M. Levant Davis    

M. LEVANT DAVIS. The Davis family of which the subject of this sketch is a descendant, was first established in America when Daniel Davis came over from his native country of Wales about the year 1759 and settled on Long Island. He had two sons, William and Zophar. The latter named was born October 7, 1769, and was the great-grandfather of M. Levant Davis. The family removed from Long Island to Vermont, and there Daniel Davis lived until his death, which occurred sometime after the year 1816 at Portleboro, in Addison county.

Zopher Davis was married to Lois Porter, a daughter of a Vermont family, and a large number of children were born to them. In the year 1816 they moved to Erie county, Pennsylvania, and settled in Washington township, being among the early settlers of that part of the county. They purchased a large tract of land, on which they made. their home and lived during the remainder of their lives, Zophar passing to his reward in June, 1858.

William Davis, one of the sons of Zophar, was born in Rutland county, Vermont, November 27, 1812, and was therefore a child of about four years when his father removed with his family to Pennsylvania. He grew to manhood on the old homestead and was married to Louisa Thomas, daughter of Lewis Thomas, who settled in Erie county in 1818. To them were born seven children, one of whom, Minor MI. Davis, was the father of the one who heads this sketch. William Davis lived the greater part of his life in Waterford township, where he owned a large farm. He was a prosperous farmer, and a man of high standing in the community. He died on May 20, 1894, while his wife had passed away in 1891.

Minor M. Davis was born April 5, 1843, in Washington township, but lived nearly all his life in Waterford township and borough. His early training was on the farm and in the district schools. He served in the War of the Rebellion for about two years as a landsman on the U. S. Gunboat Benton, which was stationed on the Mississippi river, and at the end of the service received an honorable discharge and returned to his home. On March 22, 1866, he was married to Linnie E. Williams, a daughter of Daniel and Adeline (Irons) Williams, who were residents of the same locality in Erie county, and to them were born M. Levant, L. Maude, Bertha A., now married to Harry L. Merritt, of Waterford borough, and Shirley A. They resided on a farm in Waterford township until the year 1885, when they removed to Waterford borough and Mr. Davis began business as a merchant. He was successful from the beginning, and first alone, then for several years with his brother, M. W. Davis, as Davis Bros., then for a number of years with his son as a partner, and again alone, conducted a general merchandise business up to the time of his death on April 25, 1907. Since his death the business has been carried on by his family under his name. His widow and children, with the exception of the son, still reside in Waterford. He was one of the substantial citizens of the township and borough, and held offices of trust and honor in both places. He was a Republican in politics, and a man of impregnable integrity of purpose and had the confidence and esteem of his fellow men.

M. Levant Davis was born in Waterford township April 5, 1868, and received his early education in the district schools of that township, later attending Waterford Academy and completing the academic course and graduating as a member of the class of 1888. He taught two winter terms of school in the township, worked in his father’s store during vacations, and was taken into the business as a partner in 1889. Having determined to prepare himself for the legal profession, Mr. Davis entered the law department of the University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor, in 1891, and graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Laws as a member of the class of 1893. He was admitted to the bar in Michigan shortly after graduation, and in the autumn of that year went to Chicago, where he served as a clerk in the law office of one of the representative members of that city for something over a year, and in the meantime was admitted to practice in the courts of Illinois. In 1895 Mr. Davis returned to the family home in Waterford, where he gave his attention principally to the mercantile business until 1900, when he took up his residence in the city of Erie, and was admitted to the bar of Erie county in June of that year. In 1902 he was elected to the office of district attorney of Erie county, assuming the duties of this position on the 1st of January, 1903, and retaining the incumbency for three years, since which time he has been engaged in the private practice of his profession.

In politics Mr. Davis is found aligned as a stanch supporter of the principles and policies of the Republican party, and he is identified with various business and fraternal organizations of the city.

On April 27, 1909, he was united in marriage to Hildegarde McClelland, a daughter of William and Mary McClelland. Her people resided in Champaign, Illinois, at the time of her birth, but her mother dying while she was still an infant, she was taken by her grandparents, Thomas and Mary McClelland, of Erie, and was brought up by them, and always made her home in that city.

A twentieth century history of Erie County, Pennsylvania : a narrative account of its historical progress, its people and its principal interests, Chicago: Lewis Pub. Co., 1909, pages 470-471. More Erie County History Books   Search Hundreds of 1880s-1890s Pennsylvania County History Books for biographies and historical information on your ancestors.  View the book page images on line and print them out for your genealogy file!   Free Access to the old history books - plus birth & death records, census images and ALL other records at ancestry.com.