Merle L. Davis was born in Neosho County, Kansas, March 12, 1893, the son of Thomas and Hannah (Stanley) Davis, and was reared in Wichita, Kansas. He graduated from Friends University in Wichita in 1917, and continued his education at the University of Chicago, the Teachers College of Columbia University, and Union Theological Seminary. From 1919 to 1929 he served as principal of the Friends School in Holguin, Cuba. From 1936 to 1954 he was administrative secretary of the American Friends Board of Missions of the Five Years Meeting. From 1955 to 1965 he served as pastor of the Salem Friends Meeting near Liberty, Indiana. He also ran a bookstore in Richmond after leaving the Five Years Meeting office. David died in Richmond, Indiana, Feb. 3, 1973. Merrle Davis was twice married. He married first, June 12, 1918, in Ringwood, Oklahoma, Carrie Hays, daughter of Loyd and Ora (Wallace) Hays, born near Benton, Kansas, Sept. 3, 1893, died in Richmond, June 6, 1951. His second wife was Margaret Farlow, whom he married in Guilford County, North Carolina, June 20, 1952.

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