J. M. Davis

Source: History of Northern Wisconsin: Containing an Account of Its Settlement, Growth, Development, and Resources, an Extensive Sketch of Its Counties, Cities, Towns and Villages, Their Improvements, Industries, Manufactories, Biographical Sketches, Portraits of Prominent Men and Early Settlers, Views of County Seats, Etc. Chicago: Western Historical Co., 1881. p. 70

J. M. DAVIS, hotel, Ashland, was born in Belmont Co., Ohio, 1826. He came to Minnesota, and located near St. Paul on a homestead farm of 160 acres, having been a soldier in the Mexican war, under Gen. Taylor. He remained on his farm for two years, when he went to steamboating, as clerk and bar-keeper, which business he continued till 1864, when he opened a hotel at Lake Como, Minn.; from there he moved to St. Paul, and thence to Ashland in 1874, and built the first hotel there, called the Colby House, which he rebuilt in 1881, the building costing some $6,000. In 1862 he married Miss Sophia Johnson of St. Paul. They have two boys—George and Charlie.