Davatz came from a farming family in the mountain village of Fanas. At the age of 13 he trained as a teacher and at 18 he took on a teaching position in Felsberg. From 1863 to 1873 he worked in Val Poschiavo and from 1873 until his death he was a teacher at the city school in Chur. For that school he created collections of natural objects, which together with his relief models enriched the lessons. He created the relief model of the Canton of Graubünden together with two fellow teachers, Jeger and Mettier. Davatz also belonged to the Natural Research Society in Chur, where he gave lectures, and was a member of the Rhätia section of the Swiss Alpine Club, on whose board he served until his death.

[1] This article bases on Mair, Toni. Grieder, Susanne. Das Landschaftsrelief – Symbiose von Wissenschaft und Kunsthandwerk. Mit Schweizer Reliefkatalog. Verlag hier+jetzt. Baden, Schweiz. 2006. S.156.