Ventura County Republican Project: History and Genealogy

Ventura County Republican Project: History and Genealogy

"A Memorial and Biographical History of the Counties of Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, and Ventura, California" (1891), page 639.

F. C. Davis [Editor inserted: Frank E. Davis]

F. C. Davis, one of the prominent business men of Santa Paula, was born in the town of Derby, Orange County, Vermont, May 12, 1857, the son of Dudley M. Davis, a native of Canada, who came to the United States in 1838, settling upon a farm in Vermont, where he brought up his family and still resides. He has been selectman of his town for many years. His grandfather, Enoch Davis, was a Canadian, and lived to be ninety-four years of age. Mr. Davis's mother (name before marriage Lydia Blake) was born in Canada, a daughter of Rev. Isaac Blake, a Methodist minister, who was also a native of the Dominion. His grandfather was Daniel Blake, and the Blake family trace their ancestry back to the Normans of England, and their forefathers have been of more or less historical note. Mr. Davis has an uncle, Isaac Elder Blake, now living in Denver, Colorado, who made a vast fortune in the oil regions in Pennsylvania, but lost it all in speculation; yet he has regained another fortune and is immensely rich. He is a fine musician and organist; has donated to the Methodist Church a magnificent pipe organ, equal to six common organs combined, at a cost of $30,000, and he himself is the performer upon this instrument. He is still Superintendent of the Continental Oil Company. His youthful resolution never to drink tea or coffee or any strong drink, he has faithfully kept.

Mr. Davis, our subject, next to the youngest of four children, completed his school education at Derby Academy, Orleans County, Vermont, at the age of sixteen years. He obtained his certificate and taught school in the winter seasons for seven terms. In 1879 he visited the oil fields of Pennsylvania, where his father and uncle had made money, but decided to come to California, where his uncle had come two years previously, to introduce the shipping of oil on a car he had invented. On arriving in San Francisco his uncle met him at the station and offered him $100 per month to run the Sacramento station of the oil business, which position he declined because he did not feel competent. He finally went to the warehouse without his uncle's knowledge and told the keepers that he was a young man from the east wishing to learn the oil business. They permitted him to commence work, at $750 per week, and in two years he became one of the salesmen. During the first year in his new situation he and four others were each to receive $100 per month if they sold 300 gallons each a day; but if less than that, $75 per month. At the end of the year it was found that his sales nearly equalled all four of the others, and he was given the position of superintendent and general manager of the business in San Francisco.

In 1873 he came with his uncle to Santa Paula on a prospecting tour, and while here organized the Mission Transfer Company, for the purpose of transferring oil by pipe-lines and marketing it. Leasing the territory they obtained a royalty on the oil produced. He and his uncle held fifty-one shares of the stock, and two years ago sold out their entire interest; but Mr. Davis has revived his interest in the company, and has also stock in the Oil Company of California. He also has a large stock ranch and considerable real estate in Santa Paula. He is one of the owners of the Champion Livery Stable, is interested in the driving park, being secretary of the association, which has eighteen or twenty fine blooded horses in training. He has a neat home in the town. He is a Master Mason, being now Senior Deacon of his lodge; is also an Odd Fellow; at San Francisco he was Vice-Grand of the lodge. In his political views he is a Republican, and as a business man he is one of Santa Paula's best citizens.

He was married in 1884, to Miss Miriam Garrison, a native of San Francisco and daughter of Lewis B. Garrison, of New York; she was born April 27, 1864, of Scotch ancestry. Mr. and Mrs. Davis have had two children; the first born, a daughter, died; and their son, Walter Elmer, was born April 1, 1888.

Descendants of Frank E. Davis

1 Frank E. Davis b: 12 May 1857 in Derby, Orange County, Vermont d: 22 Nov 1920 in Santa Paula, Ventura, California
.. +Miriam Garrison b: 27 Apr 1864 in San Francisco, California m: 1884 in California d: 24 Jan 1945 in Los Angeles, California
........ 2 Daughter Davis b: Bet. 1884 - 1887 in Santa Paula, Ventura County, California d: in Died Young
........ 2 Walter Elmer Davis b: 01 Apr 1888 in Santa Paula, Ventura County, California d: 21 Dec 1952 in San Jose, Santa Clara, California
............ +Margaret Mae Holman b: 19 Aug 1872 in Liberty, Clay, Missouri m: 04 Jul 1921 in Santa Clara, California d: 21 Sep 1963 in Santa Clara, California
........ 2 Dudley Lewis Davis b: 09 Sep 1891 in Santa Paula, Ventura County, California d: 29 Apr 1924 in Santa Paula, Ventura County, California
........ 2 Frank G. Davis b: Feb 1895 in Santa Paula, Ventura County, California



Ventura County Republican Project: History and Rootsweb Genealogy posted by Jon Miller and Tony Larson.