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James L. Davis is an orchardist living about three miles south of the city of Madera, a former director of the Madera Irrigation District and has been president of the Madera County Chamber of Commerce.

James Lawrence Davis is a native son of California. He was born at Plymouth, Amador County, September 14, 1870, the son of J. J. and Mary (Kane) Davis. His father, a native of Indiana, crossed the plains in 1850 and mined gold in El Dorado County. Settling afterwards as a farmer in Amador County, he died there in 1910.

The present Mr. Davis attended the Amador County public schools. He came to Madera county when but 20 years old and went into grain farming Those were the days of great grain ranches, and Mr. Davis farmed at times as much as 4000 acres. Since that time he has been an orchardist. He has been a leader in the public interests of farmers and is now Madera county president of the Farm Bureau organization. He is also a member of his local school board.

In 1912, Mr. Davis was married to Gertrude Keyes, at Fresno. The family now includes three children: James, Mae and Dorothy.

Mr. Davis has been active in the three fraternal organizations of which he is a member, and has held office in all of them, including the Native Sons of the Golden West, Masons and Odd Fellows.

From the History of Fresno and Madera Counties, 1933, Joseph Barcroft, editor for Madera County.