William G. Davis was born in 1825. After finishing school, he worked as a clerk and a baker before buying his own peddler's cart at the age of 21. His business grew and he became very successful. In 1858 he opened a wholesale business in Portland and began importing goods from England.

Davis served as president, vice president, or director for many local financial institutions, was Vice President of the Board of Trade in Portland, and served as a Representative to the Maine State Legislature. He was the Maine state commissioner to the World Columbian Expo in Chicago in 1893. He died in 1903.