Wess E. Davis, Rapides Parish, Louisiana
Submitted by Mike Miller

**********************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm
********************************************** 

Wess E. Davis.  One of the prosperous business enterprises of Alexandria, 
Louisiana, that has grown rapidly and is numbered with the city's 
substantial concerns, is the Rapides Auto Company, of which Wess E. 
Davis is president and manager.  Mr. Davis is well and favorably known 
to the people of Alexandria through active and creditable association 
with one of the city's large business houses for almost two decades.

Wess E. Davis is a native of Louisiana, born at Vienna, in Lincoln Parish, 
January 15, 1884, son of Capt. James T. and Eleanor (Dean) Davis, the 
latter of whom was born at Farmersville, Louisiana, and still resides 
in the family home at Vienna, where for many years the late Captain Davis 
had been a merchant.  He was a native of Alabama and served with the rank 
of captain the Confederate army through the greater part of the war 
between the states, during this conflict suffering eighteen months' 
imprisonment in a Federal fortress.  He was a member of the Masonic 
fraternity and both he and wife were active in the work of the Baptist 
Church.  Their family consisted of four children: Minnie E., who was 
educated in Judson College, Alabama, now is a teacher in New York 
City;  M. A., who is president of the Globe Supply & Machinery Company, 
of New Orleans;  Wess E.; and  A. D., who is connected with a candy 
company at Fort Worth, Texas.

Wess E. Davis attended school at Ruston, in Lincoln Parish, and when 
ready to become self-supporting, found his first opportunity with the 
Ruston Hardware and Supply Company, now the Brown-Roberts Hardware and 
Supply Company of Alexandria.  During the nineteen years he remained 
with that organization Mr. Davis not only learned the business, but 
became useful and efficient in its management, and when he retired in 
the spring of 1922, in order to give attention to personal interests, 
he was sales manager for the above company.

When the Rapides Auto Company was founded, Mr. Davis was one of the 
original stockholders, and the company was incorporated, he assuming 
management on March 15, 1922, and becoming also president, in January, 
1924.  The company does a wholesale accessory business, and the trade 
territory is being rapidly extended by their traveling salesmen through. 
out Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas and Texas.  Mr. Davis is a clear-
headed, practical man and gives his personal attention to the business.

Mr. Davis was married November 1, 1906, to Miss Leona Wright, an 
accomplished lady, who was born and attended school at Ruston, Louisiana, 
and completed her musical education at Washington, D. C.  They have two 
sons: W. Eugene, aged thirteen years; and Thomas, aged three years.  
They are members of the Baptist Church and also have pleasant social 
interests.  Mr. Davis belongs to the Masonic fraternity, and politically 
has always been affiliated with the democratic party.

A History of Louisiana, (vol. 2), p. 258, by Henry E. Chambers.  
Published by The American Historical Society, Inc., Chicago and 
New York, 1925.