Paul M. Davie
Transcribed by S. Stout from the Wellsville Daily Reporter, July 11, 1970.
“Businessman, Conservationist Dies This Morning in Hospital”
Paul M. Davie, 81, of 148 Scott Avenue, a prominent businessman in the Wellsville area for the past 56 years, died this morning in Jones Memorial Hospital. A native of Wellsville, Mr. Davie was born Dec. 12, 1888, the son of the late Charles Eugene and Henrietta Martin Davie. A 1911 graduate of Cornell University, Mr. Davie went into partnership with his father when his father moved his dry goods store from Belmont to Wellsville in 1914. The present location of the Davie’s store was purchased n 1915. In 1939 he bought out his father’s interest and continued to take active part in the management of the store until his death. At 81, he was the oldest businessman in the Wellsville area and had been in business for the longest time.
In civic affairs, Mr. Davie was chairman of the board of the Jones Memorial Hospital for 13 years and was also chairman of the building committee for the construction of the present hospital facilities, in addition he served as president of the Chamber of Commerce and was president of the Rotary Club. He also served as secretary of the board of the Citizens National Bank and Trust Company and was a member of the Planning Board which prepared the first Village Zoning Ordinance.
As an active member of the Christian Temple, Mr. Davie served as chairman of the church board and as superintendent of the Bible School there for a number of years. He was also an elder and, on many occasions, served as organist.
Included among Mr. Davie’s hobbies were reforestation and wild life photography. In 1926 he purchased 50 acres of land in Willing where he has maintained a program of reforestation and a wildlife sanctuary.
In addition to his widow, the former Beatrice Smith whom he married June 23, 1914, he is survived by three daughters, Mrs. George (Ruth) Smith, Mrs. William (Eleanor) Yerrick, and Mrs. Elizabeth Burner; six grandchildren, Barbara and Robert Smith, William, Charles, and Paul Yerrick and Constance Burner, and one great grandchild, Michael Yerrick.
Photo is from the Wellsville Daily Reporter, July 11, 1970.