The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1883-02-15
HE Is DEAD.

such was the tale told upon the
streets a thousand times, Wednesday
afternoon. Men said in bated breath,
evidently rejecting upon the uncer-
tainty of life, that a strong man,
physically and mentally, had suddenly
departed for that bourne from which
no traveller has yet been known to
return. But the other day he was in
the prime of life, majestic in form
and manners-a perfect man, endowed
with extraordinary physical power,
and with a mind strong and ac-
tive, and ready still for an ordl-
nary lifetime of conflict with the
world. He is dead, was repeated
from lip to lip, and the solemn man
ner of those who spoke these terrible
words betokened that no ordinary
man had passed away. EX-Gov. L. j..
Davis is no more; he has paid the lust
debt of humanity, yielded up life
here for the hereafter; gone from the
eventful scenes of men, from the
rough ways and passages of earth, to
placid home in the hereafter. Sadly
the STATESMAN tells the tale, for
while it has harshly criticised the acts
Of the public man and the politician,
it bows lowly before death, that holds
in its embrace Il man who, in the
social and friendly relations of life,
was model worthy to be copied after
We regret that the means of infor-
nation at command do not give us Il
more perfect knowledge Of Mr.. Davis.
Ii is known that he was native of
Florida, from which state he came in
early manhood, in 1916, we think, to
Texas. First he was known in Cal
weston as a clerk in the postotfice;
then he moved To the Rio
Grande country, in about 1850,
and while pursuing mer-
camille vocation he became a
student of the Law and was soon ad-
held was that of district attorney, and
in it he was faithful TO his public
trust, securing for himself reputa-
ton that in 1856 caused his election
to the bench in the Corpus Christi ju-
dicial district. embracing all the lower
Rio Grande section of the state. In
this position he remained till the
breaking out of the war. when Judge
Davis left Texas 10y way of Mexico,
offering his services to the federal
government to assist in sustaining
the Union. He was commissioned
colonel of the First Texas cavalry,
with headquarters mt New Orleans,
and his command remained in LouiSi-
ana during the entire war. After the
battle of Mansfield he was made a
brigadier general. and was placed in
comman of a division of cavalry.
His command WAS diSbanded Mt San
Antonio in 1865. The next year he
was delegate to the constitutional
convention, and again he was a dele
gate to the constitutional convention
of 1868, over which body he presided
rs its president. He was made
goyernor-of Texas through an
election held in 1863, and
remained governor until in January.
1874. Or Mr.. Davis political record
it is not proper to speak. We have
differed widely with him in politics,
but in social and domestic life he has
been one of the best and pureSt Of
men. and the STATESMAN must speak
of him In this relation in exalted
terms. He was gentleman of cul-
ture and refinement, courteous, gentle
and refined in his bearing, devoted to
his family, true TO his friends. His
wife. who survives him, is the daugh-
ter OF that once noble Texan, Forbes
Britton. This lovely woman and two
sons remain to mourn the uptimely loss
of most beloved husband and father.
The elder boy, Britton Davis. is 4
lieutenant of cavalry. stationed at this
time At san Carlos, Arizona; the
other. Waters Davis, is L student of
law at Ann Arbor, Michigan. Mr..
Davis was taken sick not more than ten
days ago. Medical advice was calledin
just one week before his death. He
was suffering with pneumonia. from
which he was apparently recovering,
when he was suddenly attacked with
embolism of the brain. resulting in
death in less than twenty-four hours.
Mrs. Davis was the only member of
his immediate family with him when
dissolution took place; and for this
most estimable lady. in her sad be-
reavement, host of friends extend
hearts brim fun of sympathy.
lMz1U