Howard Davis, the owner of a well improved and productive farm near Bartlesville, also has valuable oil wells on his property, and in the conduct of his interests he displays keen discernment, marked executive ability and enterprise. He is a native of Indiana but was reared in Illinois and in 1901 he came to Indian Territory, settling in Lincoln county, where he engaged in buying broom corn for an eastern firm. Subsequently he removed to Osage county and there devoted his attention to the cattle business until he took up his residence in Washington county, where he has remained. Mr. and Mrs. Davis and family are now the owners of a valuable farm of two hundred and thirty acres, situated one and a half miles south of Bartlesville, upon which he has placed many improvements, and in the operation of the ranch he follows the most progressive methods, keeping thoroughly abreast of the times in all matters relating to agricultural development. There are also fifteen oil wells on the property, from which he and his family receive royalties, and this is one of the most desirable farms in northeastern Oklahoma.
On the 22d of January, 1916, Mr. Davis was united in marriage to Mrs. Lucy (Wagoner) Sarcoxie, a daughter of Joseph Wagoner. Her mother passed away when Mrs. Davis was an infant. Her sister, Kate, is now in the employ of the Chamber of Commerce at Bartlesville. Her grandmother, Mrs. Paticow, is reputed to be one hundred and twenty-six years old. She was born in Texas and was seven years old at the time of the great meteoric disturbance, which occurred over one hundred years ago. She came to this state at the time the government established the Delaware Indians here and is a member of the tribe. Not withstanding her remarkable age, she is still hale and hearty, her eyesight and memory both being good, and lives alone, doing her own housework, making her clothing and also doing beautiful needle and bead work. She harnesses her horse and drives into town at, frequent intervals and is a most remarkable woman. She is proud of her tribe and has never quite forgiven the white man for his subjugation of her people. She is able to recall the events of a century ago as easily as though they had occurred but yesterday. Her mind is stored with a fund of Indian traditions and her reminiscences of times long past are intensely interesting as well as instructive. Her son, the father of Mrs. Davis, was a boy of seven when his father died and as a young woman she rode from Texas to Kansas on horseback, carrying her child with her, having nothing to eat but dried buffalo meat and dried corn. They were fleeing from the Texans, who were in close pursuit, and sometimes they did not even stop to eat, being fearful that their enemies would overtake them. After leaving southern Texas Mrs. Paticow took up her residence in Lawrence, Kansas. Her granddaughter, Mrs. Davis, was born on the farm on which she and her husband now reside and acquired her education in the public and mission schools of the locality. She has a very attractive personality and is a woman of intelligence and refinement. By a former marriage Mrs. Davis has three daughters: Elizabeth, who married Fred Johnson; Vivian; and Gladys Sarcoxie. Mr. Davis has an expert knowledge of his occupation, which is acquired only through long practical experience, and his efforts have contributed insubstantial measure to the work of development and improvement here, while they have also resulted in the attainment of individual prosperity.