The History of the Yakima Valley, Washington, Comprising Yakima, Kittitas and
Benton Counties, The S.J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1919, Volume II, page 360
A portrait of John A. Davis appears in this publication.

JOHN A. DAVIS.

John A. Davis, a wholesale fruit dealer, president of the Sunset Fruit & Produce
Company of Wapato, which he assisted in organizing in 1917, was born in St.
Joseph, Missouri, on the 4th of March, 1865, a son of Asa and Martha (Alcorn)
Davis. The father was born in Illinois, December 14, 1839, and the mother was a
native of Kentucky and a daughter of John Alcorn, one of the pioneer settlers
of Missouri. Mr. Davis followed the occupation of fanning in Illinois until
1859, when he removed to Missouri. He was a son of Abraham Davis, who built the
first grist mill in Hardin county, Illinois, and was one of the pioneer settlers
of that section. After devoting considerable time to agricultural pursuits in
Missouri, Asa Davis came to the northwest, settling at Seattle on the 25th of
July, 1875. He there remained for a week, after which he took up a homestead in
Snohomish county, at which time there were only twelve white women living along
the Snohomish river. With characteristic energy he began the development of his
land and converted it into a rich and productive farm, upon which he continued
to reside until his demise. His first wife passed away in Missouri, after which
Mr. Davis married again, and his second wife died in Washington.

John A. Davis, having acquired a public school education and further augmented
his knowledge by study at home, successfully passed the examination of the
eighth grade after but nine months spent in school, showing how thoroughly he
had mastered the lessons which he pursued in his own home. Later he took a
course in the Atchison Business College at Atchison. Kansas. He was reared to
the occupation of farming, early becoming familiar with the best methods of
tilling the soil and caring for the crops. He farmed in Snohomish county,
Washington, until 1597 and cleared forty acres of timber land, which he
converted into a fine farm. In that year he entered the real estate business at
Everett, Washington, and so continued until 1907. He was next engaged in the
real estate business at Seattle until 1911, when he went to Yakima, where he did
electrical contract work for two years. He next turned his attention to the
wholesale fruit business in Yakima, in which he continued until 1917, when he
assisted in organizing the Sunset Fruit & Produce Company, of which he has
since been the president. Already this company has built up a business of
extensive proportions, having handled one hundred and fifty carloads of fruit
in 1917, and in 1918 over two hundred carloads. They have a large and well
equipped warehouse in Wapato and their trade is steadily growing.

On the 9th of October, 1889, Mr. Davis was united in marriage to Miss Knottley
A. Riddle, a native of Missouri, their marriage being celebrated at Atchison,
Kansas. They became the parents of the following named: Trece, the wife of R. C.
Schreiner, of Wapato; John Earl, who died at the age of two and a half years;
Gladys May, at home; Susan joy, the wife of Jesse G. Sill, of Portland; and Fay
Merle, at home. 

Mr. Davis and his family are all consistent and loyal members of the Christian
church. He belongs also to the Odd Fellows lodge No. 122, at Everett,
Washington, and to the Brotherhood of American Yeoman. In politics he is a
republican where national issues and questions are involved but at local
elections votes for the men rather than party. His fellow townsmen, recognizing
his ability, worth and public spirit, have called him to office and for two
terms he served as a member of the state senate from Snohomish county, having
been elected in 1896 and again in 1901. He gave careful and earnest
consideration to all the vital questions which came up for settlement during
that period and his course received general endorsement, as indicated in his
reelection. He is a loyal advocate of any cause which he believes will benefit
the community or advance the welfare of commonwealth and country.

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Submitted to the Washington Bios Project in December 2007 by Jeffrey L. Elmer.
Submitter has no additional information about the subject of this article.