THE NATIONAL NURSERYMAN. 
"3 
FRANKLIN DAVIS. 
I'ranklin Davis was born January 14, 1829, in Bed¬ 
ford county, Pa. He was left an orphan and penniless 
at the age of six years. A relative in Adams county, 
Pa., recognizing in him the promise of true worth gave 
him a home and allowed him to attend school during the 
winter months. He was soon repaid for his kindness by 
seeing the frail boy develop into a bright and willing lad. 
Mr. Davis very early in life showed a great interest 
and fondness for fruit growing and raising trees. His 
first grafts were set in the fence corners of the farm 
where he made his home. He missed no opportunity 
to accumulate knowledge in his chosen vocation, hence 
by the time he arrived at the 
age of twenty-one, he was 
well qualified to launch out for 
himself. 
Believing that the South 
offered a promising field for 
his work, he loaded several 
boxes of grafts in a one horse 
wagon in the spring of 1850 
and turned his face toward 
Rockbridge county, Va. He 
was not troubled with the care 
of much money, but owned 
the grafts, horse and wagon, 
a few hundred dollars, and 
better yet, a strong body, 
level head and an honest heart. 
Through many ups and downs, 
planting, working and selling 
trees with his own hands, he 
laid the foundation of a great 
nursery. 
Mr. Davis soon saw that 
the nursery business would 
have many advantages and 
could be operated more suc¬ 
cessfully and meet the demands of his rapidly growing 
trade better if he were located nearer a larger town, 
and he therefore began planting at Staunton, Va., and 
by the time the civil war arose he had a large busi¬ 
ness and had accumulated $20,000. But the war came 
on and Virginia, unfortunately, was compelled to furnish 
much of the battle-field. Trade was paralyzed and 
nearly everything was destroyed. After the war Mr. 
Davis made another move, which was the best stroke of 
his life. With S. C. Kent (lately deceased) Mr. Davis 
opened up the nursery business on a large scale at 
Richmond, Va. They met with success on every hand. 
Mr. Kent sold out his interest in 1879, and Mr. Davis, 
desiring to locate near his old home in the evening of 
his life, moved the main office and nursery to Baltimore, 
Md. The business is operated at both Baltimore and 
and Richmond. 
In 1 892 Mr. Davis suffered a severe stroke of paralysis, 
the result of over-work, which rendered him physically 
unable to take an active part in the business. Recog¬ 
nizing his condition, he formed at once a stock company, 
known as the Franklin Davis Nursery Company. The 
capital stock was fixed at $100,000. Franklin Davis 
was made president ; Howard Davis, secretary and 
treasurer ; Edwin Davis, vice-president. The stock 
company has met with a most encouraging reception by 
the business community. Trade has greatly increased 
and the planting counts up in the millions. From a 
very humble beginning, as a result of energy, industry 
and honesty, Mr. Davis has 
built up a business of immense 
proportions, handling several 
hundred thousand dollars worth 
of stock annually and with 
nearly one thousand acres 
under cultivation and a host of 
employees. Mr. Davis was 
married in Pennsylvania. 
Three sons and two daughters 
are living. His faithful wife, 
for thirty-seven years, is still 
spared to comfort him in his 
affliction and enjoys good 
health. In the evening of 
their day, hand in hand, they 
go down life’s pathway, enjoy¬ 
ing the fruits of their labor. 
The boys manage the busi¬ 
ness now. 
The California State Hor¬ 
ticultural Society is preparing 
to welcome the members of the 
American Pomological Society 
which will meet in California next January. 
The eighth annual convention of the American Asso- 
citaion of Cemetery Superintendents was held in Phila¬ 
delphia, September ii, 12, 13. Fifteen members 
attended the first convention which was held in 
Cincinnati. There are now 100 members, 75 of 
whom were at the Philadelphia meeting. The 
officers are : President, William Salway, Spring 
Grove Cemetery, Cincinnati ; vice-president, Tim¬ 
othy McCarthy, Swan Point, Providence, R. I.; sec¬ 
retary and treasurer, prank Eurich, Woodlawn, Toledo, 
O. A paper on “ Suitable Shrubs for a Modern Ceme¬ 
tery” was read by Thomas B. Meehan. The lawn plan 
for the improvement of cemeteries was advocated, also 
the planting of perennials rather than annuals. 
FR.ANKLIN DAVIS. 
