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1907 Past and Present Biographies

Lee Davis

Lee Davis, a well known business man of Scranton, was born in De Kalb county, Illinois, in 1860, a son of Isaac and Mariette (Simpson) Davis, and received the educational advantages of the common schools and of the high school in his native town. In 1881 he came to Scranton, Iowa, and purchased two different farms in Greene county. He erected buildings and otherwise improved his land and successfully engaged in farming until 1893, when he removed to Jefferson to take up the duties of county auditor, which office he filled for four years. In 1897 he sold his farm and embarked in the grain and lumber business with Mr. Osborne, which they carried on together for four years.

In 1901 Mr. Davis formed a partnership with Mr. Milligan of Jefferson and bought out Schoeneman Brothers’ lumber and grain business, which they have since conducted. This enterprise was established by Mr. Phelps some thirty years ago but the present firm has greatly enlarged and extended the business. They have a lumber shed, sixty by one hundred feet in dimension, which furnishes the storage for their lumber and building material. They carry a full line of lumber, builders’ supplies, tile, brick and coal and in addition they buy all kinds of grain. To accommodate this latter department they have an elevator with a capacity of twenty thousand bushels and have recently established a twelve horse power gasoline engine. Of this enormous enterprise Mr. Davis has entire charge, and it is owing to his executive force and business ability that the enterprise is now on so sound a financial basis.

Mr. Davis was married in De Kalb county, Illinois, to Miss Mary L. Morris and by her marriage she has become the mother of five children: Carrie, who is now Mrs. Worsley; Guy; Grace, who is attending Ames College; Ada, who is a member of the senior class in the high school; and Marian.

Mr. Davis is a stanch republican and has held various township offices, whose duties he has performed promptly and well. He is a member of the village council, was county auditor for four years, and for three years has been master of the Masonic lodge. He has for many years been engaged in the business in which he is now interested, displaying high integrity and ability in the discharge of its duties, but has always had leisure to do all in his power to promote the welfare of the community in which he lives.

Transcribed from "Past and Present of Greene County, Iowa Together With Biographical Sketches of Many of Its Prominent and Leading Citizens and Illustrious Dead,"
by E. B. Stillman assisted by an Advisory Board consisting of Paul E. Stillman, Gillum S. Toliver,
Benjamin F. Osborn, Mahlon Head, P. A. Smith and Lee B. Kinsey, Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1907.

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