He was of English and Welsh ancestry, all of his ancestors having emigrated to North America from Great Britain during the era of the Thirteen Colonies.

The Polish-American community voted for him "almost unanimously" in his 1915 mayoral election and supported him throughout the rest of his political career.

[4] Since 1919 was an election year, Davis resigned from the mayor's office and went on to successfully campaign for governor of Ohio.

While in office, Davis restructured the executive branch to include a cabinet of seven directors to help administer state affairs.

[6] He died at his home in Shaker Heights, Ohio, on May 21, 1950, soon after he was stricken with a blood clot in the brain.