Biography of John Leonard Davis, pages 472/473/474/475.  History of 
DeKalb County, Indiana; B. F. Bowen & Company, Inc., Indianapolis, 
1914.



John Leonard Davis



	The spirit of a pure, noble and earnest life burned in the mortal 
tenement of the late John L. Davis, than whom no citizen of DeKalb 
county attained to higher distinction in connection with the material 
and civic development of this favored section of the state of Indiana, 
while none wielded a wider or more beneficent influence in connection 
with the promotion of public enterprises and utilities which conserved 
such development and progress. His life was one of fullness and 
completeness, one of vigor and inflexible integrity.  He accomplished 
great things for the general good and was not denied a due individual 
reward in the mater of temporal affluence.  A man of rugged strength of 
character, of finest moral fiber, and one who realized a magnificent 
measure of useful accomplishment, his name is deeply engraved on the 
pages of history of his county, so that such a publication as the one 
at hand must needs enter a tribute of honor and appreciation to his 
memory if any measure of consistency and symmetry is to be claimed for 
the same.  He was universally recognized as a splendid citizen, of 
lofty character, sturdy integrity and unswerving honesty. During the 
period of his early years here he shared fully the trials and 
difficulties of those trying times.  He was one of the sturdy figures 
upon which the burdens of the community fell, and he struggled 
devotedly with others in bringing about the resultant evolution of

development.  Hand and heart and purse were always open to the 
necessities of his neighbors, and the record of those years is one of 
tireless and unselfish devotion.  To write the history of Mr. Davis 
would be to write a book and in the limited space of a biographical 
memoir one can but touch upon the more salient facts in the long, 
useful and somewhat remarkable career of this honored man, and briefly 
sum up his life by saying that he was a good man---such a man that the 
world was better for his having lived in it. He was a good husband and 
father, faithful and loving; a good citizen and friend, constant and 
reliable; a man in the fullest sense of the word, wide, comprehensive 
and far-reaching in life’s affairs.

	John Leonard Davis was born on November 3, 1834, at Black Rock, 
now a part of the city of Buffalo, New York, and was a son of William 
and Deborah W. (Dutcher) Davis. He was reared at Black Rock, and in the 
spring of 1853 he went to Wabash, Indiana, where his brothers, William 
Kirby and Lewis B. Davis, were engaged in the hardware business, and in 
their establishment he learned the trade of a tinner.  In the fall of 
1854 he returned to his old home in New York, and there, on December 1, 
1856, he was married to Louisa Hauenstein, of Buffalo, New York, where 
she had been born and reared. After his marriage, Mr. Davis followed 
farming at Aurora, New York, where he remained for six years.  He then 
came to Auburn, Indiana, arriving here on October 16, 1862.  His 
brother, Joseph D. Davis, was then in business here as owner of the 
Pioneer Hardware Store and, being in failing health, he had requested 
the subject to come and take charge of the business for him.  On the 
death of Joseph D. Davis, which occurred in April, 1865, the subject of 
this sketch became his successor in the hardware business and for 
thirty-five years his ability and his genial and affable manner ever 
increased the popularity of his store.  After he had been in business 
two or three years, his store was burned down and in 1868 he built on 
the same location, at the corner of Main and Eighth streets, what has 
since been known as the Davis building, a substantial building that has 
been in continuous use for forty-five years, and is still in splendid 
condition.  Its fire-resisting qualities were put to a severe test is 
February, 1913, when the large buildings extending from the Davis 
building to Jackson street were destroyed by fire.  Although separated 
from the fire only by an alley, this building escaped with less damage 
than some of he buildings on the opposite side of the street.  By 
careful attention to the wants of his patrons, carrying a carefully 
selected stock and exercising sound judgment and good business methods 
in the conduct of his affairs, Mr. Davis enjoyed a large and profitable 
business here through the years and became known as one of the most 
substantial business men of his community.

