In the book's own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
Born 1852
From History of Allen County, Ohio : containing a history of the county, its townships, towns, villages, schools, churches, industries, etc; portraits of early settlers and prominent men; biographies; hist (1885)
ROBERT E. DAVIS, general merchant, and ex-mayor of West Cairo, was born November 10, 1852, on Paddy’s Run, Butler County, Ohio; son of David D. and Elizabeth (Evans) Davis. David D. Davis, born in 1821, in Wales, immigrated to America in 1842, settling in Butler County, Ohio, where he married Elizabeth Evans, a native of that county and daughter of John and Sarah (Nicholas) Evans, the former a native of Wales, the latter a native of America, and sister of Squire Nicholas, of Gomer, Ohio. The subject of this sketch received a common-school education in this county, remaining on the farm until sixteen years of age, after which he received three months’ schooling. At seventeen years of age he engaged as clerk in the dry goods store of J. H. Dague, of Lima, where he remained for a time, when he was employed in the store of J. C. Thompson, remaining until the spring of 1878, when he came to West Cairo, and engaged in merchandising in partnership with John B. Morris, until early in the year 1882. In June of that year he formed a partnership with N. M. Johnson, with whom he continued until January 1, 1884, since which time he has carried on the business himself. Mr. Davis was married December 14, 1875, to Esther Neff, a native of Lima, this county, and daughter of John G. and Catharine (Faurot) Neff. By this marriage he has two children: Elsie May, and Donald. Our subject was a member of the town council for a term; was chosen to fill the office of mayor, made vacant by the resignation of David Hartzog, and at the expiration of that term, he was elected to the office, which term expired April 1, 1885. He was also president of the township school board, and assistant chairman of township committee. In politics he is a Republican.
As printed in History of Allen County, Ohio : containing a history of the county, its townships, towns, villages, schools, churches, industries, etc; portraits of early settlers and prominent men; biographies; hist (1885). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
Named in this biography: John B. Morris (b. 1848)
The printed record stops around 1885. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.