F. EUGENE DAVIS
Is a native of Surry county, Virginia, born January 25, 1835, the son
of Thomas and Hannah Davis, both now deceased. His father, born
in Surry county, died in 1839, aged thirty-nine years. His mother died
in 1858, aged fifty-one years. At Petersburg, September 7, 1858, he
married Emily Roper, of Petersburg, and they have nine children:
Roper, H. C., jr., Emily A., F. Eugene, jr., Thomas M., Marie L., Robert
W., Lena B. and Franklin. Mrs. Davis is the daughter of Leroy Roper,
who died in 1885, aged seventy-six years. Her mother was Emily
Bartlett, died in 1883, aged sixty-seven years.
Mr. Davis went to school in Surry county, finishing with an academic
course. In 1853 he removed to Petersburg and clerked for a jobbing
house four years. In 1857 he began business for himself, under the firm
style of Davis, Derring & Co., wholesale grocers. The following year
the firm changed to Davis, Roper & Co., and since 1884 the firm has
been, as now is, Davis & Co. During the war Mr. Davis performed local
duty with the Petersburg troops. He was two years a member of the
city council, and declined re-election. During his membership of the
council he was chairman of the relief committee for assisting soldiers'
families, and one of the surrenderers of the city to General Grant, after
the Confederate forces had vacated.