	In 1873 or 1874 Mr. Davis took an active part in the efforts to 
advance the city’s interests, giving freely of his time and money in 
the construction of the Detroit, Eel River & Illinois and the Baltimore 
& Ohio railroads.  The transformation of the former stage-coach town of 
six hundred souls into a thriving city with excellent transportation 
facilities was due in a large part of his initiative and personal 
efforts, and in many other ways he showed his public spirit.  He 
assisted in the bringing of natural gas to Auburn and, although it 
lasted only about two years, it was a matter of public spirit that 
justified the investment of his capital even when the outcome could not 
be foreseen.  Another enterprise to which he contributed liberally of 
his time and money was the attempt, about 1890, to establish a county 
fair at Auburn.  He also contributed liberally to the starting of 

several factories and other enterprises looking to the upbuilding of 
his home city, and he ever stood ready with willing hands and open 
purse, to do what he could for the general welfare.  During the decade 
that followed 1875 Mr. Davis became interested in Garrett, buying real 
estate there and building two commodious business room, one of which he 
occupied with a hardware store and a bank at Auburn.  In 1886 Mr. Davis 
was elected to the office of county treasurer, filling the position 
with rare ability for three and a half years.  After leaving public 
office, Mr. Davis again gave his undivided attention to his business 
interests in banks and store, until the panic of 1893 to 1896, when he, 
in common with many other business men, suffered reverses in business.  
He was not discouraged, however, and courageously applying himself to 
this affairs with greater energy than ever, he re-established his 
hardware business and put it on a firm financial basis.  In December, 
1899, Mr. Davis became ill and from that time until his death, which 
occurred on August 14, 1900, he was not able to give his attention to 
business affairs.  Thus passed a man whom his fellows delighted to 
honor, for through the long years of his residence in the community he 
was ever true to the trusts reposed in him, whether of a public or a 
private nature, and his reputation in a business way was unassailable.  
His action were ever the result of careful and conscientious thought, 
and when once convinced that he was right, no suggestion of policy or 
personal profit could swerve him from the course he had decided upon.  
His career was complete and rounded in its beautiful simplicity; he did 
his full duty in all the relations of life, and he died beloved by 
those near to him, and respected and esteemed by all his fellow 
citizens.

	Politically, Mr. Davis was a life-long Republican, his first 
presidential vote having been cast in 1856 for John C. Fremont, “ The 
Pathfinder,” while his last vote was for him whom he considered “The 
Prosperity Finder,” William McKinley.  Fraternally, he belonged to the 
Masonic order, in which he had attained the thirty-second degree of the 
Scottish Rite, and he also was a Noble of the Mystic Shrine.  He was 
kind and sympathetic, ever ready to help those, whose discouragement 
weighed them down.  At trait of character that endeared him to his 
large circle of friends was his congenial nature. Age did not diminish 
it, for its glow was as ardent at sixty as at twenty.  Another trait, 
which bound him with links of love of a large circle of friends was his 
unswerving fealty to friendship.

	To Mr. and Mrs. Davis were born four children, namely: Lewis 
Albert, who died on October 20, 1875, in his nineteenth year; Fred, who 
was born July 19,1859, and died October 18, 1892, aged thirty-three 
years, served a deputy county treasurer under his father’ 
administration, and at the time of his death was book-keeper in his 
father’s store at Garrett; Claudia died in 1866, in her third year; 
Edna Alene, the only living child, resides at Auburn with her mother, 
and is prominent in the social life of the community. Being a member of 
the Ladies’ Literary club, president of the Woman’s League, and a 
member of the Auburn Evening Musical.  Mrs. Davis and her daughter are 
earnest member of the Presbyterian church and are active in its work.  
Mrs. Davis is a member of the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union and 
has had an efficient and appreciated part in its work.  She is a lady 
of many gracious qualities of head and heart and is well liked by all 
who know her.



Submitted by:

Arlene Goodwin

Auburn, Indiana

Agoodwin@ctlnet.com