Davis Family

The Davis family came from England early in the settlement of Virginia and for several generations thereafter. Many trace their ancestry, or have attempted to trace it, to John Davis who at his death left a large fortune which has been accumulating in the Bank of England for many years and increased steadily after his death into a great fortune. About 1935, a swindle of great magnitude touched the Davis families of Henry County. A search was made to find the heirs of John Davis and an elaborate genealogy was drawn up and listed each American Davis found. Each Davis contacted was asked to give a certain amount of money toward the "legal fees" of claiming the inheritance from England. This amount of money, varied according to the generation that the claimant belonged to, and ranged from twenty to one hundred dollars "per share". When the money was all paid by the Davis heirs in a community, the researcher disappeared with the money and was never heard from again. This swindle was pulled all over the United States and many Davis descendants left holding an empty purse.

The Davis heirs, so called, in Henry County became quite excited over the promised inheritance. Some bought out other Davis heirs so that their claim could be even greater.

A few cautious Davis heirs did some quiet checking and then filed action with the county court to halt the swindlers in the county. Action was brought against the men who thought up the scheme and no payment of money was ever paid to a Davis heir to the great fortune in England. All Davis families in the United States before 1850 are supposed to trace back to John Davis and his fortune. So the Davis Swindle, as it is known to authorities, is about to crop up again since the passage of the years has made the 1930's one forgotten.

Most of the Davis branch in Henry County came from Wayne County, Ohio. This line traces back to the father of Samuel Davis that lived in Wayne County and died there.

Samuel Davis was born on February 22, 1817 in Wayne County, Ohio, and died on April 10, 1890, in Henry County. On September 19, 1839, in Wayne County, Samuel married Elizabeth Shelt. She was born on the 22 of February, 1821 and died on April 2, 1906. Among their children were the following.

John Davis was born on November 18, 1845 and married Malissa Bates, born 1866. Gilbert Davis was born in 1859, died in 1933, and married Elizabeth Weirauch who was born in 1862 and died in 1952. George Davis was born on September 5, 1841 and died in 1909. Levi Davis and his wife Irene had three children: Hannah born on November 16, 1876; Ernest F. born on October 25, 1886; and Welty R. born on March 2, 1891. James Davis was born in 1855 and died in 1935. William Davis was born in 1843 and died on December 1, 1918.

John Davis, born 1845, married twice. His first marriage was on July 26, 1866, to Malissa (Melissa) Bates.

Melissa was born on February 4, 1849, and was the daughter of Christopher and Jane Roddy Bates. John Davis died May 12, 1921. Melissa died November 11, 1901. Their issue were Ida J., born 1883, died 1867; Melissa, born March 28, 1873; Early Logan, born December 3, 1874; Mary Cordelia, born October 18, 1878; Cobb B. born December 21, 1886; Lottie Belle, born June 19, 1891; Maud E., born January 14, 1894; John C., born December 31, 1881; Anna R., born April 10, 1871. After Melissa's death, John Davis married Kathryn Barr, widow of Logan Barr, and mother of Logan Barr and Mrs. William Lowry.

Gilbert Davis was born in 1859, died in 1933, and married on November 30, 1882 to Elizabeth Weirauch who was born in 1862 and died in 1952. Their issue were Frank, born 1884, died 1958; Mathilda E., born December 18, 1887, died 1958, married Frank Hick- stead, born 1884, died 1958, and mother of Florence A. and Lloyd R. Hickstead; Florence A. Davis, born October 17, 1883, married Martin Willeman and is included in the Willeman history in this volume; George Henry Davis; and Henry Arthur Davis.

George Davis was born on September 5, 1841 in Wayne County, Ohio. In 1851 came to Henry County with his parents.He died on June 27, 1909. Two dates are given for his marriage to Amelia Moden, either August 30, or June 27, 1865. Both George and Amelia are buried in Forest Hill Cemetery, Napoleon, Ohio. There were seven children, with four living at the time of their father's death. The issue of George and Amelia Davis were George, Daniel, Adeline Amelia who married Augustus Motter and is included in the Motter history in this volume; Jennie who married Alonzo Kline; Matilna born 1871, died 1876; and Gilbert Davis.

In 1897, George moved to Napoleon from his farm to Napoleon Township. In 1900 he became an invalid. He was a Civil War veteran and served with the 184th Ohio Volunteer Infantry and belonged to the Grand Army of the Republic at the time of his death. When he died, he had four brothers still living.

James Davis married Julia S. Morey. He was born in 1855 and died in 1935. Julia was born on June 11, 1850 and died on November 23, 1897. Their children included John N. Davis, Elizabeth, born October 1, 1883, and Charles Moses, born October 27, 1875.

William Davis was born on May 23, 1843 and died December 1, 1918. He was married on December 8, 1866 to Susan Gehrett who was born in 1844 and died in 1921. There is some confusion on the name of William Davis and getting the right one in the right family. This could be William that was born in Wayne County and died on August 16, 1876. He was an auctioneer in Henry County. The issue of William and Susan Davis were Samuel, born November 5, 1870; Mathilda, Nettie Parker, Leslie Davis and Lillie Metz.

Another thought belonging to the Davis family of Samuel and Elizabeth Davis was Welsey Davis. He married Elizabeth Sisco, daughter of Hiram Sisco, on May 10, 1860.

Also, connected with this family in some way were David A. Davis, who married Sarah C. Gilson on January 1, 1865; and Charles Davis who married Helen Huntley on June 12, 1863.