National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-06-13
DAVID DAVIS.
THE ILLINOIS SENATOR AT HOME.
The Richest Landowner in the Stste-An EARLY
Pioneer old Times as q Lawyer and
Judge-What is Thought Of Him
by His Neighbors.
Special Correspondence of THE REPUBLICAN.

BLOOMINGTON, ILL, June 10.-f the
question should be asked, "Who is the richest
landowner in the State of nlinois?" the answer
would certainly be, Senator David Davis" There
are good many wealthy men within the borders
of the Sucker State, and the distinguished Sena-
tors princely fortune entities his to be placed
among those who sit upon the topmost round of the
financial ladder. Cyrus Mccormick, of reaper fame,
who has one of the largest agricultural establish
ments in the world situated on the outskirts of
Chicago has been considered the wealthiest man
in Illinois, and this perhaps is true, but
SENATOR DAVIS
holds good the claim of being the owner of
greater number of acres of land than any other
man resident in the State Judicious investments
in real estate in many of the counties throughout
| Central Illinois when land was cheap and easy to
buy has with the natural growth and development
| of the country which followed made him one of
the richest men in the State. His wealth has been
variously estimated from 100000 to 100000.
and it is perhaps safe to say that he is fully worth
the former sum. He came to Illinois in 1885, and
after practcing law year or two at Pekin, Taz-
well County,
| HE MOVED To BLOOMINGTON,
and four years later he was elected judge of the
eight judicial circuit, which Office he held until
his appointment to the Supreme Bench by Presi-
dent Lincoln. When he came West he was fresh
from the law books of the New Haven University,
and had had but little or no experience with the
| world and its dealings, and when he drove up to
| the tavern in Pekin in an old fashioned stage
| coach he presented the appearance of rather
pleasant, good natured, ambitious young man.
! who had made up his mind to battle earnestly
with the world in the great West. His lot was cast
and here he would live and grow up with the
new and undeveloped country. He had but few
| hundred dollars, but, like many of
| THE EARLY PIONEERS,
| ~,
the West and almost from the day lie landed in
| Illinois he commenced to invest his money in
land, the greater portion of which he still holds to
this day, being rented out at prices varying from
| s. to So per acre. Your correspondent day or
| two ago was informed by the county treasurer of
Mclean County-the home of Senator Davis-that
the amount of taxes paid annually by him in this
county alone was over Sli,000 while the total
amount of his taxes will not fall short of $4,000
yearly One, if not the greatest scheme in deal
ing in real estate, has been to purchase property
IN the suburbs OF growing town, i'll order that it
might become valuable with the increase of the
place in size aud prosperity. Some years ago he
purchased
AN EIGHrY-ACIE TRACT
ofland in Chicago lying about three miles from
the harbor and it was this purchase which greatly
added to his princely fortune. The land was sold
By the foot-a least, all that has yet been disposed
Of Outside his immense possessions, which consist
ofsome ofthc most valuable farm lands in the West |
senator Davis OWNS vast amount of city property
in Bloomington, Decatur, and Clinton, III. His !
property in this city consists of some of the best
and most costly business edfces, including the |
opera house. which is considered to be one of lie
finest and besa:Vanged places of p!:!5iic amuse-
ment in the West. The operc mouse is located in |
the second story Of .Durley Block, which was |
named i'll h"iior of one William Durley, an old |
pioneer Of Illinois, who used to reside upon the |
same location
IN AN OLD LOG CABIN
years ago. and who was one of Davis earliest and |
stauncheSt friends. This property he gave 10 his /
daughter, Mrs. Swayne, of Toledo, Ohio us bridal
gilt who, as will be remembered, was married to
a son of Associate Justice Swayne few years ago. |
Inc residence Of Senator Davis by many is consid-
cred to be one CT the finest i'll the State This ele-
CANT place is situated abouta mile and half from
the city, upon lovely elevation, which commands
a splendid view of the city and the surrounding
country for miles. The grounds are spacious, and
were artiSticallylaid out by most skilfulgardcner
The most luxuriant shade-trees, inviting drives, |
well-trimmed lawn, and the delicate perfume of
the choicest flower, make
SENATOR DAVIS HOME
indeed an earthly paradise. This elegant strrIc-
ture was built a year or two before his daughters
marriage with young swayne, and some four or
five years before the death of the Senator's excel
ago. Entering the spacious halls the visitor is at
once struck with the rich yet plain manner in
which the different apartments are furnished !
While everything is elegant there is not to be seen
any foolish or unnecessary expenditure of money
and there is the most excellent taste in the selec-
ton of furniture, paintings, and other works of
art. When Senator Davis
ARRIVES HOME FROM WASHINGTON
he at once goes to work upon matters pertaining
business oil I-o,t !
the very best shape the most perfect system being
carried out in every detail. He is hard worker
and no man in Bloomington, even in the State
seems TO labor more diligently or gets at his daily
duties earlier than does the Illinois Senator He
has no Office help except his son, and he works
with zeal that would make some men, younger
in years. look insignificant at their tasks He is
hard man to be disturbed when thus engaged. and
he has been known to be at work upon some ex-
hauStive and important legal opinion when he was
on the Supreme Bench and would at the same time
instruct and give the most minute directions to
some of his numerous tenants who had visited the
Senator's office on business. Judge Davis has not
only the time to attend to his own multitudinous
business but has been the
ADMINISTRATOR AND EXECUTOR
of very large number of valuable estates, which
business was attended to with his characteristic
promptneSS and honesty. He was, as will be re- !
the executor of the estate of President
Lincoln which valued at $500 after all the
debts had been paid. With the citizens of Bloom
ington where Senator Davis has lived since early
he has never been in the strict sense
what Is called popular man. With even some of {
the earlier settlers of this city, whom he became {
acquainted with in 1854, he has had bat very little
friendly intimacy, although he is held in the
HIGHEST ESTIMATION
by the citizens generally. Perhaps the most init
mate friends Senator Davis ever had was Lincoln
the late Stephen +. Logan of Springfield H., and
Hon. W. II. Hanna, atone time the leading lawyer
Of Central Illinois. 1t is. perhaps safe to predict
that Senator Davis will retire to private life after
his senatorial term expires, and here, amid his
early associates and in the enjoyment of his i'm I
nense riches, pass his remaining life KENT
= TAe Republican, Employees Excursion. '
The Weather Bureau permitted The :
REPUBLICAN employees to make delightful ex- .
'ursion down the river OH Saturday. The splendid