Santa
Clara County
Biographies
ISAAC
MEEK DAVIS
ISAAC MEEK
DAVIS. In a city noted for the beauty of its homes, that of Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Meek Davis is easily
one of the most delightful and satisfying.
San Jose has noted no greater effort to profit by the advantages of soil
and climate, as evidenced in the extent and variety of trees in the surrounding
park, in the multiplicity of flowers and shrubs, and the general aspect of
tropical and pleasing luxuriance. The
genial owner of this fine property presents many claims to the consideration of
his fellow townsmen in his own life and character, for he not only built up an
enviable mercantile reputation previous to coming here in 1872, but served with
credit to his community in the Civil war, and filled positions of trust and
responsibility, being rated always as a high-minded, progressive and
intelligent factor of growth. In the
west, Mr. Davis has been interested in mines and mining, and for diversion
he has turned his attention to hunting, being an expert with gun and rod, and
deriving immense pleasure from the pursuit of these inclinations.
Mr. Davis comes of a family
intimately connected with the early history of America, and represented in all
of its martial conflicts of importance.
His paternal grandfather came from England and participated in the
struggle of 1776, enlisting from Pennsylvania, where he had purchased land and
engaged in farming. His son, James, the
father of Isaac, was born in Carlisle, Cumberland county,
Pa., and as a young man married Elizabeth Stayman, a
neighbor, and daughter of Abraham Stayman, of German
descent, and a soldier in the Revolutionary war. Mr. Davis moved from Pennsylvania to
Jefferson county, Ohio, in 1804, and eight years later
left his farm and fireside to enlist in the war of 1812, serving in the army
commanded by Gen. William Henry Harrison.
After the war his fortunes looked up and he bought more land, in time
owning six hundred and forty acres, the greater part of which he cleared and
improved. In 1846 he sold his farm and
moved to Mount Pleasant, Jefferson county, Ohio,
thereafter living retired until his death in New Philadelphia, Ohio. His wife also died in Ohio, having reared
eight of her nine children, all of whom were older than Isaac.
Like many other aspiring lad he resorted
to teaching in the district schools, beginning at the age of sixteen, in 1840,
and continuing until 1846. During this
time he paid his expenses through the college at New Athens, traveled through
the west, and taught two country schools near Springfield, Ohio. In 1846 he established a mercantile business
at Middletown, Ohio, and October 10, 1847, married Susanna K. Sharon,
a native of Smithfield, Ohio, and youngest sister of Hon. William Sharon,
a California pioneer of ’49, and owner of the Palace Hotel, in San Francisco,
also ex-United States Senator of Nevada.
In 1848 Mr. Davis moved his store to Smithfield, continuing in the
general merchandise business there. In
Smithfield he was a man of considerable local prominence and held the office of
town councilman for three consecutive terms, after which he was elected justice
of the peace of Smithfield township. In 1855 he removed his stock to Middleport, Meigs county. During these years as a merchant he
experienced much trouble on account of the border raids, and he and his fellow
townsmen often had to band together for mutual protection.
As a member of the Ohio Home Guard
Mr. Davis acquired a knowledge of military
tactics, and in May, 1864, he left his family and sacrificed his business
interests to enlist in the One Hundred and Fortieth Ohio Volunteer Infantry,
and as a member of Company A served in the Kanawha valley, Virginia, until
September, 1864. Returning to his store,
he managed the same until the fall of 1869, when he sold out, and in the spring
of 1870 came west to Virginia City, Nevada, as agent for the
Virginia & Truckee Railroad Company.
In the fall of 1872 he located in San Jose, which has since been his
home, and settled down to an enjoyment of the advantages offered the wayfarer
who seeks either repose or business.
Mr. Davis has an interesting family of six children, all of whom
are established in homes of their own, and are fortunately near their
parents. Clara, the eldest daughter, is
the wife of C. L. McCoy, of Oakland; another daughter is the wife of
Judge J. M. Allen of San Francisco; yet another is the wife of J. C. Kirkpatrick,
manager of the Palace Hotel, San Francisco; William S. is half owner of
the Kelly Laundry Company’s plant of San Jose; Mrs. George W. Hildreth is a resident of San Jose; and
C. H. Davis lives also in San Jose.
Mr. Davis is a Master Mason, and in politics is an uncompromising
Republican. He has been successful in
mining operations, and is interested in several mining properties. As a Nimrod his aim is excellent, and his
physical endurance great, as witnessed by the hundreds of miles traversed
without fatigue in pursuit of deer or larger animals in which the state
abounds. He is a social, genial man, an
excellent companion and raconteur, and furthermore is an earnest enthusiast of
the beautiful city he calls home.
Transcribed by Donna Toole.
Source: History
of the State of California & Biographical Record of Coast Counties,
California by Prof. J. M. Guinn, A. M., Pages 910-913. The Chapman
Publishing Co., Chicago, 1904.
© 2016 Donna Toole.