The Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1885-1886, 1886-06-28

David Davis died few minutes after q
O'Clock Saturday morning. When he
breathed his last the members of his family
and few devoted friends We're at his bed
side. At 10 O'Clock Friday night it was
apparent that the distinguished jurist was
at deaths door. and his attending physi-
clans expressed their belief that he would
not live through the night For several
hours preceding his demise he was uncon-
scious, and when aroused and asked a cues
ton. he would answer involuntarily, not
knowing what was asked or what reply he
gave. He recognized no one and evidently
felt no pain At daylight lie rapidly grew
worse, and about i O'Clock the ailments
which had been growing for year had at
last conquered
About May tho dead statesman was at
tackled with a carbuncle, which assumed a
malignant character. III case progressed
fayorably, however, until about two weeks
ago, when he was attacked with severe
form of eryspelaS This, coupled with suf-
fering from diabetes, with which he had
been effected for some time, rendered his
condition one of some gravity, and a week
ago consultation of physicians determined
that he could not live.
lyclbclS VI COhuOlSHtt " tuc idiully dIb
being received from all parts of the coun-
try. No arrangements for the funeral
have yet been made, but it is thought
that the obsequies will occur next Tues
day.
Judge Davis died worth S2,0J0,0np, not a
dollar of which was made in speculation
His wealth was amassed by heavy land prr-
chases many years ago dis estate will lie
divided between his widow and his two
children.
david Davis was born in Mary land in
ISIS. He Inherited a large estate which
was lost through litigation during his mi
nority. He came west a balf-century ago,
stopping In Ohio. lie attended school
and college, graduating at Kenyon college
at Gambler, Ohio lie studied law and
came to Illinois in 1S}2 He entered the
quarter section of land where bloomington
now stands, and other lands in the same
county or elsewhere until he became I'M
mensely wealthy
Mr.. Davis and MIR Lincoln became init
mate friends Oh the Judicial circuit OF the
old Eighth district Both were Wings
previous TO the Missouri compromise
Davis was not strongly anti slavery. Lin
coin was The debates of Lincoln and
Douglas intensified the hatred of the
former for the institution, and he infused
much OF his own spirit into Davis. Though
native Of slave state and constitution.
ally Democrat, Mr.. Davis was, in late
years, in deep sympathy with the Repub-
lican party.
MIR. Davis first appearance in public life
was as a member of the convention to
amend the constitution of Illinois in 1918
Soon after this he became circuit Judge in
the district composed Of fourteen counties
in central and eastern Illinois. He was dele
gate at large to the convention that nomi-
mated Lincoln and did much to bring about
that end. In leo! President Lincoln APP
pointed Davis to q vacancy in the nited
States supreme court, made vacant by the
death Of Judge Mclean He served on the
bench for tfteen Years, resigning in 1871.
One Of the most important decisions of the
court during Judge Davis term was rem
dered by him Ii was the celebrated Mill
ken case. The decision was received with
great dislavor throughout the north, but
subsequent years have sustained the Wis
dom and Legality of the Davis rendering
In lS' Davis resigned his seat on the ST.
preme bench and was chosen senator from
this state Both during his term on tine
bench and in The senate no man stood
higher in Washington than he, as legal
counselor among legislators He was the
contidanJ and adviser of the brightest and
wlsejt men about the capital. Democrats and
| Republicans alike counseled with and con
tided In him. 1t is We known that Sen
ator Conkling conhded to Davis fully his
intention TO resign weeks before he did
Judge Davis was never an active politi-
clan. lie did much i'll the planning and di-
recting OF others He was not partisan i'll
any sense of the term. A Democrat by
| birth and instinct, he was Republican in
| principle and voted with toat party for
| years, He had princely home in the out.
skirts of Bloomington and kept a hospitabls
| door for all his friends He was twice mar
ried, both times most happily. OF his pri-
vate life nothing impure was ever suspected
| Of his public life the record is without
stain or Flemish He died as he lived hon
ored and respected by all who knew him