Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1886-07-02
DEATH OF DAVID DAVIS.
Death of Judge David Davis at His
Home in Bloomington. Hi
noiS.
The Trusted Friend Of Lincoln. and
the Man Who Had Most To Do
With His Nomination.


With His Nomination.
David Davis Dead.
BLOOMINGTON. H.. June 26. - Ex-Vice
President David Davis expired at eight
minutes past o'clock this morning. He
had been dying since yesterday noon, and
was unconscious most of the time from
that hour until his death. Yesterday af-
ternoon he was gradually failing, and all
efforts to lrouse him proved of no avail.
But few visitors called yesterday and dur
ing the night except reporters, who were
met by DIR. Luce at intervals and inform
ed of his condition. At o'clock his con
dition betokened approaching death, and
from that time until IL he lay uncon
scious, and occasionally coughed violent
ly to relieve his throat of phlegm. At IL
O'Clock he revived sufficiently to partake
of some milk and stimulants, but at once
settled back in a comatose state. From
that time until his death he sank gradual
ly, and passed from earth as if entering
upon a peaceful sleep.
THOSE PRESENT AT HIS BEDSIDE
were his wife; Mr.. George Davis, his son;
Mr.. and Mrs. Henry Swayne, the latter
the daughter of the judge and wife of
the son of Justice Swayne, OF the United
States supreme court: Mrs. Pierrepont,
of Chicago, a niece; Mr.. David Davis
Walker, of st. Louis, nephew; Mr.. j ohm
Walker, of this city, a brother-in-law;
Judge Lawrence Weldon. of the United
States court of claims; Mr.. Francis Orme,
of Washington. an old friend, and DIR.
Hiram Luce, the family physicien. I'm
mediately after his death the city bells
hung at halt-mast; and all of the business
houses draped in mourning. The city
took on Il sober aspect, and small crowds
of his old friends stood on thu streets
convers ing about his last hours, and ex-
tolling his virtues as private Nitizen.
THE PALL-BEARER
will be Judge Gresham, Gov. Oglesby.
Robert L. Lincoln, Col. Latham of Lin
coin, H., Judge Thomas Drummond,
Judge Lawrence Weldon, Hon. A. L. Stew
enson, l.. G. Fisher of Chicago, Hon.
Leonard SWEET, Judge John NJ. Scott,
c. H. Moore of Clinton, H., ex-senator
Mcdonald of Indiana, exMayor Funk,
Hon. Jesse W. Fell, Hon. James Ewing,
Luman Burr of this city, and Frank d.
Orme of Washington. Telegrams of con
dolence from prominent people have been
coming in all day.
The judges estate is worth about
million and quarter, and is mostly in
central Illinois lands. He owned seven
thousand acres in this county alone.
This evening Leonard Volk the Chicago
sculptor, came down and took a cast of
his face from which to make a bust.
Late kilograms of coincidence have come
to night from Roscoe Conkling. Atty.
Gen. Cortland, Senators Edmunds and
Logan and others.
SKETCH OF HIS LIFE.
Judge David Davis was a remarkable
character in more than one sense. A
jurist of undoubted sagacity and integ
rity, he was an active politician at the
same time. Still, despite these seeming
ly incOngruOUs characteristics. even his
bitterest opponents and he had many of
them never questioned the sagacity of
his judicial decisions nor the honesty of
his political motives. Born in Cecil coun
ty, Maryland, March.9 1915, Judge Davis
was essentially an Illinois man, having re
sided in Bloomington just half century
since 1898. His parents were well-to- do,
and David Davis received as careful an
education as the facilities during the first
decades of the present century afforded
Itt StuGltb ID" Win dCOD DlSuOp, Ill
Lenox, Mass, and in the law school at
New Haven, Conn, graduating as the first
of his class.
When u years of age the new-fedged
lawyer settled at Bloomington, in this
state, and began the practice of his pro
fession. 1t was uphill business with the
young attorney, but he possessed tht two
essentials requisite to success shrewd-
ness and perseverance. 1t was, however,
not as a lawyer, but as a political orator
that David Davis first gained prominence
in his local circle, and this only after ar
duOus labors of nine years. His actual
political life began in 1915. when he was
elected member of the lower house of the
Illinois Legislature. As such, his name
became quickly known, not so much for
brilliant achievements as on account of
his conscientious work and his peculiar
political tactics, to which he adhered dur
ing the whole of his political career. The
member of no party,he reserved to himself
the utmost freedom of action, and this
course he followed, undismayed by any
adversed criticism or ridicule.
LAWYER AND JUDGE.
As lawyer, Mr.. Davis stood at the
head of the bar in Illinois before he be-
came a Judge. His had not been rapid
career, but one of arduous work, and
consequent lasting success. 1t was there
fore not merely an act of friendship when
President Lincoln, on Dec. s, 1862. ap-
pointed him as associate justice of the
Supreme court of the United States. The
jurist and man alike had deserved that
recognition. In his Judicial capacity
some time during 1S70-Judge Davis
held with a minority of the Supreme
court that the acts of congress making
government notes legal tender in pay
ment of debts were unconstitutional
Subsequent events proved the wisdom
and correctness of this dicissiou. After
President Lincoln's death Judge Davis
was administrator of his estate, and in
this trying and delicate position he was
almost the sole guidance of the bereaved
widow, whose mind was rapidly giving
way under the loss which had fallen upon
er.