FAMILIES D-H: DAVISH ~ Harry Luther "Hap" Davish

THE "HAP" DAVISH FAMILY HISTORY 

(as written by Donald Coulter)

"The USA register of Davish families indicates that the majority originated in Pennsylvania, back in the mid to late 1800's. Other states include; Oregon, Indiana, South Carolina, Tennessee and New York. Further, this population was affected by foreign influx of persons from countries, such as Wales (Davis), Russia (Davish & Dovich), Croatia, (Davish), Galicia, (Derish) and Austria, (McAvish), England (Davish) and Hungary (Davish). So, you can imagine quite a mixture of backgrounds.

Family of Harry Mulenbury Davish & Tillie (Reed) Davish consisted of the following:

     Herbert W. Davish (1898—1960)

     Twins: Edwin Davish (1901—1969) and Edna Davish (1901—1984)

     Twins: Harry Luther “Hap” Davish (1904—1976) and Helen Mae Davish (1904—1998)

     Melvin J. Davish (1907—1959)

     Lucille Carol Davish (1915—2003)

     George Edwin Davish (1928—1980)

     Charles F. Dell - Half-Sibling- (1885—1965)

Harry Luther "Hap" Davish, Jr. started driving trucks at an early age, in his teens. As he liked to recall his adventures, these were old vintage trucks designed with open cabs sporting "isinglass curtains" on the sides, hard rubber tires, chain drive to the rear wheels and a vertical steering column, which required “Hap” to stand up to handle. Some of the long hauls that he was engaged in during the winter months, weren’t enjoyable.

In the year 1923, age 19, he began working full time, driving for the Champion Paper Co., Hamilton, OH. This is where the long hauls came in. “Hap” retired at the age of 62 in 1966. He was with Champion Paper for 43 years.

“Hap” and Ethel Elizabeth (Jones) were married, March 28, 1931 and lived in New Miami, Butler County, OH. Their first born was Carol Jean (Davish) Coulter, April 5, 1932, died Dec. 5, 2011. Their second born was Richard Allen (Dick), August 26, 1943, died February 21, 2010.

“Hap” and Ethel later moved to a small farm located at the intersection of route 177 & Somerville Road (Jericho). He had some milk cows and started a little farming.

Their next move, brought them to Darrtown, OH. They purchased a home on East Street, which was situated on one-half acres. Later to be known as “Hap’s Half Acre."

Everybody in Darrtown was acquainted with “Hap." After working hours at Champion Paper, you could generally find him at the Hitching Post. All of his grandchildren were introduced to the Hitching Post at one time or another.

He always had a beer in the refrigerator, should you be visiting. His son-in-law kept him supplied with an off brand whiskey for his drinking buddies who would come around. He kept it in a better known brand bottle. After you had a few drinks it all tasted the same. Of course, he drank it as well.

He sure loved his gardening. Most of his plants were started from seed, then went to potted size plants. All of his friends could count on him for produce. If they couldn’t come around, he would deliver. Ethel, his wife, stepped in and helped with the planting of some flowers and the canning of the surplus yield from the garden.

His closest neighbor and friend was Toby Alston. When Toby’s son Walter “Smokey” Alston would visit, there was “Hap” right in the middle, talking baseball.

Everybody for miles around knew and loved Harry Luther “Hap” Davish. A friend to everyone. Would give you the shirt off his back."

Families A-C       Families D-H       Families I-L       Families M-P       Families Q-U       Families V-Z

Families A-C       Families D-H       Families I-L       Families M-P       Families Q-U       Families V-Z