David Perry Douglas was born on June 22, 1863 in Grantsville, Utah, a son of David and Janet McGhie Douglas. He had one brother, James.

He lived in Grantsville until he was sixteen years old, at which time he moved to Grouse Creek, Utah.

He was a member of the LDS church and served a mission to the Northwestern states in 1917 and he was active in church work in the Grouse Creek ward.

He married Margaret Shaw in 1882. This couple raised a niece, Mary Simpson.

He was a successful rancher in the Grouse Creek area and spent a lot of time prospecting with his friend, Carl Peterson, who lived with them.

He passed away at age seventy-four in an Ogden hospital, following a long illness and is buried in the Grouse Creek Cemetery.