JOSHUA DAVIS, farmer and stock-raiser, P.O. Fairfield.  The gentleman whose name heads this sketch was born in Logan County, Ohio, on May 6,1821, and is a son of William and Mary (Johnson) Davis.  The father was born in Maryland, and was descended from old Welsh stock.   He was raised principally in Delaware, and came to Ohio in an early day.  The mother was a native of Delaware, and her grandfather was one of the early Methodist preachers of that state.  Subject was the second of eleven children, of whom seven are now living.  The subscription schools of his native county furnished his means of education.  As soon as possible, he began to assist on the home farm, and remained with his father until twenty-three.  At that age he started out in life for himself, and as Ohio was in its primitive state, his first work was the clearing of a space sufficient for his first crop.  He remained in that State until 1870, and then came to Wayne County, purchasing immediately his present farm.  He now owns 680 acres, all in Town 2 south, Range 7 east, and has about 500 acresin cultivation.  He also trades in stock considerably, handling in a season about 1,200 head of cattle and 200 head of sheep.  Mr. David was married in Marion County, Ohio, on December 3, 1843, to Elisabeth W. Virden, a daughter of Allison and Betsey (Wilson) Virden, natives of Delaware.  Mrs. Davis was born September 29, 1818, and is the mother of seven children, of whom five are now living -- George W., Irvin, David K., Wilson and Warren C.  All except G.W. are helping on the home farm, and he is now living in Barnhill Township.  Mr. and Mrs. Davis are members of the Free-Will Baptist Church.  In politics, Mr. Davis is a Republican.