Qt C++ QabstractTableModel set checkbox column to unchecked initially

I'm having trouble with correctly implementing a column of checkboxes on a class that inherits from QAbstractTableModel. Each row in the table has a checkbox that's initially checked when a new item comes in, which I need to be unchecked.

I've tried returning Qt::unchecked initially in setData, but when I do that I can't check/uncheck the box. Each item has an internal attribute checked, accessed via is_Checked(item #), set_Checked(item #). Below is code from the .cpp file, using Qt 4.11

QVariant ClassItemModel::data(const QModelIndex &index, int role) const
{
    if (!index.isValid())
    {
        return QVariant();
    }

    int r = index.row();
    if (r >= m_data.size() || r < 0)
        return QVariant();

    int c = index.column();

    if (role == Qt::CheckStateRole)
    {
        if (c == 0)
        {
                //line below doesn't work since m_data[r].checked is set to false
                //initially, so when it returns Qt::Unchecked, it can't be toggled
                //
                //return m_data[r].is_Checked ? Qt::Checked : Qt::Unchecked

                //this works, but each new item in the table is initially checked since display is 
                //always true
                if (m_data[r].display)
                {
                    return Qt::Checked;
                }
                else
                {
                    return Qt::Unchecked;
                }
        }
    }

bool ClassItemmodel::setData(const QModelIndex &index, const QVariant &value, int role)
{
    if (!index.isValid())
    {
        return false;
    }
    emit layoutAboutToBeChanged();
    int r = index.row();
    int c = index.column();

    if (role == Qt::CheckStateRole)
    {
        if (c == 0)
        {
            bool b = value.toBool();
            m_data[r].display = b;
            if(static_cast<Qt::CheckState>(value.toInt()) == Qt::Checked)
            {
                set_Checked(r,false);
            }
            else
            {
                set_Checked(r,true);
            }
            if (!b)
            {
                emit layoutChanged();
            }
        }
    }
    return QAbstractItemModel::setData(index, value, role);
}

Qt::ItemFlags ClassItemModel::flags(const QModelIndex &index) const
{
    if (!index.isValid())
        return 0;

    int c = index.column();

    if (c == 0)
    {
        return Qt::ItemIsUserCheckable | Qt::ItemIsEnabled;
    }
    ....
 }