Biography - L. M. Davis

L. M. DAVIS, the present incumbent of the office of county surveyor of Ward county, has exerted great influence in the development and prosperity of that section of the state. He is a leading coal mine operator of North Dakota, and is well known in business circles throughout the northern part of the state.

Mr. Davis was born in the city of New Bedford, Massachusetts, August 31, 1855. His parents were L. D. and Susan P. (Potter) Davis, the former a tailor by occupation, both natives of Massachusetts. The father's family came to Massachusetts from England in 1627. Our subject was reared in the city of New Bedford, and received his education in the common and high schools, and graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1877 as a civil engineer.. In 1879 he went to Utah and spent two years as civil engineer on the Rio Grande Railroad, and in 1881 was similarly employed on the Canadian Pacific, assisting in locating their route through the Rocky mountains. He spent three years with the Canadian Pacific Company. He spent the next two years on various engineering jobs in Indiana and Chicago. In the spring of 1886 he went to Minneapolis and was employed by the Soo line in locating its route through Minnesota, and was with that line until 1893, the greater part of that time being in charge of the engineering work between Elbow Lake, Minnesota, and Portal, North Dakota, as assistant chief engineer.

In 1894 Mr. Davis opened the Davis coal mines, six miles west of Minot, and has since operated those mines with success. In connection with the mines at Davis he has also opened a lumber yard and brick yard and a mercantile business. Although engaged in these various lines, he has found time to prosecute several mining and engineering enterprises in North Dakota and Arkansas.

In 1896 he was elected on the Republican ticket as county surveyor, and was re-elected in 1898, and is now serving his second term. He has taken an active interest in public affairs, and has always encouraged every legitimate enterprise that has been brought to his notice. He was one of the pioneers of Ward county, and has a host of friends whose esteem he has won by his integrity and courtesy.

Extracted 26 Dec 2019 by Norma Hass from Compendium History and Biographies of North Dakota, published in 1900, pages 1195-1196.