Robert Wishart, a descendant of Samuel Wishart and Sarah Ann Davis Wishart, states that John Davis is
her brother.  That they raised his daughter Nancy J. (Jennie) Davis because was fighting in the civil
war and was a prisoner at Anderson prison.  Note 1860 Census of Samuel and Sarah Wishart in Mercer
County, PA as well as 1850 Census of William and Lydia Davis in Mercer County, PA below.

William Davis' obituary says the following:

Feb 2, 1899 Daily News Standard, Uniontown, Fayette, Pa

	Deaths of the Day - William Davis
	
New Geneva, Feb. 1 - The funeral of the late William Davis took place 
last Friday from the home of his son Daniel of this place, interment 
at Fairview Church.  Mr. Davis was the oldest inhabitant of southern 
Fayette county, having been born in 1800, and was 98 years, four months 
and three days old.  He came to this sections from the valley of Virginia about 1854, purchasing the
place known as the "Billy Woods" farm, where he resided until about eight years ago, when he sold his
farm to F. M. Fast and since that time has lived around among his children.  He was twice married,
his last wife being Emily Bumbaugh.  Twelve children resulted from this marriage and one child from
the first.  Of the 13 children only five survive:  William, James, Daniel, Ulysses, and Mrs. Hanna
Smith.  One sister also survives the deceased,  Mrs. Sara Wishard of Sharon, Pa.  Mr. Davis was an
experienced furnaceman and worked at Springhill and other furnaces in an early day.

William Davis states in two census records that his Mother was born outside the United States, and in
one of them specifies that she was born in Germany.

One other track of research that looks promising is the occurance of the name Waitman Davis in
William's family line.  William had a grandson named Waitman (presumably the son of John Davis who
died during the 1860's).  There is a Waitman Davis living not far away in 1870 who also has a son
named Waitman of the same age as William's grandson.  You will see me tracking the family of Waitman
Davis on the assumption that he is a possible nephew to William.

1800 Census - Bedford County, Pennsylvania
Hopewell and Woodbury TWPs

  William Davis       1--1- 3--1-
  Samuel Livingstone  2--1- 3--1-
  David Wisehart      411-1 22-1-

1809 Tax Duplicate - Hopewell TWP, Bedford County, PA

  (Tax laid at half a cent to the dollar upon the valuation)
  Isaiah Davis: $2.45
  Thomas Davis: -blank-
  Edward Davis: $1.20 [single freeman]
  Zachariah Davis: $1.52 [single freeman]
  Andrew Davis: $1.00 [single freeman]
  David Wisehart: $3.39
  ----- Wishard: -blank- [single freeman]

1810 Census, Woodberry TWP, Bedford County, PA

  Wm. Davis   21-1- 12-1-
  2 Males 0-9
  1 Male 10-15
  1 Male 26-44
  1 Female 0-9
  2 Females 10-15
  1 Female 26-44

1810 Census - Bedford County, Pennsylvania
Hopewell TWP

  49  Saml Levingston   1121- 4211-
  123 Isai Davis        2--2- 3--1
  124 Thos Davis        -21-1 ----1
  186 David Wishart     311-1 --2-1

1814 Tax List, Hopewell TWP, Bedford County, PA

Davis, William Blacksmith age 30
Davis, Isar (?)  Do       age 38
Wishard, David Doctor     age 62
Wishard, David Farmer     age 23

1817 Tax List, Hopewell TWP, Bedford County, PA

  William Davis
  Isaiah Davis
  David J. Wishart

1820 Census - Bedford County, Pennsylvania
Hopewell TWP

  Wm Wishart Farmer       ---1-- 1-1-- ---1
    1 Male born 1794-1804
    1 Female born 1810-1820
    1 Female born 1794-1804
    1 Person engaged in manufacturer
  Sam'l Livingston Framer 1211-1 112-1 -5-- [The occupation really was written as 'Framer']
    1 Male born 1810-1820
    2 Males born 1804-1810
    1 Male born 1802-1804
    1 Male born 1794-1804
    1 Male born before 1775
    5 People engaged in agriculture
  Isaiah Davis     do     41111- 2311- -4--
    4 Males born 1810-1820
    1 Male born 1804-1810
    1 Male born 1802-1804
    1 Male born 1794-1804
    1 Male born 1775-1794
    2 Females born 1810-1820
    3 Females born 1804-1810
    1 Female born 1794-1804
    1 Female born 1775-1794
    4 Persons engaged in agriculture

