An Illustrated History of the State of Washington, by Rev. H.K. Hines, D.D., The
Lewis Publishing Co., Chicago, IL., 1893

HENRY C. DAVIS, Claquato, Lewis county, Washington, has long been identified
with the interests of the Northwest. He was engaged in the drug business at
Tacoma for about eight year's, and was also City Treasurer for three years,
after which he turned his attention to real-estate dealings and did a successful
business in that line for several years. He built the first three-story brick
building that was ever erected in Tacoma. At present he is a general speculator
and always alive to public improvement. Mr. Davis was born in Fort Wayne,
Indiana, in 1845, and lived there until he was about five years old. In 1851 he
was brought by his parents to Portland, Oregon, coming across the plains with ox
teams and being six months en route. His father, Lewis U. Davis, was born in
Windsor county, Vermont, in 1794, and was a man in whose make-up were found all
the elements of a true pioneer. He served as Captain in the war of 1812, and
also participated in the Black Hawk war. The Davis family remained in Portland
one year, after which they moved to Drew's mill near Cowlitz Landing in Lewis
county, Washington. A year later they moved to Claquato, where the father of our
subject erected a sawmill and gristmill, laid out the town of Claquato and built
a courthouse, which he donated to Lewis county. He also built a church and a
schoolhouse, and constructed many miles of public road. Here Henry C. Davis has
since resided, with the exception of the time be was engaged in business at
Tacoma, his parents having passed away some years ago. Mr. Davis married Ida A.
Scott, who was born in Pennsylvania in 1867. She emigrated with her parents to
Lewis county, Washington, in 1884. Mr. and Mrs. Davis have one dear little girl,
Ethel L.

Submitted to the WA. Bios Project in January 2004 by Jeffrey L. Elmer

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Notice: These biographies were transcribed for the Washington Biographies
Project. Unless otherwise stated, no further information is available on the
individual featured in the biographies.