David was platted by David E. McLaughlin and his wife in January 1893, in section 7 of Mitchell Township. When the CGW Railway was built through the area, McLaughlin donated a portion of his farmland for the rail line's passage, and in appreciation, rail executives named the rail station David.[2]
The David post office was established on November 30, 1891, and was discontinued on January 14, 1933.[3]
A fraternal post of the Grand Army of the Republic, post number 512, was founded in David on April 30, 1894, with ten charter members; it moved to nearby Riceville in 1902.[2]
The Farmers Savings Bank of David was founded in 1907; the building itself was erected in 1900. Other businesses in David (circa 1918) included a blacksmith, a creamery, a general store, a farm implement company, a lumber yard, livestock dealers, and the railroad depot.[2]
David's population was 25 in 1902,[4] 25 in 1915,[5] and was 150 in 1925.[6]
Today, the David Church still operates in the area, but the site of David is mostly empty. A few farms dot the area.