California Biographies, San Joaquin Valley

Transcribed by Peggy Hooper

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm

Source:
History of the state of California and biographical record of the San Joaquin 
Valley, California. An historical story of the state's marvelous growth from 
its earliest settlement to the present time.
Prof. James Miller Guinn , A. M.
The Chapman Publishing Co., Chicago 1905
Notes: Missing Page: 865-866,983-984,1175-1176


JOSIAH WINTER DAVIS. A man of more than average ability and energy, Josiah Winter Davis 
holds a position of prominence among the foremost citizens of Portersville. He is distinguished 
as a participant in the Civil war, and his subsequent career as a business man has been 
successful and noteworthy. A son of William Davis, he was born August 7, 1841, in St. Joseph 
county, Ind., near South Bend. 

A native of New York state. William Davis was well educated, and for a few years was pastor of 
the United Brethren Church near Elkhart, Ind. Going from there to Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1852, he 
opened a general merchandise store, but subsequently returned to Indiana. For a short time 
he resided near South Bend, but in 1860 was appointed president of Western College in Iowa, 
and for twelve years was connected with that institution as its head official. On resigning the 
position he removed to Lisbon, near Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where he resided until his death, in 
1881, at the age of sixty-seven vears. He married Charlotte M. Miller, who was born in Butler 
county. Ohio, and died in 1883 in Iowa. Four sons and three daughters blessed their union, of 
these Josiah Winter being the second child in order of birth and the oldest one now living. 

After leaving the public schools of Indiana, Josiah W. Davis took an academic course at Seven 
Mile, receiving a diploma, and subsequently entered the Pittsburg University at Pittsburg, Pa. 
During his fourth year in that institution the Civil war broke out, and all of his patriotic spirit was 
aroused. At once enlisting in Company I, Fifty-fourth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, he went to the 
front as drummer, and later was made a member of the regimental baud. At the battle of 
Shiloh he was wounded. Subsequently Mr. Davis was detailed as chief clerk in division 
headquarters at Cairo. Ill., and had charge of all the traffic up and down the river. In 1864 he 
was promoted to the office of assistant quartermaster, with rank of captain, .and stationed at 
Memphis, Tenn. He was afterwards sent to Washington, D. C, but was again ordered to 
Memphis, where he received all stores from the regiments located there. Going thence to New 
Orleans, he took charge of the stores of the different regiments, being mustered out of service 
at the close of the war. 

Having received his honorable discharge from the army, Mr. Davis went to Detroit, Mich., and 
for twenty-five years was connected with a tobacco firm as bookkeeper and cashier. In 1886, as 
an employe of John J. Bagley & Co., he came to California, taking charge of the firm's branch 
office, which was located at No. 109 Front street, San Francisco. Retiring from mercantile 
pursuits in 1889. Mr. Davis located in Portersville, and in this vicinity made wise investments in 
land, and is now the owner of fourteen hundred acres, all of which he devotes to general 
farming. He is actively identified with several of the leading enterprises of Portersville, and is 
well known in business circles. In 1901 he assisted in organizing the A. J. De Laney Hardware 
Company, of which he is vice president, and he also assisted in the organization of the Rosedale 
Water Company, of which he is a stockholder, one of the directors and a vice president. He was 
also one of the organizers of the California State Board of Trade, and is one of it’s most active 
members. 

In Chicago, Ill., Mr. Davis married Victoria E. Van Auken. who was born in New York. She died in 
early womanhood, in Detroit, Mich., leaving one child, William W. Davis, accountant in the 
money order department of the Wells Fargo Express Company in New York City. Fraternally Mr. 
Davis stands high in Masonic circles. He joined the order in Detroit in 1862, but demitted, and is 
now a member of Portersville Lodge No. 303. F. & A. M., of Portersville; of Portersville Chapter 
No. 85, R. A. M. ; of Visalia Commandery No. 26, K. T. : and of Portersville Chapter O. E. S. He is a 
stanch Republican in politics, and in 1894 was a candidate for the assembly, but was defeated at 
the polls. October 1, 1904, he was nominated by the Republicans for the same office. For 
twelve years he was school trustee in the Burton district, rendering good service.