Thomas Lacy Davis. Few among the business citizens of Newton County have won more deserved success than that which has rewarded the earnest and well-directed efforts of Thomas L. Davis of Brook. Mr. Davis has had a varied and active career, not only in this section of Northwestern Indiana but in other states, he has been known as a farmer, a merchant, a real estate dealer, and is now one of the proprietors of a splendidly equipped garage and automobile repair industry at Brook. He was born August 4, 1867, in Hamilton County, Indiana, a son of Eleby and Mary (Pool) Davis: His father, who was a native of North Carolina, came to Indiana in 1856 with a family of two children. He first located at Fortville in Hancock County, afterwards moved to Laclede County, Missouri, returned to Hamilton County in 1860, and after a residence there of a number of years moved in 1873 to Clinton County. In 1897 he took up his residence in Terhune, Boone County, Indiana, where he lived until his death in 1901. He was a man of fine character, active in community affairs, and a devout member of the Quaker Church, doing all he could to support religious activities in the various communities where he lived. He was the father of a family of five sons and three daughters. Four of his sons and two of his daughters are still living. Next to the youngest in the family, T. L. Davis grew up on his father's farm, and had a common school education. He first came to Newton County in 1884. For four years he was employed as a laborer on a farm. He then determined to establish a home of his own, and on December 20, 1888, married Miss Marietta Moffett. To their marriage were born four children. Two ate still living: Ruby E. and Malcolm W. Ruby E. graduated from the Brook High School with the class of 1908 and entered the Chicago Musical Institute where she spent one year and took dramatic art. She wedded D. P. Dickinson, and they are in the dramatic business. Malcolm W. completed the public school course and is now a member of the class of 1917 of the Brook High School. These children have received the best advantages at home and in the local schools and Mr. and Mrs. Davis are people who do the best for their own children and lend their helpfulness to neighbors and the community at large. In 1893 Mr. Davis moved from Newton County to Northwestern Iowa where he was a resident until 1897. Returning to Newton County he bought a farm, but in 1903 moved to Momence, Illinois, and for a year was a merchant. In 1904 he bought his present home in Brook, Indiana, and was actively engaged in the real estate business until 1908. In that year he turned his attention to the automobile business. In February 1913, he formed a partnership with Howard Myers under the firm name of Davis & Myers. They operate one of the largest garages in Northwestern Indiana. For the accommodation of their business they erected a brick building 60 by 100 feet, large enough to furnish storage for fifty automobiles, and they also have a repair shop with competent mechanics in charge and a large share of the automobile repairing in this section of the state is done in their quarters. They carry a full line of automobile accessories and they have succeeded in making the word service mean something in their business. Mr. Davis is actively affiliated with Brook Lodge No.670, Free and Accepted Masons, and also with the Knights of Pythias Castle Hall No.77, at Brook, Indiana, and the Modern Woodmen of America, Camp No.538, at Laurens, Iowa. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Submitted By Beth Bassett beth@ffni.com