A scientifically-trained ranchman whose expert knowledge of the citrus industry has led to his selection for most important posts of responsibility is Henry B. Davis, the ex-president of the Indian Hill Citrus Association of North Pomona, who was born near Monticello, Wayne County, Ky., on August 16, 1855. When only a year old he was brought to Putnam County, Mo., and in 1879 he graduated from the State University at Columbia. The next year he moved west to Deer Lodge, in the county of that name, in Montana, and there established himself in his profession as civil engineer.
It was not long before Mr. Davis became assistant engineer in charge of construction work for the Northern Pacific Railway, and by 1891 he had become mayor of Deer Lodge, an evidence of the esteem in which he was held. For fourteen years, too, he was county surveyor of Deer Lodge County.
At the same time, Mr. Davis became president of the Davis & Williams Live Stock Company, and with two others owned 17,000 acres of land and 20,000 sheep. In 1891-92, when Powell County, Mont., was formed, he was made chairman of the first board of county commissioners.
Fortunately for Pomona as well as for the subject of our interesting review, the year 1910 found Mr. Davis in Pomona, an orange grower, and in 1914 the possessor of a fine home on Hiawasse Avenue, which he erected that year. In 1889, at Deer Lodge, Mont., he was married to Elizabeth Woolfolk, a native of Kentucky and the daughter of the Rev. A. M. Woolfolk, also a native of that state.
In 1913 Mr. Davis became a director in the Indian Hill Citrus Association, and he became its president in June, 1918, to fill a vacancy, but in September of that year he was elected president, a position he held until the return of Mr. Sederholm in November, 1919, when he became vice-president. He is also a director in the Canyon Water Company, and a stockholder and director in the Pomona Investment Company. During his term of president he represented his company in the San Antonio Fruit Exchange.
Especially popular in fraternal circles, Mr. Davis is a Mason, a member of the Lodge, Chapter, Commandery in Pomona, and belongs to the Los Angeles Shrine. His oldest child, Harry B., is with the Standard Oil Company at Bakersfield; Alexander W. Davis, another son, is an attorney of Los Angeles; Julian R. is assistant cashier of the State Bank at Idaho Falls, Idaho; while Charlotte is a graduate of the University of California at Berkeley, a member of the Class of '19, and now a teacher in Clifton, Ariz.
History of Pomona Valley, California, with Biographical Sketches
of The Leading Men and Women of the Valley Who Have Been
Identified With Its Growth and Development from the Early Days
to the Present
Published in Los Angeles, Cal., by the Historic Record Company
1920
Transcribed by Linda Jackson 10/28/08, Pages 639-640
Los Angeles County Biographies ~ Archive Biography Index ~ Archive Index
Copyright © 1996-2011; This Web page is sponsored by Supporters on behalf of the California portion of The USGenWeb Project by The Administrative Team of the CAGW. Although believed to be correct as presented, if you note any corrections, changes, additions, or find that any links provided on this page are not functioning properly please contact the Archive Coordinator for prompt attention to the matter.