Biography - CLINTON DAVIS

Clinton Davis, a highly respected farmer of Brushy Mound township, Macoupin County, was born at Reynoldsburg, Ohio, May 21, 1850, and is a son of Thomas and Lovina (Lazell) Davis. His grandfather was David Davis, a soldier in the British Army.

Thomas Davis was born in South Wales and came to America in 1842. He served in the United States Army throughout the Mexican War, and thereafter received a pension from the government. After the close of the war he purchased a farm in Ohio but later sold out, and in 1856 came to Macoupin County, purchasing the Bluehouse farm in Carlinville township. This farm was later sold by him and he located on the farm now owned by the Davis heirs. This property was purchased by his wife, and upon her death in 1859 he acquired a life interest in the estate. He spent the remainder of his life on this farm and became one of the substantial men of the township. He died March 16, 1903, at the age of 77 years. He married Lovina Lazell, who was born in Columbus, Ohio, but whose people came from Worcester, Massachusetts. They had five children as follows: Clinton; Jeanette; Frances; Bathsheba; and Lovina. Mrs. Davis was a Universalist in religious belief, and her husband, a Baptist. Mr. Davis was three times married, his third union being with Arminda York, by whom he had the following children: Alfonso, John, William, Isabel, Lydia, Cora, David and Edward. Mrs. Davis is still living on the old homestead.

Clinton Davis received his educational training in the common schools of Macoupin County, and at Blackburn University. After graduating from the latter institution, he engaged in teaching for a period of 11 years and was very successful at that vocation. He then engaged in working out as a farmer, and finally purchased a tract of 50 acres. He now has 55 acres of valuable farming land, which he devotes to general agriculture. He is a man of good business ability, excellent judgment in managing his affairs, arid has merited the success with which he is meeting.

In 1885, Mr. Davis was united in marriage with Ellen Perrine, a daughter of William H. Perrine, and they are the parents of five children, namely: Elsie, deceased; Harriet; Nellie; Ida; and Ernest, deceased. Religiously, Mrs. Davis and her daughters are faithful members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In political affiliation, Mr. Davis is a Democrat and has efficiently held a number of township offices, among them town clerk, justice of the peace, supervisor, assessor, and at the present time is school director, taking an active interest in educational affairs. He has been school director for 14 years, and has materially assisted in improving the schools of the district. Fraternally, he is a member of the Loyal Americans and the Mutual Protective League.

Extracted 2018 May 06 by Norma Hass from Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens of Macoupin County, Illinois, published in 1904, pages 137-138.