Mrs. Losina E. Davis, proprietor of the ladies’ Millinery and Fancy Goods Store at Redding, is a native of New York, born August 29, 1840. Her father, Henry Davis, was a native of the Green Mountain State, and her mother, Nancy (Sherman) Davis, of the Empire State. She was the first-born of a family of five children, all of whom are living. She received her education in New York City, and learned millinery and dressmaking there, and also for five years she taught school in New York. She was united in marriage with Mason L. Davis, a gentleman of her own state and name. They had five children. A son and daughter only are living, namely; Franklin Mason and Gertrude Luthera, both born in New York. Mr. Davis died in Ogdensburg, New York in 1873, and he was buried there. In 1878 Mrs. Davis went to Boston and opened a millinery establishment, which she conducted successfully for three years; then spent a year in Texas; next went to Los Angeles, and then to San Francisco, and for a year had charge of the cloak department of the Samuels Lace House. In 1884, hearing of a vacancy in her line of business at Redding, she went there and opened her present fine establishment, which has from the start grown in favor with the best citizens of Redding and adjoining country. She has connected with her store a dressmaking department, and during the busy season of the year employs eight hands. She also has a branch business in Anderson. In July 1890, the block in which her establishment was located was consumed by fire. Her insurance had expired and she was a heavy loser, many of her goods being injured and lost in the removal; but a portion was saved, and with the most commendable courage and enterprise she opened in a temporary place the next day and continued the business. The people of Redding, seeing her loss, and her commendable enterprise, helped her in many ways. A nice new brick block was erected and she now has a fine stock on the ground where she was before the fire, and enjoys the patronage of the best customers in the city and County. She is an active and obliging saleswomen, well informed on the quality and value of goods, skilled in both millinery and dressmaking. She not only knows how, but has also a most exacting aesthetic taste. This makes her a valuable acquisition to the business of her city. Then there is added to this the fact that she is also liberal in her ideas of business that she is satisfied- with moderate profits. From all of these things there has sprung up between her and her customers a mutual pleasant understanding that is worth a fortune.

It has been said that it were “better to be born lucky then rich;” but it is not all in luck by any means; there is a great deal more in natural talent and enterprise then in luck. However, it has been Mrs. Davis’ good fortune to become the possessor of $20,000 paid up as unassessable stock in a rich tellurium gold mine recently discovered within three miles of the city. A Stock company has been formed, and she is one of the directors. They are now opening the mine and getting on the machinery for a mill. Everything connected with the enterprise betoken a grand success, both for the stockholders and the city. Two assays of the ore have been made: one showed $3,333 to the ton of ore, and the other, made at the United States Mint, went $3,000 to the ton.

The history of the life of on honorable and self-reliant women like this one should inspire every lady, who should see it with more faith in herself and in the capability of her sex.

Memorial & Biographical History of Northern California The Lewis Publishing Co., 1891 Pages 807-808
Transcribed by: Bonnie Phelan