1820 Census - Bedford County, Pennsylvania
Woodbury TWP

  William Davis Esq    -111-1 -1--1 -1
  1 Male born 1804-1810
  1 Male born 1802-1804
  1 Male born 1794-1804
  1 Male born before 1775
  1 Female born 1804-1810
  1 Female born before 1775
  1 Person engaged in agriculture

1830 Census, Woodbury TWP, Bedford County, PA

  William Davis Esqr  000010001 000100001
  1 Male 20-30 (born 1800-1810)
  1 Male 60-70 (born 1760-1770)
  1 Female 15-20 (born 1810-1815)
  1 Female 60-70 (born 1760-1770)
   
  William Davis       110001  01001
  1 Male 0-5 (born 1825-1830)
  1 Male 5-10 (born 1820-1825)
  1 Male 30-40 (born 1790-1800)
  1 Female 5-10 (born 1820-1825)
  1 Female 20-30 (born 1800-1810)

1840 Census - West Providence TWP, Bedford Co., PA

  Davis, William
  1 Male 10-15
  1 Male 40-50
  1 Female 0-5
  1 Female 20-30
  1 Female 60-70
  1 Person employed in Manufactures and Trades

  An entry unattributed by Ancestry.com to a township (but which appears to be associated with 
  West Providence TWP) lists those with "revolutionary or military service in the foregoing":

  William Davis
  Age: 83

1841 - West Virginia, Marriages Index, 1785-1971

  Name: Waitman Davis
  Gender: Male
  Spouse: Jane Ridgeway
  Date: 1841
  Place: Monongalia, West Virginia

1850 Census - Bedford County, Pennsylvania
Hopewell TWP - 27 Nov 1850

  97 97
  Isaiah Davis      74 M Black Smith 1500 Penn
  Rebecca           72 F                  "

  98 98
  Alexander Davis   36 M Farmer           Penn
  Mary              32 F                  Penn
  Isaiah            13 M                  Penn
  David             12 M                  Penn
  John M.            9 M                  Penn
  James P.           7 M                  Penn
  Rebecca M.         5 F                  Penn
  Hester M.          3 F                  Penn
  Catharine          1 F                  Penn

1850 Census - Monongalia County, Virginia
37th District - 23 July 1850

  208 209
  Waitman Davis       38 M Cabinet Maker 2500     Va
  Jane                35 F                        Va
  Mary L.              9 F                        Va
  William C.           6 M                        Va
  Marcelius M.         4 M                        Va
  Zackwell R.          1 M                        Va
  Matilda J. Ridgeway 14 F                        Indiana
  Daniel B.           12 M                        Indiana
  Jane                68 F                        New Jersey

  210 211
  Thomas Davis        55 M Farmer 2000            Va
  Anzley              52 F                        Maryland
  Jane                19 F                        Va
  James W.            15 M Farmer                 Va

  212 213
  Albert G. Davis     29 M Clerg. Baptist         Va
  Emily               26 F                        Penn
  Daniel Swan          6 M                        Penn

  214 215
  John Davis          42 M Farmer                 Va
  Susanna             38 F                        Va
  Elisabeth           16 F                        Va
  Mary                14 F                        Va
  Amanda              12 F                        Va
  Agnes               11 F                        Va
  Lewis S.             8 M                        Va
  Matilda              7 F                        Va
  Eliza E.             4 F                        Va
  Martha J.            2 F                        Va

1850 Census, West Lackawannock TWP, Mercer Co., PA

  148 149
  Wm. Davis       70 M Collier Pa
  Lydia Ann Davis 60 F         Ireland
  John Davis      30 M Collier Pa
  Sarah Ann Davis 21 F         Pa

1854 - LDS Church IGI

  LDS Church New FamilySearch (J6P2-SH9D-S) States that Isaiah Davis was born 7 April 1776 in
  Philadelphia and died 10 Feb 1854 in Bedford County, Pennsylvania.

