David Davis

David Davis was born on February 27, 1851, Gallia County, Ohio, to Daniel L. and Elizabeth Morgan Davis, both of Cardiganshire, Wales.

Davis attended Gallipolis Academy and The Lebanon National Normal University, Lebanon, Ohio, in 1874. (The school, which was founded in 1855, was eventually combined with Wilmington College. It was written that many Norwood people received their college education at this school.) In 1875, he was a law student in the office of Judge James Tripp, of Jackson, Ohio. The next year, he was admitted to the bar, but didn't set up an office in Jackson until 1877. In the spring of 1886, he entered into a partnership with Judge Tripp's son, and by that August, had left for Cincinnati to practice law. He moved to Norwood when it was said to have less than 1,000 residents and helped incorporate the village. In 1890, Davis was elected the first Solicitor of Norwood. On December 3, 1894, after Judge Aaron McNeill resigned as Mayor of Norwood, he was chosen by Council to fill the position. At the next election, the voters elected him to continue as Mayor. Davis was Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Hamilton County from February 9, 1897, to February 8, 1902. Afterwards, he returned to his practice of law in Cincinnati.

He belonged to several organizations: Republican Party, Masons, Grace Methodist Episcopal Church, Knights of Pythias, Royal Aracanum and National Union, several Welsh organizations, and was an associate member of E. F. Noyes-R. L. McCook Post, No. 30, G. A. R.

He married Alice Sutherland, on January 13, 1880. Her parents were T. P. and Maria Sutherland, of Jackson, Ohio. David and Alice's children were Lilian E., Mabel C., Edith S. and Dorothy G. (Their married names were Mrs. Gwilym E. Jones and Mrs. Russell Blair, Mrs. C. A. Wells and Mrs. Burgoyne Jones—not necessarily in the same order.)

At the age of 82, Judge Davis died March 23, 1933, at his home of 47 years, 1911 Mentor Avenue, Norwood. His funeral was held at his residence on the afternoon of March 25, 1933.