in Herefordshire, England, Nov. 4, 1818, and was a son of John and Anna (Bailey) Davis, who in the year 1832 came to America with her family, crossing the Atlantic on the sailing vessel Sarah of Petersburg, Virginia.  They landed in New York and thence made their way to Adams township, Coshocton county, traveling westward by way of the Hudson river, the Erie canal, Lake Erie and the Ohio canal.  The grandfather was not long permitted to enjoy his new home, however, for his death occurred in September, 1833.  His wife survived him several years and died in September, 1840.
     James R. Davis was a young man of twenty-two years at the time of his mother's death.  After coming to Ohio he had assisted in the difficult task of clearing and improving a new farm, and had early become familiar with all the work of the fields.  His mother died in 1840, and on the 5th of May, 1841, he made preparation for having a home of his own by his marriage to Miss Rachel Kimball a daughter of Abner and Nancy (Jeffries) Kimball.  Mrs. Davis was born in this county.  For forty-five years the parents of our subject traveled life's journey together, and were then separated by the death of Mr. Davis who was called to his final rest in 1886.  His wife died seventeen years later in 1903.  They were the parents of eleven children: Emily, deceased; Myra J., Curtis K., who is living in Knoxville, Iowa; Charles W., who has departed this life; John N. whose home is in Adams township; Abner T., who is living in Kansas; Ernest J., who resides in Iowa; Eleanor M., of this county; Hereford whose home is in Kansas; Horace F., also of this county; and Laura L., now the wife of John Leach, living in Adams township.
     In his political views Mr. Davis was an earnest republican who on the organization of the party gave to it his support and continued to vote its ticket until his death.  He also took an active part in local politics, and held a number of township offices, the duties of which he discharged with promptness and fidelity.  His attention was mainly given to the farm, and he prospered in his agricultural pursuits, adding to his original holdings until he became the owner of three hundred and seventy acres of land in Adams township.
     Miss Myra J. Davis is now in possession of one hundred eight and one-half acres, constituting a part of the old homestead property.  She manages her own farm and in its control shows excellent business ability.  The house which she occupies has stood for more than six decades, and is one of the old land marks of the community.  Miss Davis is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and has the entire respect and good will of all who know her.
Source: Centennial History of Coshocton County, Ohio - Vol. II - Chicago - The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co. - 1909 - Page 56

PHOTO

SCOTT DAVIS.    The life of Scott Davis has been one of continuous activity, in which has been accorded due recognition of labor, and today he is numbered among the substantial citizens of Coshocton county, owning and operating a valuable farm of three hundred and thirty-four acres situated in Virginia and Jackson townships, and in addition to this he superintends the farm of his brother Frank, who makes his home in Colorado.  Mr. Davis was born in Virginia township, Oct. 4, 1857, a son of James and Zebra (Taylor) Davis, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this volume.  The father was born Oct. 31, 1827, and died Nov. 1, 1904.  He was married May 26, 1853, to Zebra Taylor, and they became the parents of eleven children, five of whom are still living:  Emma, Scott, William Sherman, Jennie, Benjamin Franklin, James Howard, Mary Jane, Isadore, Allen, Wilert Grant and Edward Prosser.
     Scott Davis was reared on the home farm, assisting in the work of the fields from the time of early spring planting until the crops were harvested in the late autumn, while in the winter seasons he pursued his studies in the district schools.  When he started out to make his own way in the world he chose the occupation to which he had been reared, first farming in Franklin township where he lived for four years.  He then removed to his present farm in Virginia township, this tract comprising three hundred and thirty-four acres.  He follows general farming and stock-raising and both branches of his business are proving a profitable source of revenue to him.
     Mr. Davis was married Feb. 15, 1885, to Miss Emma Cox, a daughter of William and Margaret Cox, residents of Virginia township.  Their union has been blessed with six children  Ward B., Alpha, Clarence, Harvey, James and Blanche.  The two last named, however, are deceased.
     Mr. Davis gives his political support to the men and measures of the republican party and for several terms has filled the office of township trustee. As has been truly remarked, after all that may be done for a man in the way of giving him early opportunities for obtaining the requireents which are sought in the schools and in books, he must essentially formulate, determine and give shape to his own character, and this is what Mr. Davis has done.  He has persevered in the pursuit of a persistent purpose and gained a most satisfactory reward.  His life is exemplary and he is ever interested in all those movements which are calculated to uplift and benefit humanity, while his own high moral worth is deserving of highest commendation.
Source: Centennial History of Coshocton County, Ohio - Vol. I - Chicago - The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co. - 1909 - Page 484

