The L.N. Davis Company was established in 1933 by Mr. Lawson Newton Davis, or “Judge” to his friends. L.N. was born in Madison County at Meadowfork. In his early years, he rode by horseback to Western Carolina University Teachers College to earn his teaching degree. He went back to his home community and taught education in a one room schoolhouse. Upon his marriage to Katherine Reeves, they moved to Big Creek and Paul Lawson Davis was born. Shortly thereafter, they moved to Sunburst and eventually landed in Waynesville where Mr. L.N. became a realtor as well as worked for Haywood Savings and Loan. In 1928, he and a friend, WA Bradley purchased an insurance agency that in 1933 became the agency we know and love today!
Mr. L.N.’s only son Paul went to college at NC State University. He came into the agency after a few years of working for the forestry service in Haywood County. During his tenure, Paul was heavily involved with the Independent Insurance Agents of North Carolina and was Chairman of the Board from 1958-1959. He was a gentle soul and was loved by all who knew him. He passed suddenly in 1991, but not before experiencing working in the agency alongside two of his three children, Kathy and Carolyn, and sons-in-law Gary and Bill.
The agency is presently owned by Kathy (Davis) Lance and Merritt (Lance) Tongen, a strong mother-daughter duo with shared decades of insurance industry experience and a passion for their community. L.N. Davis Company is a rare fourth-generation agency who offers full lines of personal and commercial insurance, as well as life and health related insurance.
Unlike a captive, or direct insurance company who only offers their own proprietary products, our agency is 100% independent of any one company. Many insurance consumers don’t fully understand just how important that really is. When it comes to something as important as insurance, it’s imperative that you work with an agency who has an in-depth knowledge of multiple insurance products, companies, and guidelines — not just one. We pride ourselves on our vast knowledge of the insurance industry, our ability to serve our community with integrity, and to be there when our customers need us most.