WilliamB. Davis

 
WILLIAM B. DAVIS,proprietor of the Democrat Message, was born in La Fayette county,Missouri, July 10, 1865. His father, Henry K. Davis, was born in Wheeling,West Virginia, and his father, Samuel H. Davis, was a printer, and at onetime published a paper in Wheeling, and later in Peoria, Ill. He spenthis last days there. His son was also a printer, and followed his trademany years. He issued the first daily paper ever published in Peoria, andthe first ever published in Champaign county, and during the war publishedthe Lexington Union at Lexington, Missouri. It was a strong Unionpaper, and there his life was fraught with much danger. Later he establishedthe Daily Advertiser at Kansas City, and it is now known as theKansasCity Times. Among the other places where he published papers were Paris,Texas, and Warrensburg, Missouri.

In December, 1874,he came to Mount Sterling and bought the Mount Sterling Democratand continued its publication until his death, April 6, 1886. His wife’sname was Mary Davis, of Cumberland, Maryland, a daughter of John Davis.She now resides at Mount Sterling, where she has reared six children.

William was ten yearsold when he came to Mount Sterling, and at the age of eighteen he beganto learn the trade of printing in the office of the Democrat. In1886 he bought the office and good will of the Message, and consolidatedit with the Democrat under the name of the Democrat Message.His mother still retains a half interest in the paper.

He married in 1888,Laura G. Givens, of Mount Sterling, Illinois, daughter of John and MariaPutman Givens. They have one child, Catherine Maria.  Mrs. Davis belongsto the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Davis is a Democrat in politics,and belongs to the Cincinnatis, No. 287, K. P.

Biographical Reviewof Cass, Schuyler and Brown Counties, Illinois, Biographical ReviewPublishing Co., Chicago, 1892, pages 180-181.

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