The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1886-07-01
REMINISCENT.
Judge Davis Early Career-Characteristic
of the Citizen and the Judge.

Il have known David Davis since 1913, re-
marked Hon. Leonard SWEET, Of Chicago at
which time he came into public prominence.
His first appearance was as member OF The
constitutional convention. In the same year
he was chosen Circuit Judge of the Eighth Illi-
nois District.
Stewart, John j. Hardin, Stephen T. Logan, Ed
ward ID. Baker, Edward Hannigan, Daniel w.
Voorhees,, Kirby Benedict, Edward Jones, David
Il. Campbell and myself were the company that
administered law in that district. Most OF the
attorneys would only go through a county or
two and then drop out. Lincoln and accom-
panied Judge Davis throughout the entire
circuit. We would travel on horseback, gem
orally, and would invariably put up Mt one hos
telry.
Continually thrown in intimate companion
ship with Lincoln and Davis, came TO know
both well. They were antipodal natures. but the
closest OF friends. Davis was OF the most posi-
tive. decisive character, taking his positions
firmly, and holding TO them tenaciously and
doggedly. Lincoln was suave and more yield
ing. Both were princes Of geniality and capital
story-telers. Each had a fund Of stories that
seemed inexhaustible, and never lacked Apo
steness, nor lost anything of excellence in the
telling. In this intimacy, formed in the Eighth
Circuit, may be found the foundation of both
Lincoln's and Davis after greatness"
The strong points in Davis character, as ex-
hibited in his whole career public and private,
were many. He had the keenest foresight.
Away back in 1870 he saw this State as we now
see il. To-day he is a very rich man, worth prob
ably IS, 0O0,0O0 don't know no one does. He
never made Il dollar IN trade; never made n
trade in which he was not worsted. He did not
know how TO make bargain, and seldom IL ever
tried. He knew good land when he saw it, He
made all his money entering land. His present
magnificent farm Of 90 acres in Mclean Coun-
" cost him about So an acre.
Il remember once Of case that illustrates
him very well. Jesse W. Fell, of Bloomington,
n merchant on the down-grade. Mr.. Davis
received note from some Eastern party against
Fell. which he instructed to collect. Fell
and Davis were friends. On investigation,
Davis found there were no resources, save an
eighty-acre piece Of ground near Chicago. Fell
offered TO give up the land for the note. With
out n moments hesitation Davis accepted.
When the Eastern party came out he was in
censed at losing the note for worthless piece
OF swamp. Davis agreed to take the land him
self and pay the amount Of the note in money.
This offer was accepted. That eighty acre tract
lies between the city and the stock yards and
is of incalculable value.
Davis excelled as Judge. It was his natural
sphere. He was more like John Marshall than
any man the country has produced. OF Mar
shall il is related that he would listen atten-
lively TO an argument, catch at once the point,
and say: That's IL. That's the law exactly
Now look up an authority or two 1t was Just
so with Davis, He took the law n greyhound
takes the scent. He never relied on his knowl-
edge OF authorities, and never allowed his legal
lore to smother his common-sense perception Of
equity and justice"