DAVIS, FRANCIS MARION. - the most successful Cass County agriculturists recognize the fact that in order to get the best results from their farms, they must expend time and money on them, and here may be found properties as fine as in any part of the state. One of the men who has developed his farm until it is credited with being a model one, is Francis Marion Davis, of Hickory Precinct. He was born near Shiloh Church, Cass County, Ill., June 15, 1860, a son of Elijah and Elizabeth (Shoopman) Davis, natives of Kentucky and Tennessee. The maternal grandfather, William Shoopman, came to Cass County at an early date. After their marriage, Elijah and Elizabeth Davis settled on a Cass County farm where their eleven children were born. Francis Marion being the eighth in order of birth.

Until he was eleven years old Francis Marion Davis lived at home working for his father, then went to Morgan County, where he worked for others and attended the district schools as opportunity offered. For four years after his marriage, Mr. Davis rented land in Missouri, and then returning to Cass County, Ill., he rented the Henry Campbell farm, where he lived for eighteen years, conducting that and his own ten acres adjoining. In the spring of 1910, he bought 120 acres on sections 19 and 30, Hickory Precinct, where he has developed one of the finest farms in the county. While it was partly improved when he bought it, he has added many things, has built corn cribs, put in fences, and bought excellent machinery. This land is devoted to grain farming, and his success proves that it pays to pursue the methods he had adopted.

On August 22, 1881, Mr. Davis was married to Jane Davis, born in Cass County, a daughter of Richard and Elizabeth (Buck) Davis, natives of Kentucky and Tennessee, who became Cass County farmers. Mr. and Mrs. Davis became the parents of the following children: Walter L. and Willis F., both of whom are of Cass County; Estella Pearl, who is Mrs. Jacob Kruse, of Cass County; and Ethel E. and Richard E., who are at home. In politics Mr. Davis is a Democrat. He belongs to the Illinois Bankers Association, and to the Des Moines Bankers Association. A man of progressive ideas he has always kept abreast of the times, and his influence is widespread.