BARTLEY DAVIS, deceased, was born Aug. 18, 1832. He was a son of Francis and Margaret Davis, natives of Belfast, Ireland. At the age of six years he came to Canada with his parents, and attended school at Toronto until he was 13 years old. Two years later he began to work in a saw-mill for Jonah Ugel, where he continued until he was 21 years old. In company with a son of his employer, he bought a saw-mill, and they went into business for themselves, where Mr. Davis thus operated five years. He sold his interest in the mill and went to live on a farm he had previously purchased, which he managed until 1861. He then came to Michigan, and purchased 80 acres of land in Hinton Tp., 70 acres of which were under the plow at the time of his death. Associated with William N. Seaton, Mr. Davis built and operated the first saw-mill in the township, located at Altona. He was connected with Mr. Seaton two years, and was engaged in lumbering to a greater or less extent each winter after coming to Hinton. During his life Mr. Davis was Supervisor several years. He died Feb. 13, 1879, after an illness of five years, of consumption. He was confined to his house but two weeks.
Mr. Davis was married April 10, 1858, in Canada, to Lydia M., eldest daughter of William and Charlotte (Rose) Willett, born Jan. 17, 1832. Her parents reside in Hinton Tp. Of six children born to Mr. and Mrs. Davis, three survive: Newton E., born April 12, 1859; Ella M., Nov. 22, 1861; Charlotte M., April 2, 1865. Two children died in infancy; Ezra W., born Oct. 7, 1860, died Feb. 18, 1881. Mrs. DAvis resides on the homestead.
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