The Story of WILLIAM DAVIS

William Davis was born in May 1877. His wife, Josephine, was the community midwife. The couple had five children: Irene, Olivia, William Jr, Lendzy, and Leon.

William was an entrepreneur and farmer. While farming was his primary vocation, he learned early to match his business ventures to the needs of the community. He was the only apiculturist (beekeeper) in the area. In addition to selling honey, William also operated the sugar cane mill. Farmers would bring their cane to the mill to make syrup which they sold or used for their families.

Although virtually unheard of for the time, he owned a team of oxen, which he hired out to pull logs from the woods to be loaded onto timber trucks. The challenging combination of dirt roads and heavy rain yielded yet another opportunity to be of service to his neighbors. That team rescued many cars from the red clay hills. During an epidemic of livestock ticks, the County located on his land a Dip Vat which he operated. For a charge of 50 cents, the cows were driven through a medicinal solution that killed the tick infestation.

Despite the obstacles presented by the larger society, William’s ingenuity and work ethic helped him to become successful businessman.

William and his family were active members of Mt. Gillard Baptist Church.

He died of prostate cancer on February 19, 1948

Sources:
State of Alabama Death Certificates
1900 Federal Census of the United States
Della Ludgood, Niece
Elvira Bramlett