The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1890-10-23

been raised up among us-who by their |
energy and pluck have conquered diff
culties and forced their way ahead to
successful position and business in life.
And it is Of such a man that we pro-
pose to write to-day.
When in 1888 the subject of this
sketch, Mr.. Owen Davis, first engaged
in the warehouse business, in connec-
ton with his older brother, Mr.. 7. A.
Davis, the prophetic eye Of even his
most hopeful friends did not foresee
the success that he was destined to
achieve in that line.
Born at the old family homestead, a
few miles from Henderson, the early
life of Mr.. Davis was spent on the
farm, and when mere youth yet in his
teens he came to town and engaged in
a mercantile establishment. From
that time his career has been upward
and onward and his success continuous
and rapid.
For several years he was drug clerk
for J. R. Young & Co., at that time
the leading drug firm of this section,
and by industry, close application to
business, and an honest, straightfor-
ward course soon impressed his en-
plovers that he was made of the sort
of material that constitutes the honora-
BILE, upright, successful business man:
AS an evidence of this Mr.. Davis was
admitted as partner in the concern
and continued in the drug trade until
1882 when they were burned out. The
hard earned accumulations of years OF
patient labor and waiting were thus
swept away and at the bottom round
of the ladder Mr.. Davis found himself
again. But he was not the man to be
discouraged or cast down. Full OF
pluck and energy, used to work and
not afraid of it, with dauntless courage
and resolute determination, he set
himself industriously to the task Of
again establishing himself in business
and this time opened a small drug store
by himself, and later, in 1883: as stated
above, engaged III tile warehouse pus-
mess.
! The success of the firm was marked
from the beginning. Both gentlemen
were ahustlers" as that term is now
applied and they were not long in de-
m onstrating the fact that they possess
ed peculiar qualifications for successful
and popular warehousemen. In
short time the old ''Side Light" ware
house got to be a household word
throughout the territory tributary to
the Henderson market, and its trade
continued to grow and flourish with
each recurring season. Davis Brothers
Icontintued to do business until the fal
of 1887, when the firm dissolved by
mutual consent, Mr.. T. A. Davis de
voting his entire time and means t.
the leaf tobacco trade, while MIR. Over
I Davis remained in the warehouse bust
ness. With redoubled energy he ap
piled himself and instead of falling OF
; as one might have supposed his trad
!. began to increase until it was sool
t found that he must have more room
!, and better quarters to accommodate
! his large and growing patronage.
So in 1888, he bought the new, an
: large and elegant warehouse which ha
I been erected on the corner Of Mai
= and Horner streets, by Mr.. Charlie
:, Watkins, and moved into that. Wit
g rapid strides he has continued to pres
onward until now he has trade {
II which any warehouseman in the cour
l. try of much older years might justl
4 feel proud. And already he is talkln
n of adding to the size Of his house an
n will make such changes in the plar
. and general arrangements as will max
It it second to no house in the State IL
q the sale of leaf tobacco.
Mr.. Davis is man of great enere
and fine business capacity. We
equipped by natural talent and exp
rience in the business he seems to pc
e sess in high degree the peculiar ia
of the warehouseman, and his care
h, has been marked by achievements tn
indicate the native mental vigor al
4 well directed energy that has by
y means as yet reached its ripest pos
ne bilities. Indeed for one of his yea
ed Mr.. Davis has displayed those ra
er qualities of the successful business m;
d. that make him leader and originate
IN rather than a mere follower and In
We tator. He is a man Of sense, discer
he ment, sagacity and judgment; bo
an daring, intelligent, clear-sighted ou
as ness man, whose success has been W
deserved and at which he has host
u friends to rejoice with him.
H. A self-made man who has WORK
!, his way up the ladder of success wi
No. out the aid of wealth, and we mi:
m almost say without the influence
by friends, SO far as financial backing
ne concerned when he first started out
nd fight the great battle Of life, the p
ire ton he occupies to-day as a success
or, well-to-do and highly respected b
sh ness man, is all the more creditable
~ him. While he had friends he ch