LEWIS DRAHER, who for the past thirty years has followed the shoemaker's trade in Bakersville, and who with his wife owns one hundred and seven acres of valuable land adjoining that village on the north wand east, was born in Tuscarawas county, Ohio, April 15, 1854, a son of Philip and Catherine Draher.  His father came to America from Germany when eighteen yeas of age and located near Stone Creek, where he engaged in farming, an occupation which he followed up to the time of his death.  In early manhood he wedded Catherine Arbogast, likewise a native of Germany, who had been brought by her parents to this country when a little girl.  Seven children were born to their union, of whom four are living, namely: John, who resides in Adams township; Fred, whose home is in Marion county; Elizabeth, the wife of William Statter, of Tuscarawas county; and Lewis, of this review.  The mother died in 1859 when our subject was but five years of age.
     Lewas Draher was reared to agricultural pursuits and aided his father in the work of the farm from the time he was eight years of age.  In 1869, at the age of fifteen, he entered upon an apprenticeship at the shoemaker's trade under the capable instruction of Valentine E. Bahmer  He remained with Mr. Bahmer for nine years, at the expiration of which time he engaged in business for himself and has since followed the occupation which he is now so successfully pursuing.  In 1893 Mr. and Mrs. Draher made their first investment in farm property when they bought eighty-seven acres of their present place.  They later bought twenty acres additional, so that their farm, which is operation by their sons, now comprises one hundred and seven acres.
     On the 10th of June, 1876, Mr. Draher was united in marriage to Miss Teletha Hawk, a native Adams township and daughter of Andrew and Mary J. (Walters) Hawk.  Her father was born in Carroll county, Ohio, Feb. 4, 1825, and was brought by his parents to this county when but two years of age.  On May 5, 1848, he wedded Mary J. Walters, of Guernsey county, Ohio, and they became the parents of six children, namely: Mary E.., Margaret A., Rachel E., Teletha, and two who died in infancy.  The mother died Feb. 8, 1863, and on May 10, 1865, Mr. Hawk was again married, his second union being with Miss Lavina Landers, a native of this county, whose father was of German and her mother of Swiss descent.  Unto this union eight children were born namely: William J. S., Howard A., Edgar R., Arvilla,, Charles, Rutherford B. H., John and Clara.  Mr. Hawks was engaged in mercantile business in Bakersville during the years of 1850 and 1851.  He died in Kansas, while the death of his wife occurred in Coshocton county.  Mr. and Mrs. Draher are the parents of thirteen children, all of whom are now living namely: Charlie A., a resident of Tuscarawas county; Arthur, who resides in Summit county, this state; Maud, the wife of Mack Loveless, of Adams township; Clifford, at home; Ada, wife of Albert Marhover, of New Comerstown; and Russell, Orval, Kenneth, Earl, Stella M., Robert, Benjamin and Harold, all of whom reside at home with their parents.
     In politics Mr. Draher is a republican, while  fraternally he was a member of the Knights of Pythias so long as there was a lodge in Bakersville.  Religiously both he and his estimable wife are faithful and consistent members of the Presbyterian church.
Source: Centennial History of Coshocton County, Ohio - Vol. II - Chicago - The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co. - 1909 - Page Page 387