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Formatted by U.S. Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott
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Biographical History of Cherokee County, Iowa
W. S. Dunbar & Co., Chigago - 1889

[page 580]

    WILLIAM E. DAVIS, contractor and builder, Cherokee, Iowa, has been
    a resident of the place since 1882.  He is a native of England, born
    in Somersetshire, August 15, 1844.  He received a fair education in
    the common school.  At the age of fifteen years he went to learn the
    carpenter's trade, and served and apprenticeship of seven years,
    studying the business in all its branches.  His employer died two
    months before his time expired, and he then went to work for himself.
    Believing that America afforded better opportunities for a young man
    to make his way in life, he determined to emigrate and investigate
    the question for himself.  Accordingly he set sail, and after landing
    worked at anything that offered itself.  He was soon convinced that
    this was his home, if not by birth then he should be by adoption.
    Mr. DAVIS returned to England in a short time and claimed his bride
    in Mrs. MARY ANN LILLYWHITE, a daughter of JAMES and ANN BLACKMAN,
    natives of England.  Soon after his marriage he came back to the
    United States, landing in the city of New York, and journeying thence
    directly to Cherokee, Iowa.  He began working at his trade, in which
    he has been very successful; he has been engaged in work on some of
    the finest residences in the city of Cherokee.  He built his own
    dwelling on Cedar street in 1886, and has erected four other resi-
    dences on the same street; he disposed of one, and rents the other
    three to good advantage.  He began his business career on limited
    means, but energy and determination have served where capital some-
    times fails.  Mr. and Mrs. DAVIS have had born to them one son,
    BERTIE W.  Politically our subject adheres to the principles of the
    Democratic party.

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