FIELDING LEWIS DAVIS, M. D., was born near Boonville, Ind., December 16, 1831 His parents, Amos and Elizabeth (Cain) Davis were of Welsh and Irish extraction The grandfather of Dr. Davis was a native of Wales, and came to this country some time before the revolution. But little is known of his history further than that on the breaking out of the war he joined the Continental Army and served until its close.

The early life of Dr. Davis was replete with struggles and sorrows. At the age of five his father died, and seven years later he met with that irreparable loss, the death of his mother, and was thus thrown upon his own resources. His boyhood was passed upon the farm, where the summer's work alternated with a term at the district school in winter. In this way he obtained the rudiments of an English education.

At the age of sixteen he began teaching school. His savings were carefully husbanded, and for several years he attended school alternately as teacher and pupil. He paid especial attention to mechanics and civil engineering, and for a time followed surveying. In 1855, he began the study of medicine, firmly resolved to make it his life's vocation. He completed his preparatory course under many difficulties and discouragements, and in 1864 entered the Cleveland Homeopathic Hospital College. A lack of means, however, prevented his graduation until 1869.

His first location was Greencastle, Ind. Here he built up a successful practice, but not thinking the place a desirable one he came to Evansville in 1866 and formed a copartnership with Dr. Ehrman, with whom he remained until 1877. At the time Dr. Davis came to Evansville, the general public knew but little of the principles of homeopathy, and whatever of popularity it has since obtained is due largely to his efforts in its advancement and his skill and success as a physician. Success attended his efforts almost from the outset, and despite opposition he was soon the possessor of a lucrative practice and an enviable position as a citizen.

He is a member of the American Institute of Homeopathy, the oldest national medical organization in the United States, the Indiana Institute of Homeopathy, and the American Microscopical Association. In his religious and political affiliations he is a Methodist and a staunch Republican.

In 1855 the doctor was married to Miss Jane, daughter of Lewis Taylor, one of the early settlers of this section of the state.