John Davis (1821 - 1903)

Born 11 Aug 1821 in Hopewell Township, Beaver, Pennsylvania, United States

Ancestors

Died 17 Jul 1903 at age 81 in Pittsburgh, Allegheny, Pennsylvania, United States

Biography

Prof. John Davis was a minister, educator, author, inventor and manufacturer, of Welsh and Irish ancestry who was born in Beaver County Pennsylvania in 1821.^[1]

Marriage

From History of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania:

In 1853 he was married to Emeline Hays, a lady of culture and refinement, and fourth daughter of James H. Hays, many years identified with the coal interests of Pittsburgh. Resulting from this marriage was one daughter, Eva Hays Davis, a lady of liberal attainments and wife of William S. Huselton. M. D., one of the leading physicians and surgeons of Allegheny City.^[1]

Career

John was graduated from the Western Theological Seminary in 1848, was a post-graduate, the following year, in Princeton Theological Seminary. He was ordained in 1851. Due to the strain of the pastorate he turned to the profession of teaching and taught 30 years. He served as an organizer, administrator and instructor in the higher departments of education, as well as in the management and supervision of public instruction in Allegheny City,

He was equally successful as an author as a zealous student of the natural sciences, mainly textbooks dealing with fundamental principles. They were used in our educational institutions, and similar institutions in some foreign countries for acquiring a knowledge of mathematics, geography, and astronomy.

As an inventor he invented a series of instruments. The largest of the series represents more than eighty movements of the principal bodies belonging to our solar system. At the time it was the only one of its kind in existence. He also applied science to industry resulting in a number of patents.^[1]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2} Cushing, Thomas. History of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, Part 2 (A. Warner & Co., Chicago, 1889) p.276

• Find A Grave: Memorial #99706908