A Portrait and Biographical Record of Hendricks County (Chicago: A.W. Bowen & Co., 1895)--pages 969-970
Charles W. Davis is one of the progressive, substantial and self-made young citizens of North Salem, Eel River Township, Hendricks County, Ind. His grandfather, Nathan Davis, was a citizen of Kentucky, but was one of the early settlers of Hendricks County, Ind., where he entered and improved a farm. He married a Miss Kidd. Their son, Robert Franklin Davis, the father of Charles W., was born in Kentucky, and was reared to farming, receiving a good common education. Later he learned harness-making, and followed it as a vocation through life. He married Miss Mollie Burk, and to this union were born the following children: Ida I., deceased; Charles W. and Frank E. In religion both parents were ardent members of the Christian Church, and in politics Mr. Davis was a Republican. Both are now deceased.
Charles W. Davis was born in Ladoga, Montgomery County, Ind., July 13, 1859. As he lost his father when he was still small, and his mother having moved to Missouri, he was thrown on his own resources for a livelihood. At the age of ten years he abandoned the farm and engaged in a flour-mill; before he was grown he operated a mill on his own responsibility, and, being successful, he retired from the business ten years later, and engaged in exchange and wheat buying, and later has operated a lumber yard at North Salem; he is also the senior member of the firm of Davis, Steward & Co., bankers at North Salem, and senior member of the firm of Davis, Gill & Co., saw-mill and lumber operators of North Salem. Mr. Davis was united in the bonds of matrimony, October 23, 1881, with Miss Eva M. Hadley, daughter of Edmund and Sarah A. (Reagan) Hadley, and this happy marriage has been blessed by the birth of two children: Frank E. and Lottie M. Both Mr. and Mrs. Davis are devout members of the Christian Church, and fraternally Mr. Davis is a member of North Salem lodge, No. 142, F. & A.M., and the K. of P. lodge, No. 291. He is a public-spirited gentleman, is interested in the progress of education, and socially he and family move in the best circles of the township, by whom they are held in the highest esteem.