The Osceola times., 1886-07-03
The Distinguished Jurist ana
Statesman Passes Away.
Arrangements for the Iunerai-rhe ran
Bearers - The Reniairs Lying III
state-Brisf Biographical sketch
of the Deceased.

David Davis, after six weeks Illness
died at a few minutes after eight o'clock
Yesterday morning. He had suffered
from diabetes for some time and since
the first of May had also suffered win
erysipelas and carbuncle. He became
unconscious Friday noon and gradually
sank. At eleven O'Clock Friday night he
aroused somewhat and was given some
milk punch, but he quietly lapSed in-
to a state Of stupor and so remained. At
five IN the morning he rallied a little ana
talked incoherently. His death was pain
less and quiet and he passed away as II 20
ing to sleep. Those present at his bed
yides were his wife, his son, George L.
Davis, and wife; his daughter, Mrs.
Sarah Swayne, and husband, the latter
son Of Justice Swayne; his granddaugh-
ter, Miss Alice Davis; his niece, Mrs.
Pierrepont, of Chicago; hs cousin, John
Walker Of this city; his friend, Mr.. Frank
u. Orme, of Washington, and Dr. Luce,
the family physician.
As soon as death cGm' the bells in the
city were toled and flags hhng at half
mast. All the business houses were
drapcd In mourning.
The funeral will occur on Tuesday af-
ternoon at three O'Clock, Rev. W. g,
Pierce, of Champaign, H., a cousin OF
his first wife, officiating, The pal-bear-
ers will he eX-Postmas ster-General W. Q.
| Gresham, Governor r. j. Oglesby. Hon.
Robert T. Lincoln, Judge Thos. Drum
mond Of the United States Court Chica-
90; Hon. Lawrence Weldon, Of the
United States Court of Claims; Judge
John u. Scott, of the Illinois
Supreme Bench; Hon. A. L. Ste
| phenSor, First Assistant Postmaster
General; l.. G.. Fisher, a Chicago busi'
ness man and son of an old friend Of the
Judge; Hon. c. II. Moore, of Clinton,
H.; Colonel r. b. Latham, Of Lincoln,
H., and Hon. Jesse W. Felt, of Normal,
H., his lifelong friends; ex-senator
Joseph Mcdonald, Of Indiana, and ex-
mayor Funk; Hon. James Ewing and
Luman Burr, of this city, and Frank D..
Orme, of Washington. Eight will be
acting pall-bearers and the remainder
honorary.
The body will lie in state at his elegant
home on Monday and Tuesday. The
ludge leaves an estate valued at 81 ,2j0,-
600, nearly all being in land. kilograms
of coincidence have been received from
prominent men all over the country.
The widow il much worn out by con-
stant and devoted watching, but bears up
bravcy.
Senator began has been added to the
list OF those invited as honorary pail
bearers.
BIOGRAPHICAL
/ in
MARYLAND March q, ISIS. lie was educated
/ at the academy In Newark, Del, and ~ Ken
Won College, Gambler, O., where he gradu.
ated on >cptember 1, lS}1 Here he formed
the acquaintance Of men who have become
equally fam d with himself Edwin VI. stan
ton, the great War secretary under Lincoln,
was an intimate college friend OF his At the
same institution stanley Matthews, now As
soclate Justice Of the supreme Court Of the
United states, erected the foundation Of his
future tx President llayes here, too, was
a student Henry Winter Davis the prince
/ OF parliamentary orators" II not an inme-
| diate associate, was student at the same
/ 3 Having made choice OF the law a. his
/ profession, he In october lNl2, entered the
/ law of1ce OF Judge Henry W shop at
] LenoN, Mass lie was In IenoN fortwo years
| studying, and completed his preparatory
| studies with another years attendance on
/ the lectures Of the Law school IN New
/ Haven. Conn whore lie remained until the
fall OF 1875 lie then came West, settling
| first I'm Pekin, and making chance of base
/ to Blooihington a year later. Here among
the hardy pioneers Mr.. Davis laid
/ the foundation Of his home and
/ business Of Mr. Jesse W Fell. nc
/ took possession OF Mr.. Fers Office, one door
( east OF Whites drug stOre-the building
standing near where John Moorehouse's ;
shoe store is. Mr. Davis succeeded IN law at
I the very outset He was not great orator
| or even fluent talker, but he was a clear
/ minded man and soon took front rank In
{ his chosen profession. On the 10th OF Octo
/ her, ls3S he married Miss Sarah Walker. Of
] Lemon, Mass. a daughter of Ju lge Walker.
He had become acquainted with her while
| studying law there and married her In his
/ In tie year ls4O Mr. Davis was the candl-
/ date OF the Whigs for the oiiice OF state SEN
ator against Governor Moore, hut was de-
feated The senatorial district then EN-
hraced the counties OF Moultrle, Macon,
/ Piatt, DE witt, Mclean ami Livingston. In
| lst2 he declined n nomination for the same
oflico, hut two years HiterwHrd the call to
party leadership for the third time was so
pr ssiugly urged upon him that he could not
| resist IL. This contest r suited In bis election
| as the WING representative to the state Leg
/ isature, in which capacity he served. ac-
| ceptahy to hts friends and usefullv to the
public, during the winter OF lS4I5, but de .
] ClIned to be a candidute for re election.
/ During the session he actively Joined in the
| furtherance of the Illinois and Michigan
canal, nj that time most vital scheme OF
Internal Improvement for Illinois.
In lSi7 lie was elected a member OF the
! constitutional convention, and In lsts was
chosen by the people, without oppOs ton, to
/ be Judge OF the Eighth Judicial district, EN-.
] hracing fourteen counties.
Mr.. Davis went to Chicago as a delegate
/ to the Republican convention of 1870. and
more than week prior to the nomination
he had, In connection with other friends OF
Mr.. Lincoln, opened the Lincoln head
quarters at the fremont House. Chicago,
! where, and throughout the city. whenever
dele gates were 10 be found. he labOred day
AMI night almost sleeplessly, throughout
] aH L Inn MI
siduity and skill never surpassed. II ever
equaled. And when those labors eliminated
/ In the choice OF hi- trusted friend his feel.
/ ings 80 Overpowered him that not only then,
but for hours after. In grnspng the hands of
/ congratulating friends he wept like a child.
In 1861 Judge Davis was one OF three ap-
/ pointed by Prcsi lent Lincoln TO Investigate
the management OF the quartermaster's de
partment at ST. Louis. The investigation
was thorough and laid bare the corruption
and dmismanagement~of affairs a. st. Louis.
In ls5l Judge Davis was appointed by
President Lincoln one OF the associate ius
tees OF the supreme Court of the United
States.
In ls77, after n memorable session. the iii.
nois legislation elected him United states
| senator over General LOGAN. lie hal not
sought the honor. but he accepted IT, and
resigned MS position on the supreme Bench.
/ lmme ,iiately upon his retiring from the sen.
ate he went to Iurkay. y C., where on
March "a, lss3, he was united In marriage To
Miss Addie Bum, who suvives him. His first
vile died N November 2, ls7a
/ In personal appearance he was about nve
feet and eleven inches high, had a large
| commanding form, broad. expansiyc frre
head, blue, penetrating eyes and a rather
prominent nose. He had a very pleasant
address and superior conve versai 10 n al now ers.
In hrs manner he was disposed to he fsmil .
tar. particularly toward those who were
| modest In their demennor and seemed ia
need announcement. lie Was very com
| psnionnhle san and much devoted TO hi /.
h.en is. lie wass straightforward business