Athens Weekly Review
Aug. 2, 1901

William Davis, Ex-Sheriff of Henderson County


The subject of this sketch was born in Tennessee in 1829 but was raised in Georgia. He came to Texas in 1852 and settled on Kickapoo creek in this county. He came to Texas with two of his chums, Bill and Tom Green, the latter of whom now lives near Chandler, this county.

Mr. Davis married Miss Naomi Wreay, who came to Texas from Virginia with her father in 1849, who also had settled on Kickapoo. She was born in 1832.

Mr. Davis was several times sheriff of this county and was a vigilant and fearless officer. He died in Athens in 1892 and Mrs. Davis in 1885. They are buried on the place where they first settled in the county. They raised a large family of children of whom are George R. and Gus of Athens and Jeff of Walton. We were not furnished with a list of them.

Mr. Davis lost an arm in the service of the confederacy.


1880; Census Place: Athens, Henderson Co.,Texas; Roll: T9_1310; Page: 105B; Enumeration District: 31.

Information according to Nettie Phillips 2005:

William married Naomi Wreay in Carroll Co., Georgia and came to Texas after their second child was born. She was born in Virginia but had lived in Carroll Co., Georgia before marrying William. I know that some of that information came from "The Old Settler's Edition" and it is possible that William Davis came with his friends to scout out the prospects before he moved his family to Henderson Co.
Their children were Stephen Elbert, Martha, George R., Feliz Augustus (Gus), Mary J., William Jefferson (Jeff), John Wreay (my ancestor), and Bob Lee (died young).


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