William Gordon Davis (1899 - 1969)

Born 22 May 1899 in Dunlow, Wayne, West Virginia

Ancestors

Husband of Mary Augusta Wood — married 17 Feb 1917 in Catlettsburg, Boyd, Kentucky

Descendants

Died 27 Aug 1969 at age 70 in Ansted, Fayette, West Virginia

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Mike Davis [send private message]

Biography

My grandfather; William Gordon Davis was born May 22, 1899 in Dunlow, Wayne, West Virginia. He is the third child and first son of Joseph and Viola Choate Davis.

A birth certificate filed in 1940 lists his birth date as May 22, 1899. Another document filed in the WV Culture and Archives has a William G. Davis born May 6, 1899 in Wayne County, West Virginia to Joseph and Viola Davis. Based on this information I am changing his birth name to William Gordon. The birth certificate and death certificate verify his birth date of May 22, 1899.

He married Mary Augusta Wood February 17, 1917 in Catlettsburg, Kentucky. In 1920 they were living in the Cabin Creek district of Kanawha County with their first child Idona. Gordon's occupation was coal miner

By 1930 they had 4 more children, daughters Jenita and Roberta, and sons Franklin and John. Gordon's occupation was coal miner.

In 1940 they were living in Summerlee, Fayette County, West Virginia. By then they had 2 more daughters, Ann and Pat. Gordon was working as a coal cutter in the coal mines.

From family knowledge Gordon moved from one job to another frequently. They moved into homes in WV coal camps. Each time my grandmother would "fix up" the house by painting or with wallpaper. When she had the house looking good, they would pack up, move and do it again.

We know granddad was working in the Lochgelly mine in 1947. There is a picture in a book entitled A Panoramic Photography History of Southern WV coal mines. He is in the picture along with my Father.

They later moved to Nicholas County, West Virginia where he worked in the coal mines in that area. They first lived in Fenwick, then later moved to Richwood. He was injured in the early 50's by a "slate fall" which left him with a back disability.

He purchased a 90 acre farm on Horseshoe Ridge near Victor, Fayette, West Virginia. There they at times had one horse, a few pigs and chickens and raised vegetables in their gardens.

Gordon died August 27, 1969 in Ansted, Fayette, West Virginia. He is buried in the Mt. Zion Church Cemetery on Saturday Road, Victor, West Virginia

Sources

• Birth record. http://www.wvculture.org/vrr/va_view2.aspx?FilmNumber=004017244&ImageNumber=884

1900 census. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-XXF3-85L?i=44&cc=1325221

1900 census. https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/sources/LBRN-9FV

WWI draft registration. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9YY8-SHBB?i=587&cc=1968530

Marriage record. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-89SJ-KQ6J?i=300&cc=1804888

1920 United States Federal Census https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GRJY-9ZGV?i=24&cc=1488411

1930 United States Federal Census https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GR8N-94JL?i=25&cc=1810731

1940 United States Federal Census https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9M1-T69T?i=31&cc=2000219

Death record. http://www.wvculture.org/vrr/va_view2.aspx?FilmNumber=1992290&ImageNumber=2269

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/140523072