July 2: Happy Birthday! Paul Price Davis

Davis Department Store

Paul Price Davis was born on this day in 1886, in Yadkin County, to Eli and Nannie Marion Davis.

He attended Yadkin Valley Institute, Salem Boys School, and Wake Forest University.

He left Wake Forest to work as a salesman for R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company for several years, and was located in the Midwest and on the West Coast.

Paul resigned from his sales position and returned to Yadkin County to operate his family farm.  He married Elma Leigh Farabow in 1925, and together they remodeled the family home and increased the stock of cattle, swine, poultry, and rabbits.  They doubled the size of the farm to about 700 acres, and added modern improvements.

Paul and his brothers organized the Atlas Supply Company in 1925 and the Davis Department Store in 1932.

Paul served as a member of the Yadkin County Board of Commissioners.  He passed away in 1952.

The Paul Price Davis Chapel at Wake Forest University, located adjacent to Wait Chapel, was given in his memory by his family.

The Paul Price Davis History and Genealogy Room is located at the Yadkin County Public Library, furnished with funds donated by his widow.

The photo above shows Davis Department Store on West Fourth Street in 1948.

Photo courtesy of Forsyth County Public Library Photograph Collection.

You may also like...

3 Responses

  1. Ralph Murphy says:

    What was the name of the Davis brother who operated Crystal Lake ?
    Which brother lived at the corner of Reynolda Rd and Polo Rd ?
    I had a relative who married one of his daughters.

  2. Luke Davis says:

    Paul’s brother, Egbert Davis, lived in the house on the corner of Reynolda Rd. and Polo Road. It was donated to Wake Forest University after his death.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *