King County WA Archives Biographies.....Davis, A. J. 1878 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/wa/wafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: 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. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/wa/king/bios/davis217gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/wafiles/ File size: 4.5 Kb