1860 Census - Mercer County, Pennsylvania
Perry TWP - 16 July 1860

  599 570
  John Davis    40 M Farmer 1200 400 England
  Sarah         27 F                 Ohio
  Livingston     8 M                 Penn
  Ella H.        2 F                 Penn
  Ann           82 F                 Wales

1860 Census - Monongalia County, West Virginia
District #4 - 24 July 1860

  1214 1174
  Lorenzo Davis   30 M Farm Hand   100 Va
  Cinthia         23 F                 Va
 
  1215 1175
  Waitman Davis   47 M Cabinet Maker 2000 210 Va
  Jane            44 F                        Va
  Mary L.         18 F                        Va
  William C.      15 M                        Va
  Marcellus W.    13 M                        Va
  Zackwell R.     10 M                        Va
  Elmore N.        8 M                        Va
  James H.         6 M                        Va
  Erastus E.       2 M                        Va

  1217 1177
  Susanna Davis   46 F                    75  Va
  Matilda         16 F                        Va
  James W.         6 M                        Va
  Delia A.         3 F                        Va

1860 Census - Greene County, Pennsylvania
Dunkard TWP - 25 Aug 1860

  115 116
  Bowen Davis   54 M   Day Laborer   400 Va
  Eliza         50 F House Keeper        Penn
  Waitman       22 M Teacher             Penn
  Eliza E.      18 F Teacher             Penn
  Nancy M.      16 F Housekeeper         Penn
  Rebecca S.     8 F                     Penn
  John W.        4 M                     Penn

1870 Census - Monogalia County, West Virginia
Cass TWP - 29 August 1870

  181 181
  Davis, Waitman  58 M W Carpenter       WVa
  Jane            55 F W Keeps House     WVa
  Marcellus W.    23 M W Carpenter       WVa
  Elmer N.        19 M W Farmer          WVa
  Jas. H.         16 M W Farmhand        WVa
  Erastus C.      13 M W Farmhand        WVa
  Miller, Alice A. 14 F W Domestic       WVa

  191 191
  Davis, Lorenzo  40 M W Dry Good Merchant WVa
  Cinthia         33 F W Keeps House       WVa
  Sarah E.         9 F W                   WVa
  James E.         2 M W                   WVa

  197 197
  Davis, Bowers   84 M W Farmer  4280 300  Del
  Margaret        26 F W House Keeper      WVa
  Sanford C.      30 M W Farmer            WVa

  199 199
  Davis, Asa      47 M W Farmer  300 250   WVa
  Elizabeth       30 F W Keeps House       WVa
  Mary O.         12 F W At Home           WVa
  Wm.             11 M W Farm Hand         WVa
  George C.        9 M W                   WVa
  Susan            7 F W                   WVa

1870 Census - Greene County, Pennsylvania
Dunkard TWP - 9 July 1870
[Note: This county doesn't appear to be indexed in Ancestry.com]

  217 212
  Davis, Bowers   65 M W Farmer    1100 WVa
  Eliza           59 F W Keeping House  Pa
  Rebecca L.      17 F W At Home        Pa
  John            13 M W                Pa
  Hess, Ellen     28 F W Domestic Servant Pa
  ---, William     3 M W                Pa

1870 Census - Fayette County, Pennsylvania
Springhill TWP - 10 Aug 1870
	
  29 29
  Davis, Waitman   31 M W Potter     250 720 Penn
  Caroline         28 F W Keeping House      Penn
  Waitman           7 M W                    Penn
  Mary              4 F W                    Penn
  Debolt, John     20 M W Potter             Penn

1874 - Pennsylvania School Journal
Vol. 22

  March 1874
  Waitman Davis of Wiley, Greene County was granted a permanent teaching certificate.

1880 Census - Fayette Co., Pennsylvania
Connellsville - 4 June 1880

  111 124 Grave Street
  Davis, Waitman   W M 42             Agt Sewing Machines  Penn WVa  Penn
  Carline          W F 39 Wife        Keeping House        Penn Penn Penn
  Mary             W F 13 Dau         At Home              Penn Penn Penn
  Waitman          W M 17 Adopted Son At School            Penn Penn Penn

1880 Census - Fayette Co., Pennsylvania 
Nicholson TWP - 4 June 1880

  71 71
  Davis, William    M 78 (Blacksmith) PA PA Germany
  Emily             F 53              PA PA VA
  James             M 22              PA PA PA
  Susan             F 20              "  "  "
  Mattie            F 18
  George            M 16
  Waitman           M 15 (Grandson)
  Henry             M 14
  Daniel            M 12
  Ulysses           M 11
  Nettie            F 12 (Granddau.)
  Cramer, Delie     F  9 (Granddau.)

