Charles F. Davis 

Born 10 Aug. 1845; Died 10 Jan. 1924

Information from the Davis Genealogy - Page 25

	Uncle Charlie in his early twenties perfected and patented a basic improvement on 
the grain drill.  A grain drill in principle is a two-wheeled farm implement pulled by a team 
of horses and is used to plant or seed grain.On the 10 or 12 foot axle is located a three 
compartment hopper in which grain, fertilizer, and grass seed are carried, so that all three 
may be planted in one operation. In the bottom of the hopper are openings whose size may 
be regulated to control the amount which drops through. Suspended below each opening 
are metal tubes or hoes reaching to the ground below. These hoes are spaced about five 
inches apart and at the lower end are shaped somewhat like a foot with the toe pointing in 
the direction to which the vehicle is drawn. As the vehicle moves ahead these hoes open up 
furrows in the loose soilinto the bottom of which grain from the hopper above is deposited.  
Enough loose soil falls back in after the hoe has passed to cover the seed and fertilizer.
	In the original drill considerable trouble was encountered with clogging by cobbles 
or trash in front of the hoes so that not enough loose earth passed between to fall back and 
cover the seed.  Uncle Charlie hit upon the idea of staggering the hoes, that is having the 
odd numbered hoes strike their furrows about six inches ahead of the even numbered, thus 
allowing for trash to pass between and at the same time giving more loose soil to fall back 
to cover the seed. 
	This was nearly a hundred years ago but the same principle is still used on drills of 
today.  To be sure they are pulled by power tractors and their width has doubled, so that on 
the great wheat farms all over the world, strips up to 25 or 30 feet wide are planted with 
each passage of the equipment. 
	For several years Uncle Charlie received royalties for all machines on which his 
invention was used.  In the meantime he had formed a partnership with a man named Allen. 
In the 90's the Harvester Combine made several offers to buy the patent.  Uncle Charlie 
was inclined to accept but his partner refused.  In the end the Combine with unlimited legal 
talent at their command, brought suit claiming priority to the patent, and after long litigation 
gained possession.  Uncle Charlie however had amassed a comfortable fortune for those 
times and was able to take car of his three spinster sisters in comfort for the rest of their 
lives.