from The History of Hendricks County (Indianapolis: B.F. Bowen & Co., 1914)--pages 260-262
Among the earliest settlers of Hendricks County, the Davis family occupy a prominent and conspicuous part. From 1835 down to the present time they have been important factors in the material and civic advancement of the county. The Davis family, of Hendricks County, trace their ancestors back to one Josiah Davis, who, according to the records, was born about the year 1665 in Wales. The family history has recorded only one son of Josiah Davis, who crossed the Atlantic Ocean about the year 1771, stopping first in Pennsylvania, thence, after a residence there of some years, he moved to Virginia and later settled near Mount Sterling, the county seat of Montgomery County, Kentucky. He was married four times and was the father of twelve children, in all, six sons and six daughters. Two of these sons, Enoch and Nathan, with their families, were among the early settlers of Eel River Township, in this county, and from these two sons was sprung a numerous progeny, whose descendants are now residents of Tennessee, Texas, Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Iowa, Kansas, Colorado, California, Washington, Oregon and probably other states.
Nathan Davis, who has been mentioned, was born in Kentucky sometime during the latter part of the eighteenth century, and married Nancy Kidd, a native of that state. After several children were born in Kentucky, Nathan, with his family, and his brother Enoch and his family, came to Hendricks County and settled in Eel River Township. Nathan settled east of North Salem, bought part of his land from the government, and became the owner of more land from time to time until at his death he owned about five hundred acres of land. Nathan Davis and wife were the parents of nine children: John; Walter, the father of Quincy A., whose history is herein presented; Quincy, William, Frank, Marion, Mrs. Louisa Hunt, Mrs. John Fleece, Mrs. Catherine Tucker, and Mrs. Susan Ann Riner.
Walter Davis, the father of Quincy A., was born December 12, 1822, near Mount Sterling, in Montgomery County, Kentucky, and was twelve years of age when his parents came to Hendricks County. Here he grew to manhood and here he married Mary Margaret Speers, who was born near Danville, Kentucky, and came here about 1835 with her parents, John and Martha (Mitchell) Speers. They settled about one and a half miles northeast of North Salem, where John Speers bought land and became a large owner in several townships in Hendricks and Boone Counties. He bought lowland at a time when others were choosing the highlands, believing the lowland would eventually become the most profitable. To Walter Davis by his first wife were born eight children: John, Quincy A., Lafayette, Robert, Charles (the last two being deceased), Martha E., Nancy A. and Frances A. The first wife of Walter Davis died June 16, 1861, and he then married Mary A. Scott, of Montgomery County, Kentucky. To this second marriage were born six children: Walter, Lorenzo, Thomas Clarence, Edgar L., Betty L., who died at the age of five, and Mrs. Myrtle D. Hendricks, the wife of Edgar Hendricks, of Jamestown, Boone County. The second wife of Walter Davis died in the summer of 1873 and two years later he married Mrs. Matilda (Free) South, of Danville. Walter Davis died January 11, 1893, in his seventieth year, a man highly respected and honored by everyone because of his upright and unostentatious life. He was a member of the Methodist Church from his childhood and so conducted his life that he was beloved by everyone who knew him.
Quincy A. Davis grew up on his father's farm and after completing his common school education in the district schools he attended Northwestern Christian University, now Butler College, at Indianapolis, for eight terms, between the years of 1867 and 1870. In early manhood he clerked in a gas fitting and plumbing establishment in Indianapolis for three years and a half and also taught school for eight terms, which included one year at North Salem, near his home. In 1876 he moved to the farm east of North Salem where he has since resided. He is a man of excellent judicial ability and has the entire confidence of the community. He has served as administrator of a large number of estates, a fact which testifies to the confidence which the people of his community have in him. For thirty years he has been a farmer and has kept pace with modern movements in agriculture, so that his farm today presents a very attractive appearance.
Mr. Davis was married February 8, 1872, to Betty (Linn) Scott, who was born near Mount Sterling, Kentucky, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Scott. Her parents came to this county early in its history and lived here to a good old age. Mr. and Mrs. Davis have three children living and one deceased: Sylvan B. died at the age of three; Alden has taken the civil service examination for railway mail clerk, having passed one examination, another to be taken; he married Nora Higgins and has two children; Charles is in the blacksmith business at North Salem and Mary, who is still at home with her parents and who teaches music, having three large classes.
Mr. and Mrs. Davis belong to the Church of Christ at North Salem, and have lived true Christian lives through all of their career. Mr. Davis is a kind and courteous person, a worthy follower of Him who has been called the "world's first gentleman."