Nicholas Davis was born April 23, 1781, in Hanover Co. Virginia and married Martha Hargrave there, a member of a wealthy Quaker family. He served as U.S. Marshall and in other positions, moved to Kentucky in 1808, and was a captain in the War of 1812 before becoming a political and personal ally of Henry Clay. He later settled here on several hundred acres and built his large log home, "Walnut Grove," in 1817. There he entertained large numbers of guests for days at a time, raced his blooded horses, and lived as a much admired country gentleman. He was a framer of Alabama's first constitution, was twice a candidate for Governor on the Whig ticket, and served as President of the Alabama Senate for 5 terms. He died on September 29, 1856, and was buried here at his beloved "Walnut Grove."