Multnomah County OR Archives Biographies.....Davis, James N. February 24, 1858 - May 14, 1924
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Ila L. Wakley iwakley@msn.com May 31, 2010, 1:34 pm

Source: History of the Columbia River Valley From The Dalles to the Sea, Vol. III, Published 1928, Pages 356 - 357
Author: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company

     JAMES N. DAVIS, of whom it is said that no man in the northwest was 
better informed concerning the question of right-of-way and who for many years 
did expert work in that connection, thus contributed in large measure to the 
development of Oregon. He represented important railway interests in their 
right-of-way departments and afterward took up similar lines of work in 
connection with public utilities of the northwest. Born in Taylorville, 
Illinois, February 24, 1858, he died in Portland, May 14, 1924, at the age of 
sixty-six years. His parents were John W. and Rebecca (Linn) Davis, the former 
born in Kentucky and the latter in Pennsylvania. They removed to Kansas when 
their son James was a lad of but nine years and there he supplemented his 
public school education by study in the state university at Lawrence, Kansas, 
from which he was graduated on the completion of a law course in 1885. He 
first located in Topeka, Kansas, and soon after entering upon his professional 
career became connected with the Union Pacific Railway. On leaving the 
Sunflower state he made his way westward to Seattle but finally decided to 
locate in Portland, where he became a representative of the Union Pacific in 
the right-of-way department, in which he continued for some time. He then 
entered upon the private practice of law as senior partner in the firm of 
Davis, Gantenbein & Veasie and later, because of his knowledge concerning 
questions having to do with right-of-way, he was retained by the Portland 
Electric Power Company and secured the right-of-way for its lines to Gresham 
and Estacado. On severing his connection with that corporation he became 
identified with the Northwestern Electric Company, in charge of the right-of-
way service for their power lines, in which connection he located the lines on 
the north fork of the White Salmon river to Clarkson and Clearwater. He 
continued with that company until his demise, meeting every requirement of the 
responsibilities that devolved upon him.

     On the 21st of September, 1893, Mr. Davis was married to Miss Mary 
McFadden, a daughter of Dr. James A. and Eliza (Marlin) McFadden, of Indiana, 
a town of Pennsylvania. Mrs. Davis came west to teach school but remained in 
that profession for only four years here, after which she returned home and 
was married. To Mr. and Mrs. Davis were born two children, Catherine and 
James, the latter dying in infancy. Catherine, who is a well known violinist, 
is the wife of Earl F. Jackson, of Portland, and the mother of one son, James 
W. Mr. Jackson was a soldier of the World war, serving overseas as a non-
commissioned officer with the Twenty-third Engineers. Mrs. Davis is prominent 
in club and social circles. She belongs to the Daughters of the American 
Revolution, being entitled to membership through both her paternal and 
maternal lines. She was formerly state vice regent of Oregon and regent of 
Multnomah Chapter. She has also been president of the Rose Society of Portland 
for several years and she is likewise interested in civic affairs, having 
since 1920 filled the position of probation officer in the court of domestic 
relations. She is constantly reaching out along lines of usefulness and 
helpfulness and is most highly esteemed in Portland, where she is widely 
known. Mr. Davis attended the First Presbyterian church of Portland and was a 
thirty-second degree Mason, having become a member of the fraternity in 
Topeka, Kansas. After his removal to the west he became identified with 
Harmony Lodge and later transferred his membership to Friendship Lodge, F. & 
A. M. He took the degrees of the consistory in Portland and also became a 
member of the Mystic Shrine here. He was likewise identified with the 
Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and at all times loyally followed the 
teachings and purposes of the fraternities with which he was affiliated. Along 
the line of his chosen profession he held membership in the county and state 
bar associations. He was active in politics and a recognized leader in the 
ranks of the republican party, believing firmly in the value of its principles 
and platform as factors in good government. Because of the extended period of 
his residence in the northwest he was admitted to membership in the Lang Syne 
Society. All who knew him — and his acquaintance was wide — entertained for 
him that warm regard which is a recognition of true personal worth. He was 
accounted an attorney of high repute and an expert on questions of right-of-
way and thus he came to prominence in his chosen field of labor. His fidelity 
in matters of friendship was one of his marked characteristics and in his home 
he was a loving husband and father whose daily life radiated kindliness and 
good cheer and whose interest centered in his own household.

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