The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-02-20

INGTON-PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS.
Especial Correspondence of the Chicago rribuW ]
Bloomington, HI, February l2.-Onc
day Ia; summer your correspondent was
standing on the sidewalk IN front OF the
Chicago Bolra Of Trade, when The cOnvcr-
satiOn TUNED upon the subject Of the
wealthy men Of Illinois, and in what man.
neT their fortunes were made. One success
ful specUia,or IN wheat and pork declared
that CyIU> Mc Iormlck 3nd Senator David
Davis were perhaps two OF the richest men
IN thc Sla;c-thc former rcaping his wealth
through the avenues OF his large manufac-
turing establishment the latter by careful
and iudiciOu> investments in real estate in
many OF the counties throughout Central
Illinois. which. in the natural growth and
development Of the country which follow
cd, made him one OF the richest men in the
state.
While Judge Davis j. the rO>Ses-or Of
some If The most valuable farmlands in
the West. and The owner of numerous and
costly bU,uc>>-block> in Bloomington, his
wealth has. beyond all doubt. been greatly
oYerc estimated, 9> II was IN the case Of the
Chicago Nhpa,-> >pecula!or, who emphali-
caly declared that the Illinois Senator was
worth hi> cool S4,0o0,00o. This statement
was thought 10 be very wild one by your
corre>p >poudeut. who almost remembers the
Senator " hen be came to Bloomington, over
thirty years ago, and opened out an office as
a practicing attorney. He was good-na-
tured, ambitious young man, fresh from the
books Cf an eastern college, and in posses
sion Of biz palrim0uy. which amounted 10
only ieW hundred dollars. Davis, like
many Of TIE earlier pioneers OF the State,
l. 4 T
for the West. and INFESTED all his money in
lard. the greater portion OF which he still
holds to-day. many of his farms being
rented out Tor 50 aud - per acre.
Davis can safely lie set down n the most
extensive landowner in Central Illinois,
and his total wealth. at fair estimate, can
be placed at S2,000,000. The amount OF
taxes paid annually by himin Mclean cOun-
ty Is nearly $4,000. while the total amount
OF his taxes will not fall far shOIt OF S21 200
yearly. He owns some OF the beSt-COnStruct-
ed ediices in be city. The most valuable
is what is known a. tue Durley Block, which
the Senator erec'cd about seven ycaIs ago,
and which be gave 10 his daughter when she
was married 10 the son 'of Justice SWayne,
OF the United states supreme Court. The
building contain, Il very fine Opera-hOuse;
tut the Judge was opposed to naming the
place after himself, or even to call it IN
Opera-hou,c; 20, in honor OF William Dur
lev, an old settler OF Bloomington. he said
the elegant auditorium should for all time
to come be called Durioy Hall. Before the
death OF hl> excellent wife. senator Davis
was very fond Of attending public amuSe.
mcntS and, when home from Washington,
was often seen seated ia the hall. in compl-
ny with different members OF his family.
His residence. which is one oi the most
elegant and costly i'm the State. i situated
about mile from the business portion OF
The city. Well-laid.Out grounds. rich shade
trees, tempting drives, the perfume Of sweet
flowers, the beautiful landscape to be seen
on every hand, make The Illinois Senator's
| home indeed an earthly parad>c-an abode
lit for king or president. While in the
interior Of the house there is not 10 be seen
any foolish or unnecessary expenditure OF
money, the different apartments are fur
nshed in the richest and most iuXuriant
manner Since The death of the Sena-
tors wife and the marriage Of his only
daughter. Mrs. II. V. Plerpoin, for
mclly Of Chicago, and niece Of
Mrs. Davis. has bad charge Of the establish
meni dugng the session Of Congress, when
ibe Judge : away from home. His son re-
sides about hI,t a nile from The mans on
ana although bis home i less prttentious
than that Of his fathers. It nevertheless is
one OF the .oych,>t Cf spots, and a house
possessed Of everything TO make life enjoy
able. The Senator ba, an Office down town,
occupying q ,uit OF rooms over the Bloom
ipgton National Bank. of which corporation
be i the largest stakeholder; and they are
furnished IN a little better style than are
most Of The Offices OF the lawyers in town.
When at home senator Davis generally
manages al OF his immense real-eState buSi-
ness. the most perfect system being adopted
~ every detail, and which has been Stlictly
cerried Oul for many years p'st. HeiS hard
worker. and 10 man ia Bloomington, or even
i'm the State, gets at his post Of duty at an
caflier hour oi quits later than does the dis
tnSuished IilinOi>aD. he has been known
10 be engaccd upon an exhaustive and i'm
pOrlaDI legal opinion when he was an asSo.
cIatc Justice Of the Supreme Court, and
while writing down the law he would az the
same time give the most minute instructions
aud suggestions 10 some OF his numerous
tenants who happened 10 stroll into The Of
fee 10 pay their rent. Nothing seems 10 dis
turb his equilibrium, and some Of his most
noted opinions were written at a time when
his Office was filed with tenants, whose
questions were answered without the Judge
being compelled 10 suspend hi> writing.
During his long residence in Blooming
ton Senator Davis has neHer been what the
world would cali popular man. Although
strictly honest with all mankind. lie is new
ertbcless an iadividual who for the last few
ears has had but very little friendly inti
.Racy with eYen some Of the older residents
Of the city. Perhaps Lincoln and the late
tkpben T. Logan were the most intimate f!
IEiends Davis ever had. For ;he former he |
lad an admiration aud friendship which |
continued for nearly thirty years. II seems |
low so be a settled thing that the Senator |
sill Getlre 10 private life after his senatorial |
erm expires, and pvss his remaining days !
there he has Iiyed from early mashoOd-a |
aud iEat now "bl0ssO nls a. the rOSc," and |
ich in everything that makes a country de.
liable GRd populous. RANbf Err.
Mr. WEiiam Reyscber, notary public, So /
icrcer street, NeR York, says: ''The Use
{ -. .JseGls OIL bas been OF great service
o me, as tbankfnIly acknowledge. ! s1f-
cred with Rheumatic pain in the face and
grs; induced 20 try IT. Jacobs OIL. found
nmedlste relief. aud it effected an eatire
ure. Moved by 4 sense OF duty. IL there
)re gives me great pleasure TO recommend
} suffering mankind The 81. Jacobs OIL ~ a.