John's gravestone proclaims him as "the Father of Tree Surgery".


THANKS TO Sandie Schwarz for the following bio:

John Davey, became the "Father of Tree Surgery", when he and his son Martin Davey, established the Davey Institute of Tree Surgery, in 1908. His sharp intellect and analytical skills allowed him to become a skilled orator, author, publisher and inventor. John Davey mastered agriculture under the tutelage of his father, the superintendent of a large farm. He developed a strong work ethic and passion for arboriculture. Davey believed that great lengths should be taken to preserve natural resources, especially those that take more than a lifetime to replace.
He brought his convictions to America, emigrating in 1870, with hopes of preserving ailing trees and providing quality horticultural services. He launched a landscape and greenhouse business in Warren, Ohio, and then, in 1880, with his son, Martin Davey, they founded The Davey Tree Expert Company in nearby Kent, Ohio. Martin Davey, later was elected mayor of Kent, Governor of Ohio, and was a member of the U. S. Congress. John Davey's legacy lives on, today, the Davey Institute continues to provide basic tree science as the educational foundation for company employees. A lot of hard work and personal sacrifice lays behind that achievement. John Davey worked long hours in low-paying jobs and sank deep into debt while establishing tree surgery as a new occupation. Those steps planted the seeds of the modern company, whose name is synonymous with tree surgery almost everywhere. "In 2002, the Davey Tree Expert Company’s branches in 43 U. S. states and 6 Canadian provinces sold $320 million worth of services." Davey tree surgeons do everything from battling insects, to tending golf courses, to overseeing the grounds of Arlington National Cemetery outside Washington, D C . The company’s work is so good that it has few competitors. The company, still headquartered in Kent, Ohio, today, is a tribute to John Davey’s ingenuity. His motto, “Do It Right Or Not At All” and his commitment to environmental stewardship are still the strong guiding principles inspiring the company’s approximately 7,000 nationwide employees, and the company is employee owned.
People had cared for ornamental and fruit trees for thousands of years. John Davey put tree care on a scientific foundation. To existing knowledge that accumulated over the centuries, Davey added his own personal observations. He recorded everything, and a book was published, entitled "The Planting and Care of Trees" in 1923. It made the knowledge available to everyone. He also has two patents credited to him, in the field of tree surgery, as well as other publications.
John Davey received wide acclaim among the influential thinkers of his day. His recognition as the leader in tree science came through his company being retained by the United States government, and the Canadian government, to protect, preserve and restore their precious trees. In 1920, he received acclaim from such clients as The White House, The Naval Academy, and innovators and entrepreneours, Thomas Edison, John D. Rockefeller and William Wrigley.