1881 Centennial History of the Borough of Connellsville, Pennsylvania, 1806-1906

  A Waitman Davis was listed as Constable of Connellsville in 1881

1881 - West Virginia, Marriages Index, 1785-1971

  Name: Marcellus Waitman Davis
  Gender: Male
  Spouse: Nancy Jane Barb
  Date: 1881
  Place: Monongalia, West Virginia

1890 Veterans Schedules

  Caroline, widow of Waitman Davis
  Company E, 14th Pa Cavalry
  Enlisted Sep 1862
  Discharged Jun 1865
  Killed on RR after he received his discharge.

1899 Bedford County, PA Biographies

(p. 110) WILLIAM S. DAVIS, a prominent citizen now serving as Auditor of Hopewell 
township, Pa., has been a resident of this place ever since his birth on 
November 30, 1851.  He is a son of Alexander Davis and the grandson of Isaiah 
Davis, who, as a pioneer settler of the township of Hopewell, contributed his 
full share toward changing a pathless wilderness to a rich agricultural region 
capable of producing in great abundance the fruits of the soil common to 
northern latitudes.
  Alexander Davis, now a venerable man of eighty-five years, is spending his 
declining days in Everett, Pa., enjoying the leisure and comforts of life well-
earned by long-continued toil.  He was educated in the subscription schools of 
his early day, and when a young man was engaged for several terms in teaching in 
Hopewell township, Pa.  At a later period he learned the blacksmith's trade, 
which he subsequently followed during his years of activity in conjunction with 
general farming.  A man of resolute purpose, honest in his dealings with his 
fellow-men, he occupied a place of influence in Hopewell township, which he 
served many years as Justice of the Peace, being familiarly known for miles 
around as Esquire Davis.  He was also Postmaster at Yellow Creek for a long 
while.  The mail at that day was carried on horseback from Cumberland to 
Huntingdon.  He was a Deacon in the Presbyterian church, of which he was a 
prominent member and one of the most valued workers.  His wife, whose maiden 
name was Mary Snider, passed to life immortal in 1881.  They reared a large 
family of children, three of whom, all now deceased - Isaiah M., John N., and 
James P. - served in the Civil War.  The four surviving children are: Hettie M., 
wife of John B. Tobias, of Everett, Pa.; William S., the special subject of this 
sketch; and Thomas A. and Oliver F., both of Everett, Pa.
  William S. Davis received a practical education in the public schools, and 
since arriving

[113]

at man's estate has been identified with the highest interests of his township.  
By enterprising industry and progressive methods he has improved a good farm, on 
which he is successfully carrying on the various branches of agriculture.  He 
ranks high as a farmer, and in public affairs exerts a good influence.  He has 
served one term as School Director of Hopewell township, was for a number of 
years Assessor of the same, and has been Road Supervisor, and is now serving his 
second term as Auditor of the town.  Politically, he is a straightforward 
Republican, and, fraternally, he belongs to Amicitia Lodge, No. 775, I.O.O.F., 
at Loysburg, Pa.
  On September 7, 1872, Mr. Davis married Miss Isabella Fink, daughter of the 
late James Fink, of Hopewell.  She is the grand-daughter of an early pioneer of 
this township, one Valentine Fink, who settled here at an early day, coming from 
his former home in Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania.  James Fink was a man of 
considerable prominence in local affairs, and in addition to filling many of the 
township offices he was for many years a Justice of the Peace.  He died in 1872.  
His widow, whose maiden name was Susan Fluke, still lives in Hopewell township, 
an active an highly esteemed woman, who has just passed the seventieth milestone 
on life's journey.  Of their children seven survive, most of them living in 
Hopewell township, as follows: John W.; Solomon J.; Lydia A., wife of Levi 
Fluke; Mrs. Davis; Samuel M.; James M.; and Harry D.  Mr. and Mrs. Davis have 
one child, Alexander W. Davis.  Mr. Davis has been an Elder in the Reformed 
church, of which both he and Mrs. Davis are active members.