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- http://boards.ancestry.com/localities.northam.usa.states.newyork.counties.ulster/977/mb.ashx?pnt=1
W. Jerome Davis - Commemorative Biographical Record of Ulster County New York 1896
p. 563
W Jerome Davis, prominent in the business, politican, and social circles of Rosendale township, is well deserving of representation in this volume, devoted to the best citizens and prominent men of Ulster county. The Davis family was founded on American soil in Colonial days, and has long been identified with the interests of New York.
Benjamin P. Davis, the grandfather of our subject, in his early life lived in Schoharie county, where he followed the blacksmith's trade. Subsequently, he removed to Woodstock, Ulster county, where in connection with balcksmithing he engaged in the manufacture of edged tools. He also did all the iron work in connection with the tannery, and met with a fair degree of success in his business dealings. He was a man of fine physique, very strong and energetic, and was regarded as one of the representative citizens of his community. For his first wife, he married Miss Longyear, and he was the father of four sons and one daughter--Peter B., Joseph, Christopher, John W., and Eliza (wife of John W. Kerr). He was a Whig and afterward a Republican, and his religious affiliations were with the Dutch Reformed Church. He died in Kingston at an advanced age.
Peter B. Davis, the father of our subject, was born in 1810, in Woodstock, and there attended the public schools, supplementing the knowledge thus acquired by wide reading, experience and observation in later years. He engaged in the manufacture of axes and edged tools, removing to Alligerville established there an axe factory, and engaged in making cultivators, putting in all the machinery for the same. For a time he also carried on the manufacture of corn planters, and in his later years was extensively engaged in wagon manufacturing, making the entire wagon. He also operated a small gristmill, and was a very industrious and enterprising man, accumulating a fair property through his well-directed efforts. In political affairs he took quite an active part, supporting the Republican party, and was honored with some local offices, including that of commissioner. At one time, he held membership with the Odd Fellows Society. Mr. Davis married Maria Hall, a daughter of Dr. Hall, of Woodstock, who belonged to one of the old families. They had a family of twelve children, four of whom died in childhood, and eight of whom reached mature years, namely: Benjamin P., a boatman of Allgerville; Larry Gilbert Hall, who was engaged in the boot and shoe business in Rondout for a time, but died in California in 1886, Washington H. D., a merchant of Alligerville; William M., who died in February, 1891; Wilber Jerome; Mary C., wife of Thomas Soutwick, formerly of Kingston, N.Y. but now of Philadelphia, Penn.; John E. L., a physician of New York City; and Sarah E., wife of Daniel De Puy, a miller of Kerhonkson, New York.
Thus from an old and honored family is W. Jerome Davis decended. he was born in Alligerville, in the town of Rochester, and his boyhood days were spent under the parental roof, and in attendacne at the common schools. His education has been largely self-acquired, and he is now one of the best informed men of the community, keeping posted on all current events. Under his carriage painter's trade, which he followed for about sex years, when he removed to Rosendale and turned his attention to farming. he was married about that time to Miss Charlotte Coutant, daughter of Geroge S. Coutant, and they have four living children--Katie M. (wife of Jesse Bown), Jessie C., Ruth, and Mary. They also lost three children.
Mr. Davis successfully carried on agricultural pursuits for eleven years, and then turned his attention to merchandising, his store occupying the site where stood the first store established in Rosendale. He also owns a farm between sixty and seventy acres, and is engaged in the manufacture of cider and grape wine, a successful business, which yeilds him a profitable income. He is a man of excellent business ability, systmatic and methodical, and his sound judgment is seldom at fault. In political affairs he is quite prominent, and he is an able leader and wise counsellor in the ranks of the Republican party. He has held the office of overseer of the poor. For many years he has been connected with the Knights of Pythias, is also a member of the Orient, and belongs to the Reformed Church. Public-spirited and progressive, he takes a commendable interest in everything pertaining to the welfare of the community, and all who know him hold him in high regard.
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