Crawford avalanche., 1886-07-01
REMINISCENT.
Judge Davis Early Career Characteristic
of the Citizen and the Judge.

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 a member OF tho
constitutional convention. In the same year
he was chosen Circuit Judge of the Eighth uli-
nois District.
Judge Davis, Abraham Lincoln, John t.
Stewart, John j. Hardin, stephen Il. Logan, Ed
ward ID. Baker, Edward Hannigan, Daniel w.
Voorhees, Kirby Benedict, Edward Jones, David
B. 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 L accom-
panied Judge Davis throughout the entire
circuit We would travel on horseback, gen.
orally, and would invariably put up at 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 ana capital o
seemed inexhaustible, and never lacked appo-
siteness, nor lost anything OF excellence in the
telling. In this intimacy, formed in the Eighth
Circuit, may be found the foundation OF both
Lincolns and Davis after greatness
"The strong points in Davis character, as ex-
hibted in his whole career public and private
Away back in 1870 he saw this State as we now
BJN s u TSaSE he "a 5eg 10 @Sn One Goes Ge
mover made dollar in trade mover made a
trade in which he was not worsted. He did not
know how to make n 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 900 acres In Mclean Coun-
ty cost him about 50 nm acre.
Il remember once OF n case that illustrates
him very well. Jesse w. Fell, Of Bloomington,
was merchant ON the down-grade. Mr.. Davis
received a note from some Eastern party against
Fell, which he was instructed to collect. Fell
and Davis were friends. On investigation,
Davis found there we're no resources, save an
eighty-acre piece Of ground near Chicago. Fell
offered to give up the land for the note. With
out moments hesitation Davis accepted.
When the Eastern party came out no was in-
censed at losing the note for n worthless piece
OF swamp Davis agreed to take the land him
self and pay the amount of the note I'm money.
This offer was accepted. That eighty acre tract
lies between the city and the stock-yards, and
is of incalculable value.
4Dayis exceIled as Judge IL was his natural
sphere. He was more like John Marshall than
any man the country has produced. or Mar
shall it 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 as n greyhound
takes the scent. He never relied ON his knowl-
edge OF authorities, and never allowed his legal
lore 20 smother his common sense perception OF
equity and justice.