Person:David Davis (60)

Information on David Davis

From "The American Biographical Dictionary":

HON. DAVID DAVIS.

BLOOMINGTON.

David Davis, Bloomington, Illinois, is descended from Welsh ancestors, who had resided in this country more than a century at the time of his birth, March 19, 1815. The home of his childhood was in Cecil county, Maryland, where he pursued his early education until he went to an academy in Delaware to prepare for a regular classical course.

Mr. Davis went from the academic school in Delaware to Kenyon College, Ohio, entering that institution in the autumn of 1828. Ohio was then a comparative wilderness, and for a boy student only thirteen years of age, without a relative to welcome him; the prospect was lonely and uninviting. But there was something of the heroic in the native energy of character and firmness of purpose which revealed the man of after life. In 1832, when seventeen, he graduated, and soon afterward chose the law for his profession. The advantages for his study were few in the West at that time, and he started on a long and difficult journey east, reaching at length the old town of Lenox, Massachusetts, to prosecute his studies in the office of the distinguished lawyer, Judge H. W. Bishop. After two years spent in that office he went to the law school at New Haven, Connecticut, then under the direction of Judges Daggett and Hitchcock, both of whom were known as eminent jurists. Here Mr. Davis enjoyed the excellent legal discipline which had the effect to mold his character into that of a lawyer of clear and accurate knowledge of legal principles and precedents which has since given him his merited prominence. Upon his admission to practice he turned his face again toward the Great West, settling in Pekin, Illinois. This was in the fall of 1835. The prevalence of fever and ague there compelled him to leave the place at the end of a year, and he removed to the town which is now the pleasant city of Bloomington, his present residence. Here he began in earnest to lay the foundation of his future success by hard work, which he ever regarded as a better dependence than genius. Shortly after his settlement in Bloomington he married Miss Sarah Walker, of Pittsfield, Massachusetts, who died in November, 1879. Mrs. Davis was a fit companion for him, and left many pleasant memories of charity and kindness.

The proceeds of a considerable fortune were devoted by her to the alleviation of human suffering, and she contributed very much to the success of her husband's life. Mr. Davis was an ardent whig of the Henry Clay school, but had no taste for political life. Without solicitation he was nominated for the legislature of Illinois, and elected, in 1844, and to the constitutional convention in 1847. In both positions, especially the latter, he took a leading part. Upon the adoption of the new constitution, in 1848, a new judiciary had to be elected in the entire state. The circuit in which he lived was largely democratic, but Mr. Davis was not a bitter partisan, and by the common consent of the bar and people of his circuit he was chosen judge. Abraham Lincoln was then in the full tide of successful practice, and visited Judge Davis' circuit, forming with him a life-long friendship. The judge saw from the beginning evidence of inborn greatness in his afterward famous friend. Judge Davis' circuit embraced fourteen of the largest and most wealthy counties of the state. It was before the day of railroads, yet neither rough traveling nor bad weather prevented him from always being in his place ready to proceed with the public business. Soon after his settlement in Illinois he began investing in prairie lands, and laid the foundation of that fortune which he now dispenses in acts ol unostentatious charity. In 1858, when Abraham Lincoln was a candidate against Stephen A. Douglas for the United States senate, Judge Davis supported Mr. Lincoln with great earnestness. Recognized as Lincol-n's confidential friend, he was selected delegate at large to the republican national convention at Chicago, in 1860, where his management as a leader was very successful. In 1860 and 1861 he counseled a moderate and conservative course, in the hope that war might be averted. He formed one of the presidential party to Washington, but after the inauguration resumed his duties on the bench which he performed until selected with General Holt and Mr. Campbell, of Saint Louis, to investigate the administration of the department of Saint Louis, then- under the command of General Fremont and Major McKinstry, during a period of the war of the rebellion. In the summer of 1862 a vacancy occurred on the bench of the supreme court of the United States, and Judge Davis was selected in the fall of 1862 associate justice. At that time Judge Taney was chief justice, and between the two there commenced a friendship which continued until the latter's death. Judge Davis served on the bench of the supreme court until February, 1877, when he resigned to accept the office of United States senator from the State of Illinois.

He met with no opposition to his reelection as judge of the state court, the bar and people both being satisfied with the prompt, impartial and honest discharge of his duty. His labors in the federal and state courts extended through a period of twenty-nine years, during which time he adjudicated questions of the highest importance affecting life, liberty and property. His opinion in the celebrated Milligan case is regarded by the profession as one of the ablest expositions of the rights of civil liberty ever announced by a court. It was criticised unfavorably by some, but bv the lawyer and the jurist it will ever be regarded as a sound constitutional recognition of the personal and individual rights of the citizen. During the first four years of President Grant's administration much dissatisfaction arose in the republican party, and, as an outgrowth, the 'liberal movement was organized which assumed form in the Cincinnati convention. A considerable portion of the democratic party and a large number in the liberal cause regarded Judge Davis as a proper candidate for the presidency, he having been nominated by the labor reform party in January, 1872. His friends presented his name at Cincinnati, but, owing to certain combinations, he was defeated, and Mr. Greeley became the nominee in the remarkable campaign of 1872. In the Illinois senatorial campaign of 1876 the balance of power was with the independent party, friendly to Judge Davis; and, after a protracted contest, by a combination of the democratic party with the independents he received a majority and was elected. His term as senator commenced March 4, 1877, with President Hayes" administration.

Elected by a combination of parties, he has identified himself with none, but has maintained independence, voting for or against measures without reference to party lines. On account of his ability as judge he was selected member of the judiciary committee, in which for more than four years he has been a great worker in the advancement of the public interests. His speech on the Geneva Award bill reported by the committee was regarded as a very able exposition of the law in favor of the underwriters. Judge Davis is not a speech maker, but does a great deal of work in the committee room and in the business detail of the senate. His disposition is to deal with practical questions of legislation, leaving the discussion of mere party politics to others. Upon the reconstruction of the senate at the inauguration of President Garfield's administration, he was tendered the chairmanship of the judiciary committee, which he declined, giving his reasons in a speech worthy the better days of the republic. After the death of President Garfield, Judge Davis was elected president of the senate, without having in any way sought that high honor. In accepting it he informed the senate that if the least party obligation had been made a condition, directly or indirectly, he would have declined the compliment.

Independent in thought and in action, Judge Davis has never favored the arts of the politician, nor sought to gain any object by devious courses. Upright and straightforward, he has always moved openly on a given line of conduct, and boldly proclaimed his convictions on public questions; hence the universal confidence in his integrity of character. Although now over sixty years of age, his mind and body are unimpaired in vigor and health. He resides on one of the most highly cultivated farms of the state, adjoining the city of Bloomington, in a mansion of great elegance and taste. His life has been a great success, financially and officially.

External links

For more information, see the EN Wikipedia article David Davis (Supreme Court justice).

1. ↑ International Genealogical Index. ( The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint, 1999-2008).
2. ↑ ^{2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10} Davis, David, in Bateman, Newton; John J Bullington; Paul Selby; and Robert W Ross. Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and History of Fayette County: Volume 1. (Chicago (Ilinois): Munsell Publishing Company, 1910)
   Pg. 128.
3. ↑ Based on 'Marriage Intention' citation at Family:David Davis and Sarah Walker (1)