and Hannah (Ingols) Davis, and
was born while the family resided at No. 19 (afterward 23) Union Street,
Boston, April 10, 1824.

[Illustration: Fred W. Davis & signature]

He attended for some time the public schools of Boston, completing his
education in Mr. Greene's school at Jamaica Plain.

Entering the office of Messrs. Philo S. Shelton & Co., on India Wharf,
some time in the early part of 1840, where he remained for about two
years.

He withdrew from his position there to obtain a knowledge of mineralogy
and chemistry under the careful and thorough teaching of the late Dr.
Charles T. Jackson, accompanying him in his exploration of 1844 on Lake
Superior.

He came into the Company after the establishment of the smelting-works
at Point Shirley, having some shares transferred to him December 31,
1850; was the resident agent there, continuing such until his death,
from typhoid fever, December 11, 1854.

He took very high rank as an analytical chemist; was devoted,
industrious, and able in the department assigned to him. He is spoken of
in a published description of the Point Shirley works as of "great
ability, and in his day having few equals and certainly no
superior."[13]

Unselfish and generous, he was a warm and steadfast friend. On any
occasion for it his helpfulness was ungrudging and unstinted,
regardless alike of cost or exertion.

His early death prematurely closed a career which under circumstances
wisely improved might have been an extremely brilliant one.

Those who knew him most familiarly still remember his cheery, cordial
greeting, and his hearty response to their sincere regard for him.

The following obituary notice of him was written by Dr. Jackson.[14]

"We have to record the death of one of our excellent practical chemists
and metallurgists, Frederick W. Davis, of Boston, who died at his
father's house, of typhoid fever, on the 12th of December last, at the
age of thirty-one years. Mr. Davis received a good education at the
school of Mr. Greene, of Jamaica Plains, in Roxbury, and was then
placed under the scientific instruction of Dr. Charles T. Jackson, in
whose laboratory he pursued his studies with great diligence and
success, for three years.

"In 1844 he accompanied Dr. Jackson in his early explorations of the
copper regions of Lake Superior, and distinguished himself as an active
and faithful explorer of the mineral district on Keweenaw Point. In 1847
he was appointed by the Rev