This contains a transcription of the Hon. George G. Davis of Marlboro, NH biography from Biographical Review Volume XXIII: Containing Life Sketches of Leading Citizens of Cheshire and Hillsboro Counties, New Hampshire, Biographical Review Publishing Company, Boston, 1897.
Pages 82-83
HON. GEORGE G. DAVIS, of Marlboro, an ex-member of the State Senate and a Civil War veteran, was born in Roxbury, N. H., August 28, 1842, son of Joshua and Eliza (Rice) Davis. The grandfather, Isaac Davis, who was the seventh son of a seventh son, came from Massachusetts to Roxbury among the pioneers of that town, and cleared a farm from the wilderness. He reared several children, of whom the sons were Isaac and Joshua.
Joshua Davis settled upon a farm adjoining the homestead, and was engaged in farming and butchering during his active years. Industrious and frugal, he became prosperous and the proprietor of two hundred and fifty acres of desirable land. His wife, Eliza, who was a daughter of Benjamin Rice, of Massachusetts, became the mother of eight children. These were: Julia A., who married Albert Wright, and resides in Keene, N. H.; Mary C., now the wife of Luther Hemmenway, of Marlboro; Louisa J., the wife of W. H. Knight, of Swanzey, N. H.; Almond, who married Eliza Buckminster, and resides on the home farm in Roxbury; Lucy R., the widow of Henry C. Willard, late of Boston; Miles, who married Susan Woodbury, and resides in Keene; George G., the subject of this sketch; and Henry J. Davis, who is married and resides in Marlboro. Joshua Davis died in 1862, aged sixty-six, and his wife died in 1888. They were members of the Congregational church.
George G. Davis was educated in the schools of Roxbury and Keene. When eighteen years old he came to Marlboro, where he was employed by Luther Hemmenway in the manufacture of boxes until the breaking out of the Civil War. He was one of the first volunteers for the late war in Company A, Second Regiment, under Captain T. A. Barker; and he participated in the first battle of Bull Run. At Williamsbury he was struck in the left arm by a fragment of a shell, and was afterward confined to the hospital by the wound for about three months. After his discharge he returned to Marlboro, and in partnership with Luther Hemmenway manufactured boxes and toys until 1870. After this he conducted a country store in company with other persons for two years and then alone with success for over twenty years. His stock embraced everything necessary for farm and domestic use. The business had expanded into large proportions when, in 1891, he sold out to W. S. Garfield. Mr. Davis is president of the Guarantee Savings Bank of Keene; a director of the Citizens’ Bank of Keene and National Bank of Winchester, N. H.; and a director of the Cheshire County Insurance Company. Since retiring from mercantile business, he has had more applications to act as guardian than he could accept; and as agent for several well-known insurance companies he transacts a great deal of business in that line.
Since his retirement Mr. Davis has busied himself with political affairs and the settlement and care of estates. In politics he is a Republican. His public services date from 1874, when he was chose Town Clerk and Treasurer. The former office he held for about fifteen years. He is still in charge of the town’s finances. He has been upon the School Board for a long series of years, has ably presided as Moderator of town meetings, and has rendered valuable services to the town in other official capacities. In the lower chamber of the legislature, to which he was elected in 1879 and 1881, he served upon the Committees of Finance, Banks and Claims, and chairman of the committee of Military Affairs. He was a County Commissioner for three terms, being chairman of the Board for the greater part of the time; and he was appointed a member of the State Board of Charities and Correction by Governor Busiel, and is now its chairman. The community has had his services in the capacity of Justice of the Peace for many years. He was vice-president of the committee of arrangements for the centennial celebration of the town of Marlboro, read the Declaration of Independence on that occasion, and also took an important part in the dedication of the soldiers’ monument.
On January 1, 1866, Mr. Davis married Maria L. Collins. They have had three children, of whom Ernest and Clifton C. died in childhood. The surviving child is Lester G. Davis. Both parents are members of the Congregational church. Mrs. Davis is prominently identified with the society and its auxiliary organizations. Although Mr. Davis has declined the office of Deacon, he takes a deep interest in the welfare of the society, is one of its trustees, and was the superintendent of its Sunday-school for five years. He is also a trustee of the New Hampshire Home Missionary Society, a member of the New Hampshire Club, and a comrade of John Sedgwick Post, No. 4, G. A. R.