JAMES A. DAVLIN - James A. Davlin, occupying an enviable position in business circles of Springfield as a dealer in carriages and farm implements, was born in Lee County, Illinois, in October, 1859, his parents being James and Catherine (Hollister) Davlin. The father was a farmer and stock-raiser and died in the year 1878, but the mother is still living in Dixon, Illinois. In their family were ten children, nine of whom survive.

James A. Davlin was educated in the public schools of Dixon, and for fifteen years was a traveling salesman, spending three years with the old Beloit Harvesting Machine Company, while for twelve years he represented the William Deering Company, of Chicago. On the 1st of January, 1892, he opened his present place of business in Springfield as a senior member of the firm of Davlin, Mueller & Company, a relationship that was maintained until 1896. Since that time Mr. Davlin has been alone, conducting his business under his own name. He carries a stock of farm machinery, harness and other goods of that character, and also carriages. In 1897 he erected his present building, which is forty by one hundred and fifty feet and two stories in height, with a basement. On the first floor is the office and warerooms, containing a large and well-selected line of farm machinery. He handles the Canton Power & Orendorff plows, manufactured at Canton, Illinois, and the machinery of the Osborne and Minneapolis Harvesting Companies. In the east room of the first floor he displays a fine line of carriages and buggies, while the second floor is devoted exclusively to carriages. The business has had a steady and healthful growth, and Mr. Davlin now conducts two branch houses, one at Auburn, which was opened in 1901, and the other at Curran. In the latter place he is now erecting a building for his business. The city office is on East Monroe street, between Sixth and Seventh streets, and opposite the postoffice building. For a number of years Mr. Davlin has maintained a place in the foremost rank of the enterprising merchants of the capital city, his trade constantly expanding until in extent and importance it is equal to any in that line in central Illinois.

Aside from his business interests Mr. Davlin is well known in fraternal circles. He belongs to the Knights of Columbus, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Knights of Pythias and the Travelers' Protective Association. He was married October 5, 1892, in Champaign, Illinois, to Miss Catherine Doyle, a daughter of Terrence Doyle. Mrs. Davlin is a native of Canada, and by her marriage has become the mother of six children: James T., John, Eleanor, Mark, Catherine and Bessie. Mr. Davlin and his family are all members of St. Joseph's Catholic church and their home is located at No. 1020 North Fourth street.

Mr. Davlin has traveled extensively, going from coast to coast, and has recently returned from a two months' visit and pleasure trip in Old Mexico. He visited the City of Mexico and points in the extreme southwest, and was greatly impressed with the appearance of the country and of foreign ways and customs. Of the natives of Mexico three-fourths are peons, a class whose position for two hundred years has been scarcely above that of slavery. These people are paid fifteen cents a day for their work. So primitive is the style in which they live that they stir the ground for their crops with a crooked stick drawn by oxen. They live largely on sour corn ground and stirred up into little flat cakes. They are so deplorably ignorant that they are indifferent to advancement and improvement. The other class in Mexico is wealthy beyond reckoning and live in sumptuous style in the cities. They are mostly owners of vast fruit farms or cattle ranches. Mr. Davlin spoke of one man whose landed possessions were so extensive that a person could travel three hundred miles in a straight line and remain in his territory, and that when an inventory was taken it was found that he had cattle valued at sixteen million dollars, all feeding on his ranch. It is only the members of the aristocracy who ride, and it is their especial pride to own elegant carriages and fine horses. No other vehicles are seen in the republic than those owned by this wealthy class. Everything is carried on mules or on the heads or backs of the peons. If a piano is to be moved, half a dozen of peons get under it, and at a funeral the casket is swung from the shoulders of four such men. Leaving El. Paso, Mr. davlin traveled south for five hundred miles over the barren, mountainous country, yet amid most picturesque scenery. He visited Neal W. Kinross and Henry Chatterton at Sayula, in southwestern Mexico, where they had gone from Springfield in 1901 to engage in gold mining. Mr. Davlin spent five days at their gold mine, which is eight thousand feet up the mountain side from Sayula. Mr. Davlin is a keen observer and a deep thinker, and in his travels has gained large and valuable information, which enriches his conversation and makes it extremely interesting.