King County WA Archives Biographies.....Davis, A. J. 1878 - 
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Ila Wakley iwakley@msn.com February 10, 2011, 2:24 pm

Source: History of the Columbia River Valley From The Dalles to the Sea, Vol. III, Published 1928, Pages 872 - 873
Author: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company

     A. J. DAVIS.  The career of A. J. Davis, one of Portland's leading 
business men, exemplifies in a striking manner the possibilities open to any 
young man of right principles, ambition, determination and industry, for, 
though orphaned in young childhood and thrown on his own resources at a tender 
age, he has pressed steadily forward and has attained a worthy success. Mr. 
Davis was born in West Union, Iowa, in 1878, and is a son of John P. and 
Elvira (Wells) Davis. The mother died before their son was four years old. He 
received a limited public school education and at six years of age was working 
as an errand boy in a hardware store. At that early age he showed himself 
faithful to his duties, was gradually advanced in responsibility and at the 
age of fourteen years was the boss of a crew of men in the pump and windmill 
business. Later he was connected with the implement business for a time, and 
then became a plumber's helper. During these years he worked in various parts 
of Iowa and Illinois and in 1895, when seventeen years of age, went to 
Seattle, Washington, where he worked as a plumber's helper. Returning to the 
east, he was again connected with the implement business and eventually became 
a traveling salesman for farm implements and machinery. In 1901 he again 
located in Seattle, where he worked about one year, and then went into the 
plumbing business for himself, at which time his assets were sixty dollars in 
money and some tools. His venture proved successful and he saved three 
thousand dollars the first year. In 1903 (on Friday, the 13th) he came to 
Portland and entered into a partnership with T. M. Stark, under the firm name 
of the Stark-Davis Company, and engaged in the plumbing business, in which he 
has continued to the present time. In 1908 he bought out his partner, who had 
been in the plumbing business since 1888, paying him nine hundred dollars for 
his interest, and has since been the sole owner of the business, though 
retaining the old firm name. He was first located at 247 Salmon street, later 
moving to 249 Salmon street, where he remained until his increasing business 
demanded more space and he moved to an L-shaped building at Salmon and Third 
streets. In 1920 Mr. Davis leased the four-story building at 188 Fourth street 
which he now occupies and where he is in every way well equipped for the 
proper handling of his business. He carries on a general plumbing and heating 
business as a contractor and jobber, carries fixtures of all kinds, and is a 
wholesale and retail dealer in electrical supplies. He employs from forty to 
one hundred people and has installed the heating plants and the plumbing 
systems in many of the leading residences and apartment houses in Portland and 
vicinity. He employs only skilled workmen and takes a justifiable pride in the 
high quality of his work, on which his business success has been based. He is 
also vice president of the Continental Security Company.

     In 1907 Mr. Davis was united in marriage to Miss Pearl Van Hook, of Two 
Harbors, Minnesota, and to them have been born six children, namely: Edmond 
C., now second mate on a steamship running to Manila; Louise, who is employed 
by the Portland Trust Company; A. J., Jr.; Harlow, Leona and Stanley. Mr. 
Davis gives his support to the republican party and, though a busy man, pays 
due attention to the obligations of citizenship, supporting all measures for 
the advancement of his community's interests. He is a Mason, belonging to 
Oregon Consistory, No. 1, A. A. S. R., and Al Kader Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S. 
He has membership with the Loyal Order of Moose and the Portland Chamber of 
Commerce. In the business circles of this city he is regarded as a man of 
clear headed judgment and dependable qualities, commanding the confidence and 
respect of all who have come in contact with him.

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