Santa Clara County
Biographies
FRANK
DAVIS
FRANK DAVIS. A
well-known and worthy representative of the industrial interests of San Jose is
Frank Davis, a prominent contractor and builder, who has been associated
with the erection of many of the finest residences and business buildings and
blocks of this locality. Possessing much natural mechanical talent and ability,
he has met with deserved success in his undertakings, and is numbered among the
valued citizens of the state. Although Mr. Davis has travelled extensively
throughout our own country and the Orient, he is firmly convinced that no part
of the civilized world can compare with California as a permanent place of
residence, its healthful climate, rich soil, and generous productions
surpassing those of all other sections of the globe in point of excellence. A
son of George Davis, he was born, March 24, 1853, in Plainfield,
N. J. His father was born and reared in Bavaria, Germany. Immigrating to
this country, he settled in New Jersey, where he followed his trade as a brass moulder, living first in Plainfield, and then in Dunellen,
where his death occurred. He married a Miss Lick, who was born in Alsace,
France, and died in Germany. Of their five children, all are living, two of
them being in California.
The youngest child of
the parental household, Frank Davis was brought up in his native state,
receiving but scant educational advantages, his earlier years being spent as
chore boy on a farm. At the age of fourteen years he was apprenticed to
Richard S. Cross, a confectioner located at the corner of Tenth
street and Sixth avenue, New York, but at the end of three years had to leave
his employer on account of trouble with his eyes. Going then to Jersey City he
learned the carpenter’s trade with Thomas Lane, working under his
instruction for more than four years. Going then to Illinois, Mr. Davis worked
in Chicago and in different places throughout the middle west, for a time
herding cattle in what is now Lincoln county, Kans. The succeeding winter he
spent in New Orleans, and then, after staying a few weeks in Algiers, La., went
to Moline, Ill., where he entered the employ of the John Deere Plow Works, with
whom he remained for a short time, helping in the manufacture of cultivators.
Migrating westward to Des Moines, Iowa, he lived there from 1874 until 1880,
working at the carpenter’s trade the first three years, and as a contractor the
next three years. Coming to San Jose in October, 1880, Mr. Davis had been
here less than three months when he became so homesick and so disgusted with
the place that his only desire was to shake the dust of California from off his
feet and leave the state forever. Going back to Kansas, he soon afterward went
to Des Moines, Iowa, where he intended to locate. After spending a week in that
city his desire to see San Jose once more far exceeded his ambition to leave
the place when he took his abrupt departure.
Returning, therefore,
to this city, Mr. Davis has remained here since, never for a moment regretting
his backward flight. The two ensuing years he worked at his trade, but since
that time has been extensively and profitably engaged in contracting and
building and has done as much if not more than any other one man toward the
upbuilding of San Jose and vicinity, being one of the longest-established
contractors of Santa Clara county. Some of the finest residences of San Jose
are of his construction, among others being those of David Spence and
Joseph Rucker. He also filled the contract for the erection of the Garden
City theater and of the Oakland house, two beautiful structures, which are
ornaments to the city. He also erected the first building in Palo Alto, the
Palo Alto hotel, besides many residences. Mr. Davis is also interested in San
Jose real estate to some extent, and is a member of the San Jose Builders’
Exchange, of which he was one of the organizers.
Mr. Davis’ first
marriage, in Moline, Ill., united him with Adelia
Myers, who was born in Germany and died in San Jose. In San Jose he
subsequently married Hannah Park. Politically Mr. Davis is a
Republican. He was made a Mason in Des Moines, Iowa, and now belongs to
Friendship Lodge No. 210, F. & A. M., of San Jose. In
the various trips and travels of Mr. Davis he has acquired a vast fund of
general information and is as familiar with the eastern and southern sections
of our Union as he is with the western part. On his voyage to the Orient he
travelled through Japan and the southern part of China, becoming familiar with
the countries and the manners and customs of the people of the far east.
Transcribed by Marie Hassard 21 April 2015.
Source: History
of the State of California & Biographical Record of Coast Counties,
California by Prof. J. M. Guinn, A. M., Pages 477-478. The Chapman
Publishing Co., Chicago, 1904.
© 2015 Marie
Hassard.