For over one hundred years, the Davis family owned a farm in Frederick County, Maryland. Eli Davis (1809 - 1887) inherited a considerable amount of land through his marriage to Rachel Morsell, and his own additions to the land brought the farm's size to around 1,100 acres. Eli's will divided the land among his many sons, including Isaac (1841 - 1913), who married and raised five children of his own.

Isaac's son, R. Lee Davis (1867 - 1939), played an active part in managing the farm for his father from 1895 onward, and he did much to modernize the Davis farm operations, specializing in dairy farming. For the dairy operations, he bought and bred Holstein-Friesian cows, joined Holstein-Friesian associations, and obtained official certificates for some of his cows. Davis sold milk and cream to retailers and merchants in Baltimore via the B&O Railroad's Monrovia station.

Although Davis continued to manage the farm until late in his life, his son, Aubrey (1895 - 1959), began to assist him with farm operations as early as 1908. When his father passed away in 1939, Aubrey purchased his two brothers' shares of the farm to become sole owner. His ledgers reflect that he relied upon farm labor from outside the family, often the sons of his tenant farmers. Due to the financial and labor strains of World War II, Aubrey sold the farm in 1945.

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The Morsells and their heirs, the Davises, accumulated their land in numerous tracts from neighbors. Land indentures like this one document the transfer of a tract, called "the Addition to Grimmets Prospect," from William Cockey to Eli Davis on August 28, 1836. For a full transcription, click here.		After R. Lee Davis passed away in 1939, his sons inherited the land. Only Aubrey was interested in maintaining the farm, and he bought his two brothers' shares of the farm to become sole owner. This land survey specifies the land belonging to Aubrey and his wife Ursula on November 16, 1939.
R. Lee Davis received many advertisements for agricultural equipment and supplies in the mail. Pamphlet for Waddell's Broadcast Seed Sower, ca. 1890s.
	R. Lee Davis sold milk to merchants in Baltimore and shipped it via the B&O Railroad. Here is a message from the Railroad's milk agent. For a full transcription, click here.
	R. Lee Davis often corresponded with his clients. This letter is one of many complaints from a merchant, E. G. Donnelly, concerning problems with sour milk. Due to lack of refrigeration in the 1890s, it was difficult to keep milk fresh while transporting it from Frederick County to Baltimore city. Transcription of the letter: Baltimore Md Dec. 25 / [18]95 Mr. R. L. Davis Dear sir. I wrighte these few lines to you in rigardes to shipping me sour milk[.] I do not think you are treating me righte shiping me the milk you have bin shipping me for the laste to weekes[.] I hade no Idear that it was your milk that was soriring[.] I was accusy the ronge one for it[.] I wrote to Mr. H. L. Davies and he sente me answor that it was not his milk that was souring that he gave it all the attencion he could and has the cans washed and clean with hotworter and soda and cules the fresh mornings milk and dont ship with butter an if milk in thin condishing wonte keepe and I will not have it[.] . . . I received a note on one of your cans saying you was verrey sorey you did not get my letter soner or you would shipe me extoer milk[.] I am verrey thankful to you but you did not say any thing aboute the sour milk[.] if you can not shipe milk to keepe what will it be when you shipe in the somer monthes[?] I gues it will be claber[.] hope I am not hurting your felinges but it is provoaking to me to have sour milk shipped to me[.] . . . No more at preasant but I wish you a merry chris x and a happie new year and fresh milk[.] E. G. Donnelly 629. S. Charles St For a full transcription, click here.
Holstein-Friesian cows could be certified to record their authenticity. R. Lee Davis received this 1926 certificate when he purchased a dairy cow, Lula Washington Korndyke, from Ernest King of Monrovia, Maryland. The reverse side of the certificate depicts Lula's individual markings.
Aubrey Davis kept much more detailed farm ledgers than did his father, R. Lee, did. These pages come from two of his dairy account books from 1934 to 1935 and from 1936 to 1937. Page 39 reflects a milk account Fairfield Dairy held with the Davis farm in 1936 and 1937. Gallons and prices are recorded on a monthly basis. Page 280 shows a list of cows by name or description and the dates they were "served," "fresh," or "sold."