Horace M. Davis, editor and proprietor of the Ord Weekly Journal, and prominent in educational and political circles in that part of the state, is said to be the first white child born in Greeley county or in the North Loup valley north of St. Paul, in Howard county. He was born September 14, 1873, the oldest of three children born to Mansell and Mary Davis, who came to Greeley county in 1872.
A sketch of Mansell Davis appears elsewhere in this work. In early boyhood Horace M. Davis received the advantages of a district school education, later attended high school at North Loup, from which he graduated with the class of 1891, and then began teaching in the Fish creek, (Greeley county) school. Later he taught in his home district number three and in the fall of 1892 went to Milton (Wisconsin) college, where he studied one school year. Then, returning to Nebraska, he taught school one year in Manderson village, after which he spent another year in Milton college and taught one year in the public schools of LaCrosse, Wisconsin. He spent the summer of 1894 in Colorado and upon his return to Nebraska accepted the position of principal of the Elba village school in Howard county, which he held one year, and during the school year of 1895-1896 taught the North Loup school. For several years Mr. Davis devoted his vacation time to study and in 1897 became an A. B. graduate of the Lincoln Normal school. In the fall of that year he became principal of the Ord high school which post he held during 1897-1899. He had been for several years connected with institute work in different counties during the summer months, and in the fall of 1899 he was elected clerk of the district court of Valley county, which office he ably and creditably filled a four-year term.
In October, 1900, Mr. Davis entered upon his journalistic career, purchasing the Ord Weekly Journal, of which he remained editor and proprietor until November, 1901, when he sold his interest in the paper and began traveling as special agent for a fire insurance company. In 1902 he purchased an interest in a real estate and insurance business in Ord, remaining in that business until January 1, 1905, when he again purchased the Ord Weekly Journal, of which he has since been the owner. He has a well established paper and a well equipped plant for its production and issue. He is a democrat in politics and is much interested in questions affecting the public welfare and prosperity. Since 1906 Mr. Davis has been press agent for the Redpath Chautauqua system, and during the years 1909-1910 served as secretary of the Nebraska state senate. He is a member of numerous orders and lodges and is a progressive young man all along the line, having been closely identified with the North Loup valley and its interests since reaching manhood, and being a patriotic son of Nebraska.
July 17, 1901, Mr. Davis was united in marriage with Miss Besse Fackler, at the home of her father, Samuel Fackler, in Ord. Two children have blessed this union, Mansell and Keith.
