Davis Brothers Nusery

     Horticulture has been an interest throughout my family for generations. It all started with my great-great-great-great grandfather, Eli Davis, Jr. He was a man of many trades, one of which included grafting trees. His sons, C.C Davis and his brother James Davis, followed in his father's footsteps and began a nursery business of his own, called "Silver Leaf Nurseries."

Silver Leaf Nursery

    The nursery began in 1876, in Rose Hill, Virginia. They grafted and sold fruit trees, which were transported across the tri-state area by horseback, wagon, or railway freight. Each tree cost 10 cents. The majority of customers during this time wanted to obtain an orchard of their own. This, of course, required employees, who were paid daily. Laborers could receive their day's wages in one of three forms: 50 cents, 5 pounds of bacon, or 1 bushel of corn. 

    James died young, but eventually, C.C. expanded the business himself. The nursery began selling vines, shrubs, nut trees, and ornamental trees. The business thrived for many years. C.C. died in 1932, and 3 of his sons bought and continued the business. Unfortunately, the Great Depression soon swept through the United States, crippling Silver Leaf Nursery.

This was not the end of the family nursery business. Around 1920, Elmer and Bernard Davis, C.C.'s sons, had begun a business of their own, "E.C and B.B. Davis Nursery Co." In 1948, Elmer's sons, Paul and Claude Davis, took over the business, renaming it "Davis Brothers Nursery."

Pictured above is Paul Davis in the midst of his business's trees.

Davis Brothers Nursery

     Paul and Claude turned the company into one who met the needs of more modern homes and businesses. This turned the focus away from selling fruit trees, and more towards being the best salesmen of ornamental trees and shrubs. Paul's son, James, graduated college as a horticulturist and landscape designer and joined the business in 1969. By the late 1970's, Davis Bros. Nursery was doing amazing. They had roughly 30 employees and were operating plantings along Virginia highways, as far as Richmond, Virginia Beach, and around Washington D.C. In 1995, James's son, Jason (my father), graduated college, with a degree in Horticulture, and joined the business, just like his father had. Davis Brothers Nursery is still in business today, in Rose Hill, VA. 

    

So Many Greats

     I'm sure most of you have met multiple people with the last name Davis. In fact, most Davis families that live around Lee County came from the Eli Davis, Sr. descent. I have traced from myself all the way to this great (6x) grandfather of mine, and now I'm sharing it with you. 

  Like I said, Eli Davis is my great-great-great-great-great-great grandfather. He was born in Stafford County, VA, August 11, 1779. and later married Martha Baker, who was only 15 years old, during 1806. Her father was a chaplain in the Revolutionary War and pastored Thompson Settlement Baptist Church, in Lee County. Her mother was from French Huguenot descent. Eli and Martha later moved to Claiborne County, TN, where he taught school and she was well known as an excellent baby deliverer and herbal doctor. Together they had 12 children, the 9th being Eli Davis, Jr. 

   Eli Davis, Jr. was born in Claiborne County July 6th, 1823. He married Nancy Jones, later having 5 children. They lived in Lee County where Eli taught school, earning $1 a day. In 1881, he and his wife organized Silver Leaf Baptist Church. The church started off in the local log school house and has since grown into the church that I attend today. Eli also was the chairman of the first Board of Supervisors of Lee County, a trustee of Cumberland College, a surveyor of the county, a Mason, and was loved by everyone. 

   Their 3rd child,  Claiborne Columbus Davis, better known as C.C. Davis, married his wife Mary Sophrina (Mollie) McDaniel January 9,1879. In 1876, he and his brother James furthered their father's interest in horticulture and began Silver Leaf Nurseries. Mollie and C.C. had 8 children. 

Below pictured are Eli Davis Jr, his son C.C. Davis, and his wife and their 8 children. 

Back row: Sylvan, Elmer, Vida, Maurice, Bernard, Eugene
Front row: Norman, Eli Jr., C.C., Mollie, Melvin

   C.C. and Mollie's third child was Elmer C. Davis, born August 31, 1883. If you've been keeping up, he was my great-great grandfather. He and his brother Bernard continued their father's business, just as C.C. did with his. He was also postmaster for 22 years in Rose Hill, where he lived throughout his entire life. Elmer married Flora Gobble, and they had 6 children, pictured here:

Left to right: Flora, Elmer, Ferne, James, Claude, Paul, Jean, Glenn

Mary Lemarr and Paul Davis at the time of their marriage. 

   Elmer's son, Paul Davis, born April 21, 1919, married his wife, Mary Lemarr on February 7, 1940. He, like generations before him, continued the nursery business. Paul and Claude, his brother, branched off of his father's business and created a similar one called Davis Brothers Nursery, which is still in business today. Mary served as secretary at the family business. Paul and Mary had 3 children: Jacinta, James, and Teresa.

 James Davis was born November 19, 1940. On February 23, 1965 he married Carolyn Davis. They had 4 children. My father, Jason, was the only son born out of four children.  James picked up his father's business and is still head over the company today. Carolyn served as secretary at the Nursery, for a short while, and taught as an art teacher for Lee County schools. 

   Like I said, Jason Davis, born January 20, 1973, is the third born child and the only son. He works alongside his father, James, at Davis Brother's Nursery. On October 14, 1995, he married my mom, Martha Davis and they had 2 children. My mother previously had a flower shop business and now teaches horticulture at Lee County Career and Technical Center. 

   And then there's me, Anna Davis.