Moroni Jefferson Davis
Montpelier Examiner, Friday, 18 March 1921, page 1
M Jeff Davis was the choice of a largely attended informal meeting Monday night for candidate for mayor of Montpelier. The meeting which was held at Staley's Olympic was purely for the purpose of discussing in an informal way, candidates for mayor and clerk and was the outcome of previous meeting of like nature held Friday night, at which the name of Mr. Davis for mayor met unanimous favor.
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Montpelier Examiner, Friday, 29 April 1921, page 1
In one of the most interesting city elections held in years, M Jeff Davis is the choice of the people for mayor of Montpelier. Heavy voting was recorded in every ward and the people showed an interest never before heard of. Outgoing mayor H H Hoff said having served the people of Montpelier for two terms as mayor, "I desire to express my sincere appreciation for the honors and confidence they placed in me. The past two years, I am sure, will prove epochal in the history of our city."
The true spirit of cooperation and unexcelled team work of the outgoing mayor and council, which has been the predominating feature of the past administration, was demonstrated forcibly when business was laid aside in the regular council meeting that week and the meeting reverted into a farewell gathering in which all the officials engaged in speeches and general felicitations were exchanged and a feeling of good fellowship prevailed.
Following is a detailed official report of the balloting:
MAYOR: M J Davis 407; Frank M Williams 306
CITY CLERK: F L Cruikshank 676
TREASURER: H B Hull 674
Councilman 1st Ward J S Robison-546; 2nd Ward-F N Bryden-619; 3rd Ward-Richard Groo-597
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News-Examiner, Thursday, 27 September 1956, page 1
M J DAVIS FIRST WHITE MALE BORN IN
MONTPELIER
M Jefferson Davis, 91, former Montpelier business civic, and political leader, died Friday at his home in South Pasadena, California, where he had resided since retirement. The first male child born in the earliest east side settlement later to be named Montpelier, Mr. Davis witnessed and prominently participated in the growth and development of the city, state and Rocky Mountain area.
Mr. Davis, eldest child of Jared M and Harriet Jane Osborn Davis was born September 24, 1864. His parents were pioneers of pioneers, having immigrated from Illinois to Utah with the first Mormon pioneers of 1848. Among the small group of first settlers here, they reared ten sons and daughters who were prominent and useful citizens.
Mr. Davis and his brother Joseph engaged in the cattle business. In 1902 Mr. Davis widely known as "Jeff" became a partner of John Brennan in the firm of Brennan & Davis Mercantile Company. He served as Bear Lake County sheriff from 1895 to 1897. Under his administration as mayor, Montpelier became a modern city with paved streets, street lights and sewer system. He retired from business in about 1929 and moved to California where he resided until his death.
Mr. Davis was united in marriage to Huldah Henrie of Millville Utah on November 4, 1888. She died the following year, leaving a son, Henrie Jefferson, who followed her in death six months later. In June 1892 Mr. Davis married Maud Brennan of Peoria Illinois, who preceded him in death a number of years ago. Surviving are three daughters, Mrs. Mondell (Lillian C) Hampton and Mrs. Robert (Imogene) Powell, both of South Pasadena and Sister Theresa Helene, CSC, Ogden; three sisters Mrs. Sarah Dalton, Pocatello, Mrs. Rebecca Wilson and Mrs. Ethel Lind, both of Salt Lake City; two brothers David W Davis of Pocatello and Guy B Davis of Huntington Park, California; six grandchildren and several great grand children.
Requiem mass was recited at 10:30 am Wednesday in the Cathedral of the Madeleine in Salt Lake City, with burial in Mt. Calvary Cemetery.