The enterprising town of Plainfield finds prominent representatives of its business activities in the two gentlemen who constitute the firm of Platt & Davis, conducting a profitable and growing general mercantile business. The senior partner, Joseph H. Platt, was born May 23, 1860, in Linton township, Coshocton county, his parents being Thomas and Eliza (Harbison) Platt. Both the Platt and the Harbison families were early settlers of this section of the state, the paternal grandfather having settled here in 1816, at which time he entered land from the government. He served in the war of 1812. The maternal grandfather came from Baltimore, Maryland, to Linton township, to Linton township, Coshocton county, in 1830, and was therefore classed among its pioneer settlers. The father, Thomas Platt, was born in Newark, New Jersey, while the birth of the mother occurred in Baltimore, Maryland.

The father was a carpenter by trade but abandoned that pursuit at the time of the Civil war to become a member of Company I, Sixty-ninth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, with which he served for two years. He participated in the battle of Stone River and in many other hotly contested battles during the struggle between the north and the south. He was a democrat in his political views and allegiance and took a prominent and active part in the political life of this section of the state. He served as corner and as sheriff of Coshocton county. His death occurred May 12, 1897, while his wife preceded him to her final rest many years before, her death occurring May 12, 1861, just thirty-six year previous. Their union was blessed with ten children, namely: Allen H., a resident of Coshocton; Mary J., the widow of William Smith; Major T. J. Platt, of West Lafayette; John P., who makes his home in Cameron, Missouri; Robert V., who has departed his life; Agnes, the wife of Victor Vickers; Emmett, deceased; Bell, the wife of Henry Norris, and a resident of Coshocton county; Joseph H., of Planfield, Ohio; and one who died in infancy.

Joseph H. Platt was reared on the home farm and supplemented his district school education by studying in Valparaiso, Indiana. He afterward engaged in teaching in that city for two years, and from 1888 to 1890 was engaged in merchandising in West Lafayette under the firm of Craig & Platt. He then disposed of the business and through the next three years was again connected with educational work. In 1893 he established the present firm of Platt & Davis in Plainfield. The enterprise is proving an element in the commercial progress of the town and the business of the house in constantly increasing, owing to the straightforward methods and enterprising spirit of those who are active in its conduct.

Samuel Davis, the junior partner of the firm, was born march 4, 1846, in Loudoun county, Virginia, the son of Persley and Mary A. (Gladen) Davis. The father, a native of Virginia, was born in 1811 and died while serving as a soldier in the Civil war in 1863, being at that time fifty-two years of age. His wife, also a native of the Old Dominion; died in 1863, at the age of fifty-two years. They had come to Coshocton county in 1852, settling in Linton township, where the father followed the occupation of farming. He enlisted as a member of Company F, Fifty-first Ohio Volunteer Infantry, in the fall of 1862 and went to the defense of the Union, but the rigors and hardships of war undermined his health and he died the following year of pneumonia. His wife passed away the same year. They were parents of the following children, three of whom are deceased, the other being: James H., a resident of Harrison county, Ohio; Samuel; Ann E., the wife of Daniel Larmie, of Illinois; and Mary C., the wife of James Smack, of Whiteside county, Illinois; and Malinda wife of Tunnis Eckelhemy, Cordova, Illinois.

Samuel Davis was about six years of age at the time of the removal to Ohio so that he was reared upon the home farm in Coshocton county, but at the age of eighteen years he offered his services to the government. It was in September, 1864, that he joined the boys in blue of Company I., Fourteenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and thus served until the close of the war, being mustered out at Washington, D. C., while he received his honorable discharge at Cleveland, Ohio. He went with Sherman on the famous march to the sea and took part in a number of hotly contested engagements. But a boy in years, he proved a man in his loyalty, showing his devotion to the cause which he espoused by loyally following the stars and striped until they at last floated over the capitol of the southern Confederacy.

When the war was over Samuel Davis returned home and worked by the month at farm labor for two years. He then entered the employ of Major Platt, a brother of his present partner, in whose store he remained as a clerk for sixteen years, his long continuance there plainly indicating his ability and entire trustworthiness. As stated, the present firm of Platt & Davis was organized in 1893 and has since enjoyed a prosperous career.

On the 13th of September, 1868, Samuel Davis was married to Miss Nancy Smith, who was born in Plainfield, July 21, 1850, and is a daughter of Thomas F. and Mary (Wells) Smith. Her father, a native of Harrison county, Ohio, was born April 8, 1817, and died November 4, 1883. His wife, also a native of Harrison county, was born November 12, 1819, and reached the ripe age of eighty-five years. This worthy couple were married December 14, 1837, in Coshocton, Mr. Smith arriving in that city in 1836. In early life he had learned and followed the wagonmaker's trade, but afterward engaged in merchandising in Plainfield, becoming one of the influential business men of that part of the county. There he conducted a hotel and also was a stock-buyer. He likewise became station agent at West Lafayette, Ohio, and bought and sold land. His several business interests were well conducted and brought him a generous amount of success. He carried the mail from Cadiz to Wheeling, West Virginia, and from Plainfield to Coshocton and Zanesville in the early days before the railroad furnished the means of rapid transportation. About four years prior to his demise he disposed of his interest and removed to Michigan, where his last days passed. He was a very busy man and also a man of good heart and kindly spirit. Mrs. Davis says she can remember many a time when her father would receive a tramp into the hotel and her mother would allow him to sleep in a clean bed, while her father would stay up all night and keep the fire going that the fellow might be comfortable. His good deeds won him the gratitude of the community and caused his memory to be enshrined in the hearts of those who knew him. Into many lives he brought sunshine that brightened dark shadows and gave home for the future. The Smith family were well known in this part of the county and all who have come in contact with them entertain for them warm and kindly regard.

The home of Mr. and Mrs. Davis was blessed with six children, but they have now lost two. Those still living are Charles, Francis, W. C. and Clarence D., all residents of Coshocton. The parents are active and helpful members of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which Mr. Davis is serving as a trustee. His political allegiance is given to the republican party and he served as township clerk for two terms, but he has never been a politician in the sense of office seeking, preferring to give his undivided attention to his business affairs. Comparatively few men of his years are entitled to membership with the Grand Army of the Republic, but he belongs to Workman Post, No. 323, and thus maintains pleasant relations with his old army comrades. He has always been faithful in his citizenship and progressive in his support of measures for the public good. Both Mr. Platt and Mr. Davis are held in high esteem not one in Plainfield but throughout Coshocton county, and are meeting with gratifying and well merited success in their business.