St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-06-27


for
WORTHLESS PIECE OF SWAMP.
Davis agreed to take the land himself and
pay the amount of the note in money. This
offer was accepted. That eighty lies between
the city and the stock yards, and is or meal
culable value One of Davis popular points
when in the circuit was his care for orphans
and their estates. He had the responsibility
of guardians burned into him by experience:
he Inherited large estate in Maryland, which
by the disagreement of the court was lost to
him. When he became a judge he was
especially careful in this matter. He never
allowed an estate belonging to minor heirs to
be sold-never but once. 1t was near Dan
vile. The guardian petitloned for decree
to sell and Davis agreed that it should be
done. He would take charge of the matter
himself. He ordered the sale and conducted
it through a confidential law partner. When
the money was obtained Davis sent the man
Off to Cincinnati to buy land warrants. When
the next term OF court came at Danvllle the
trustee of the estate was presented with a
pOcketful of land warrants as the proceeds of
the sale. The minor was young girl, and
when she came of age that land was
worth at least $4,000. Davis excelled as a
judge. 1t was his natural sphere. He was
more like John Marshall than any man the
country has produced. OF Marshall it is re-
lated that he would listen attentively to an
argument, catch at once the point, and say:
THAT'S it. That's the law exactly. Now To- k
up an authority two" 1t was just so wi h
Davis. He took the law as greyhound takes
the scent. He never relied on his knowledge
OF authorities, and never allowed his legal
lore to smother his common-sense perception
of equity and justice. Yes, Judge Davis is
man of whom nothing can be said that is not
good, and of whom too much cannot be said.
He was large man every way. His geniality
always drew crowd about him. His in
tegrity was never questionable was beyond
lf-l hos hfay mir
He is Christian in the Catholic sense, and
has given away fortune in benefcence. He
was model man in every way. As public
man no one has made better record.
BIOGRApHlCAL. .
Judge David Davis was born in Cecil
county, on the eastern Shore of Maryland
March 9, 1915. His father was a Maryland
planter, with a large number of acres, titled
by the usual complement of slaves. He was
connected with all the Davis families OF Mary
land and Virginia, the father of Henry Win
ter Davis, now of West Virginia, being his
brother, thus making the latter full cousin
of the subject Of this Sketch. David Davis
lived on his fathers plantation until he went
to Kenyon college, Ohio, and from that insti-
tuition he graduated in 1882. He then went to
LenoX, Mass. and read law in the Office OF
Judge Henry W. Bishop, father of Henry w.
Bishop Of Chicago, master III chancery in the
United States court. In 1886 Mr.. Davis was
admitted to the bar, and went to Bloomington
to live. He practiced law there continuously
until his elevation to the circuit bench. Prior
to that, in 1888, he married Miss Sarah E.
Walker of LenoX, Mass, who for forty years
was faithful and devoted wife. Sac died in
1879. Mr.. Davis dabbled a little
IN POLITICS
as early as 1910. In that year he wal Wing
candidate for the state senate, but was de-
feated by John Moore. Four years later,
however, he was elected a member of the
lower branch of the legislature, and in
1Sf7 was q member of the constitutional
convention. Upon the adoption of the con-
stitution formed in 1913, Mr.. Davis, then
but 80 years old. was elected Judge of the
circuit court in his district, the Eighth, COM
posed Of fourteen of the largest and most
prosperous counties of the state. The circuit
was largely Democratic, but Mr. Davis was
so moderate and temperate in politics. and
personally so popular, that Wings and Demo-
Gratis alike voted for him. 1t was before the
days of railroads, and a judge whose circuit
embraced fourteen counties had to undergo
tremendous amount of work and fatigue.
but Judge Davis never faltered, nor did he
ever miss a session of his court in any of
the counties. In 1858, when the famous
debate look place between
LINCOLN AND DOUGLAS.
and the former was defeated for the senate,
it was Davis who warmly espoused Lincoln's
cause, furnished him hints, suggestions and
authorities, many OF which We're embraced in
those matchless speeches which gave Lincoln
his first national fame. In 1860. when the
Republicans of Illinois resolved to bring Lin
coin forward as candidate for president,
Judge Davis. as Lincoln'S close and confiden-
tlal friend, was chosen delegate-at-large to
the Chicago convention. He was one of the
distinguished Illinois party that accompanied
Mr.. Lincoln to Washington in 1861, but soon
after he returned to the state and resumed
his duties on the bench. Mr.. Lincoln con-
stantly avaied himself, however, of Judge
Davis counsel, and the two were in constant
correspondence. In the fall of 1901 Mr.. Lin
coin appointed Judge Davis, Joseph Holt and
Mr.. Campbell of st. Louis commission to
investigate the administration Of the depart
ment of Missouri, which, under Gen. Fremont,
had been the source Of much scandal. Their
report led to the
REMOVAL OF GEN. FREMONT
from the command. In the summer of 1862
there occurred a vacancy on the United
States supreme bench, and then Mr.. Lincoln
had long desired opportunity to do some
thing for his friend commensurate with his
great abilities and high character. Mr.. Lin
coin appointed him associate justice. On the
supreme Dench Judge Davis was distinguished
for his devotion to the constitution and for
his stern allegiance to its principles. He was
frequently talked Of for president. His name
came up in the Liberal convention in 1872,
but Greeley beat him. He was again talked
of making one could have no chance in
this country. In the opinion of Democrats
Judge Davis lost the opportunity of his life
to make himself really great as publicist
and patriot when, for the first time he
subordinated principle to his personal desires
and comfort. MIR. Tilden was elected preSi-
dent in 1S76-that iSsnow conceded. The Re-
publicanS, under the lead of Zach Chandler,
DISPUTED the vote of and returns from certain
Southern. states. An issue was raised, and it
was seen that it was not an issue of fact 1t
required the finest and
MOST PATRIOTIC THOUGHT
OF the country to bring justice out Of the
complication 1t was said that the supreme
court would be the final arbiter and Demo
Gratis thought of Clifford Field and Davis, the
two former as Democrats and the latter as q
pure non-partsan. The electoral commission
bill came up in congress: it started in the
senate. 1twould never have been accepted
by the Democratic house had it not been
thought that Judge Davis, with his lofty pa
triotiSm, purity of thought and utter absence
of party sympathy, would not consent to sit
on the commission. The house passed the
electoral bill, and to its horror learned in
day or two after of Judge Davis resignation
from the bench to accept a SenatorShip from
Illinois in the place of John A. Logan. He
was chosen by combination Of Republicans
who did not like Logan and by Democrats
who thought they could use Davis for patron
age. The latter certainly were disappointed.
Judge Davis took his seat III the senate
March T. 1S77. Judge Davis has magnificent
home in Bloomington, and a farm there that
is like an English domain. About six wears
ago he built mansion on it that cost $4,000.
Judge Davis has two children-a son who
lives in Bloomington, and a daughter whose
husband resides in Toledo.
Gen. Sherman Banqueted.
Special to the Globe.