Omer C. Davis

As printed in 1914

OMER C. DAVIS.

An excellent farm property on section 3, Competine township, is owned by Omer C. Davis, who ranks with the representative agriculturists of the county. His work has been capable done in every connection, and his sound business judgment is manifest in his growing success. He is one of the county's native sons, born April 8, 1861. His parents were William and Priscilla (Mowery) Davis, of whom more extended mention is made on another page of this work in connection with the sketch of his brother George W. Davis. The usual experiences of the farm lad came to Omer C. Davis in his boyhood and youth. He attended the district schools and through the periods of vacation worked in the fields, taking his place behind the plow almost as soon as old enough to reach the plow handles. He has lived to see remarkable changes in the methods of farming and in the machinery used in the work of the fields, and at all times he has kept abreast with the trend of modern improvement. He remained under the parental roof until he attained his majority and then purchased the farm upon which he now resides, comprising two hundred and sixty acres of land that is rich and arable. He has wrought a marked transformation in the appearance of the place by adding many improvements and modern equipments, and in addition to cultivating the cereals best adapted to soil and climate he raises good grades of stock and in the sale of his stock adds materially to his annual income.

In 1886 Mr. Davis was united in marriage to Miss Samantha Argenbright, who was born in this county and is a daughter of David and Winnie Argenbright, both of whom remained residents of Wapello county until called to their final rest. To Mr. and Mrs. Davis were born four children: Frank E.; Doris Ida, now the wife of Rex V. Hawthorn; and William D. and Ira E., both at home. The wife and mother passed away January 1, 1897, and in 1898 Mr. Davis was again married, his second union being with Miss Mary E. Webb, a native of this county and a daughter of Isham and Jane Webb. Her father was born in Iowa, but her mother was born in Ohio and was brought to this state during her early girlhood. Mr. and Mrs. Webb were the parents of five children, four of whom yet survive. By Mr. Davis' second marriage there were born four children: Virgil, who was born in 1900 and died in 1902; Mamie A.; Ruth G.; and Lester O.

Mr. Davis gives his political support to the democratic party, but the honors and emoluments of office have never had attraction for him. For twenty-seven years he has served on the school board and is much interested in the development and improvement of the schools, realizing how important a factor they are as a preparation for citizenship and all the duties of later life. Both he and his wife are members of the Baptist church and to its teachings are loyal.

As printed in History of Wapello County, Iowa (1914). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.