Early Life and Career
Davis was born in Cardiff, Wales. His family immigrated to the United States in 1875, and settled near Rippey, Iowa. Rippey, 35-40 miles northwest of Des Moines, was then a major coal-mining region. This was before strict child labor laws, and Davis began working in the coal mines in 1885 when he was twelve years old.
After a few years in the mines, Davis landed a job in the mining company store in Dawson, about five miles south of Rippey. Personable and hard-working, Davis showed a talent for the retail business.
That led to a position as the manager of a local Farmer's Cooperative Association. Almost immediately thereafter, he became Cashier at a bank in Rippey. At that time, the Cashier in a small bank could be more than what is known simply as a Teller in the United States. A Chief Cashier was a very high level position, able to – among other duties – issue cashier's checks against the bank's reserves. In view of his later career in banking, it seems likely that Davis attained that level of responsibility. It is known that, lacking much formal schooling, he also followed a program of diligent self-education.
He reportedly spent a brief stint in the United States Navy, attaining the rank of Petty Officer, First Class after distinguished service in the Philippines.
According to later accounts, Davis continued to suffer the ill effects of his time in the mines. Coupled with his intense efforts on and off the job, deteriorating health finally forced him to take a year or so off for a rest cure.
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