David D. Davis
Submitted by Robert Kingrey
Source: Simeon D. Fess
David D. Davis of Oak Hill,
Ohio, is descendant of Welsh grandparents who were
members of the forty- nine families of Welsh immigrants who
located at Tynrhos (meaning a narrow row of ridges)
in Gallia County, Ohio between the years 1818 and
1845. John and Margaret J. (Evans) Davis, his
parents, was both two yeas of age when they accompanied
their parents by sailing vessel, to the shores of the new
land. After a voyage of fourteen weeks’ duration they made
their way at once to the little Welsh settlement in Gallia
County, and both his grandparents, David J. Davis and
Evan Evans, settled down to a life of clearing timber for
farming in Perry Township, and there lived out their lives.
On reaching mature years John Davis
left the farm and became a merchant at the little village of
Center Point. Besides general merchandising he became
interested in lumbering and operated several sawmills.
David D. Davis attended Morgan
Academy at Oak Hill, and at the age of twenty began work in
the clay products business. Gaining a thorough knowledge of
the business, he advanced to foreman and later to manager of
this concern, and in 1898, in company with his brothers Evan
and Edward, began a clay products business, which they
called the Ohio Fire Brick Company, and built a plant for
the manufacture particularly of firebrick. Mr. David D.
Davis continues as president of that mother plant as
well as its offspring, The Davis Fire Brick Company and The
Cambria Clay Products Company. He is also president of the
Jackson Iron and Steel Company at Jackson, Ohio, and these
four important industrial plants headed by Mr. Davis
employ approximately seven hundred people.
Another institution of vital
importance in the community is the Oak Hill Savings Bank
Company, of which Mr. Davis has been president since
1912. This institution was originally established in 1892 as
the Farmers Bank but was rechartered in 1902 under its
present title and holds a strong financial position.
Mr. Davis is a Republican, is a
member of the Jackson County Country Club, and affiliated
with the Congregational church. He has never married.
