AARON DAVIS.     This well and favorably known citizen of Bazetta township was the oldest son and third child of William Davis, who was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, in the year 1782. His wife, Ann Luce, was a granddaughter of General Stark, of Revolutionary fame.  She was born, in 1783, and is yet living, being about ninety-nine years old, probably the oldest person living in the county.  The extreme old age to which Mrs. Davis has lived will appear all the more remarkable when it is known that she has been the mother of fifteen children, named as follows: Mariah, Susan, Aaron, Matthias, Reuben, Mary, Permelia, Eliza, Sidney, William, Stockton and Judson (twins), Mariah, Lucy, and Elijah.  Mr. Davis was a lieutenant of militia when the news of Hull's surrender of Detroit reached the Reserve, and at the first alarm prepared for action.  The wildest confusion prevailed among the settlers, who seized all kinds of arms and had a volunteer army on foot in a miraculously short time, under command of General Perkins.  Lieutenant Davis urged the necessity of guarding against an Indian incursion, and also made provision for the safety and support of the families of volunteers.   After the war he engaged in the manufacture of potash on his farm.  While thus employed he one winter suffered undue exposure to severe cold, and in consequence lost his native power and steadiness of mind.  During the remaining years of his life he was at times demented and suffered constantly from feeble health.  His death occurred in 1860.
     Aaron Davis, the subject of an accompanying illustration, was born Apr. 23, 1809.  His early life was spent on his father's farm.  He was married Sept. 13, 1832, to Alvira C. Knox, whose death occurred Mar. 25, 1848.  She left a family of six children - Lavina C., wife of Horace Detchon; Byron, resident of Mecca township; Theodocia, deceased; Newton, Mecca township; Mary, wife of Oswald Totton, Johnston township, and Marshall, Cortland.
     Mr. Davis married for his second wife Mary Johnston, daughter of Colonel Walter Johnston, and granddaughter of James Johnston, a member of the Connecticut Land company and original proprietor of Johnston township.  She was born Mar. 4, 1824.  The family by this marriage consisted of three children living - Ransom W., of Cortland; Eliza A., wife of Henry Day, of Gustavus township; Burritt, of Bazetta, and Jane M., deceased.  Mr. Davis has held various local offices.  He served two terms on the board of county commissioners, having been first elected in the year 1860.  He was a competent and faithful officer. For more than two score of years he has been an active member of the Disciple church.  He was selected one of the first board of trustees of Hiram institute, and was a member of the committee which located and purchased the ground.  He served as trustee for a period of fifteen years, a part of the time with James A. Garfield, with whom he became well acquainted. He was a member of the board when Garfield was first employed as a teacher in Hiram.  The following anecdote was related to Mr. Davis by the late President:
     When I was a pupil in school in Geauga county I was, I suppose, an ungainly looking lad, at any rate I was the subject of a great many tricks and jokes.  Once they sheared off my hair.  I told the fellow who did the cutting that if I ever became able I would give him a sound thrashing.  A year or two afterwards I fulfilled my promise.  Several years later, while I was president of Hiram college, I was out lecturing, and one night saw this sane fellow in one corner of the house.  It was with difficulty I could keep from laughing out loud.
     Mr. Davis has many other pleasant reminiscences of the Nation's late chief.
     Mr. Davis is a ready hand at almost anything; while farming has engaged most of his attention, he has also worked at carpentering, cabinet work, etc.  He is a quiet citizen, but always ready to respond to the call of duty.  He has been overseer of the Disciple church for forty years, and is a practical Christian.
Source: History of Trumbull & Mahoning Counties - Cleveland: H. Z. Williams & Bro. -  Vol. 2 - 1882 - Page 485