He was brought to Catasauqua by his parents in 1846, and there he attended the public schools until the age of eleven, when he began working in the shops of the Lehigh Crane Iron Works. On January 1, 1860, he entered the office of the company as an errand boy and he was later promoted to a clerkship. Over the years he worked his way up to chief clerk and in 1892, with the death of John Williams, he was appointed Cashier of the Crane Iron Works.

With Lee's invasion of Pennsylvania in 1863, David Davis enlisted in Company B, 38th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry and he serve until the expiration of his period of enlistment of three months service.

David Davis served as a member of the Catasauqua School Board from 1874 to 1911, and he also was elected to a three-year term as Recorder of Deeds of Lehigh County in 1905. He was a member of the Porter Lodge, F. and A. M.; Fuller Post No. 378, G. A. R.; and the Southwark Hose Company No. 9, serving as president for a period of thirty years. He was a member of the Presbyterian faith and an advocate of the principles of the Republican Party.

AFTER A LONG ILLNESS Former Recorder of Deeds and Civil War Veteran Answers Final Call. David Davis, -former Recorder of Deeds of Lehigh County, and one of Catasauqua's most widely known and respected residents, died at 4 o'clock on Monday afternoon at his home, No. 521 Third Street, that place. Death, was due to advanced age, Mr. Davis having been in declining health for several years. The sudden death of Mrs. Davis last September preyed heavily upon him, but he was about the house until a week ago, when his condition took a turn for the worse, and since that time he lost ground steadily. Mr. Davis, who had been In the service of the Crane Iron Company for a period of sixty years, was born in Pottsville on April 5, 1845, a son of the late Noah and Margaret (Gwynne) Davis, both natives of Glamorganshire, Wales. His father was a blacksmith and, upon coming to America he settled at Carbondale, locating later on at Beaver Meadow, where he was married. Attracted to the iron business of Catasauqua, then the centre of the big iron business of the East, he came to the Iron Borough, in 1846, and he became the boss blacksmith for the Crane Iron Co. David Davis attended the borough schools to the age of 11 years, and in 1S56 he began to work in the shops of the Crane Iron Co. Ill January, 1860, he entered the office of the corporation as an errand boy, from which he was promoted to clerk, rising by successive promotions to chief clerk and to cashier January 1, 1892, to succeed the late John Williams. He remained in the active service of the company until he was compelled to retire on account of failing health. In 1863 Mr. Davis enlisted in the Thirty-eighth Regiment and he served to the expiration of his period of enlistment in the Rebellion. He was' long a member and one of the standbys of Fuller Post, No. 378, G. A. R., Which recently, because of the exigencies of the times and the drain on its remaining members, surrendered its charter. He was an active figure in the affairs of the post and in all patriotic movements of the borough. Politically Mr. Davis was an enthusiastic advocate of the principles of the Republican Party and received high honors at the hands of his party when he was elected in 1905 for a term of three years as Recorder of Deeds of Lehigh County. He introduced a number of innovations during 'is term of office which received very favorable comment from the Court and the County Auditors. He retained his position with the Crane Iron Company while serving as Recorder. Mr. Davis was a staunch friend of the public school system. He was elected a member of the Catasauqua Board of Education in 1874 and served in that capacity for six years. From 1878 to 1911 he was secretary of the board. He gave his heartiest support to every measure that was calculated to conserve the best interests of the schools. Mr. Davis was also active as a Mason, being a member of Porter Lodge, No. 284, F. and A. M., and Catasauqua Chapter, No. 278. He was one of the most interested members of the Southwark Hose Co., No. 9, and he was its president for thirty years. For a period of years he was secretary of Porter Lodge. He was a faithful member of the First Presbyterian Church, in which he held the office of trustee. In 1869 Mr. Davis was married to Miss Annie McKibbin, of Philadelphia, who died suddenly last September. Five children were born to the couple, all of whom survive, namely, Charles L. Davis, master mechanic at the Carey furnace of the Carnegie Steel Co., at Homestead: Willard Davis, Philadelphia, and the Misses Bessie S., Mabel and Mattie Davis, at home. There are also two brothers, Daniel Davis of Catasauqua*, and Samuel Davis, of Dover, N. J., and two sisters, the Misses Mary 'and Hannah Davis, Catasauqua. Funeral services will be held at his home, 521 Third Street, Catasauqua, on Thursday afternoon at 2.30 o'clock. Interment in Fairview Cemetery, West Catasauqua.