The Oskaloosa herald., 1908-01-30
THE DAVIS FAMILY
Interesting Letter From Former
0skaloosa Boy.

success of Frank M. Davis, who lived
in Marysville in his boyhood reads
like novel The family moved to
Oskaloosa from Marysville many
Iyears ago and Frank learned the ma
Ichinist's trade with Warren C. John
Ison, and for a long time produced the
patterns and did other special work
about the shops that made him val
liable man. He was not afraid of
work and he was willing to help make
his employers business a success.
| Frank In writing to C. B. Foshier
gives an interesting history of "The
Davis Tribe as they were originally
at Marysville, and it is fair to state
here that all of them are we'll situated
and doing well. There must have been
a mechanical trend in them, for most
lof them have positions in shops and
usually are foremen or master me.
chanics. His mother is still living and
makes her home with the boys.
Speaking of himself, Mr. Davis
says: Il am the runt of the family,
weigh only 125, am strong and quick
as a cat and fat as a match.
when left Oskaloosa and came
to Milwaukee | worked nine years
as assistant in the Allis Engine com
pany shops and then was put in
charge Of the new shops, where were
employed $500 men. They did not
advance my wages as / thought they
should do, go ! took another job as
superintendent of Power and Mining
Machine company. | spent almost
one year in New York City and in
other great shops of the country per.
fectihg my ideal and ideals. During
this experience I decided that il over
Il was to do anything on my own
account | must cut loose and begin
at once. .r r.'a s. t..a.s
II made the start and we founded
the Davis Manufacturing company. 3
am president, general manager aud
draughtsman and work harder than
ever. We will soon put in night
gang and have work every minute
of the day. We make high grade
automobile and marine engines, tn
bular micrometer calipers, universal
sheet metal cutters, steel bins and |
shelves. We are doing very well liz |
this and have some high grade work |
While many shops were compelled to |
close down during the furry we have |
gone right on and will without any
Interruption. The only worry We
have is getting the work out fast |
enough. In some OF our machines we |
have no competition in all the world, |
so you may know we feel pretty good |
AS to my family, we have one boy. |
13 years old, born mechanic, ma
turalist, and withal a good boy. We
5 years old. We have built a new
home and are well situated to enjoy
life. ...s.g. 81
My brother Ed married Miss Mollie
Barnhart Of oskaloosa and he iG' here
working in the Allis Manufacturing
company shops and is doing fine.
Brother Lewis is married, has one
son ii years old and fine scholar.
Lew is working for me and is valu-
able man, for he has been fireman,
engineer foundryman, machinist and
electrician. My youngest brother,
Irwin, is foreman of one of the ma
chine shops of the Allis company. He
came to assist me when was With
them. He owns his own home and
suppose we are here to stay Sister
Laura is the wife of a preacher and
lives in Kansas. She is visiting us
now. Sister Bertha married 4 me
chanic by the name of Davis and did
not give her name away. They live
in Marshalltown and are doing well,
Bell, the youngest, also married a Nj.
Davis, who is mail carrier in Spring
field Mass. We have good reports
from them.
Now, Uncle Charley, don't you
think have given quite history of
the Davis Tribe? We are in love
with Milwaukee, for it is a splendid
residence and business city and has
long been famous" but we do not
help it on that line. Come and see
us. We will show you nice time
and here's to the Foshiers, every one.
Yours, Frank M. Davis,
267 Sixth St., Milwaukee, Wis.