New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-06-27
DEATH OF DAVID DAVIS.
UNCONSCIOUS IN HIS LAST HOURS

died at a. H. to-day. Early last evening he appeaten
to be failing aud 1t felt certain that he could not i've
through the night At IL p m he revived somewbas
and was given milk and stimuians In small quaint
ties The effect for the worse, however ior
he at once relapsed into comatose con-
dton his pulse becoming feeble. In the succeeding
three hours he failed gradually his respiration grow
ing noticeably weaker until the end came The cause OF
Judge Daviss death WAS Brighrs disease OF the Kid
neys aggravated by a weakened condition OF the sys-
tenn dating from tho time wnen he became afflicted win
the carbunce. His last hours were calm ana poaceu
SKETCH OF HIS CAREER.
The American geneaogy OF the statesman whose deaf
Is above recorded begins with Welshman who settled
in Maryland farmer IN the good old colony days
Dying lie left fine property TO lis son. Nayor DAVIS,
who had two sons Henry and David. The former
entered tho ministry. was president OF st. Johns
| College, Annapolis. and the father of the Hon.
Henry Winter Davis The latter entered the medical
| profession was married to Miss Ann Mercer, the
daughter OF rich Maryland farmer. Two months after
his death his son, David Davis, the subject OF Ills
sketch born at the Mercer homestead, on March .,
! 1915.
the age OF thirteen and half years. David Davis
entered Kenyon College, Gambler Ohio, at which institu-
ton President Hayes Justice Stanley Matthews ex-
Secretary Stanton and numerous other eminent men
were educated. David Davis and Edwin NJ stanton,
indeed, fellow students there and formed then a
close and long friendship Wien he was graduated.
of seventeen, his total expenses for the four
years had been less than $1,000 Forthwith he began
studying law with Judgs Henry W. Bishop, at Lenox,
Mass. and two years later entered the law school OF
Yale College. After years training there under
Judges Hitchcock aud Dagset he set out for Vandaa,
then the capital Of Illinois, seek his fortune his only
material capital being about $50 In money and hum
d. ed volumes OF law books After brief stay hcIe In
1885, he removed Pekn, Peoria. where he was
admitted to the bar AMI had his first few cases; but
having nearly died from malarial fever. he again
nj, not .Irpr
healtbfu LEGALITY, where he ever afterward made his
home There he became f,ry successu ia tie practise
of his profession, and Oh October 80, 1885, he was
married to Miss Sarah W. Walker to whom he had
become engaged while he law student at Lcnox.
She was daughter OF Judge W. 7. Walker OF Lenox,
OF her sisters married to Judge Rockwell OF
Massachusetts, another to j. ii. Scranton. founder
OF Scranton, Penn. Wales Cotton a young man from
Lenox became Daviss law partner. and with the
of the State business and wealth flowed to their
Office in a constantly increasing stream
Mr. Davis revisited Vnniaa In the winter OF 1896.
The Legislature was then in session and he made the
acquaintance OF several members OF 1t. One was
Z Unit, ungainy Assembyman, who had been IN the
Black Hawk and who at roll -call answere 10 the
name OF Abraham Lincoln. The TWO were mutually
attracted to each other and became fast friends They
frequently travelled together circuit, their families
became intimately associated, and their warm personal
relations were unbIokcn until the tragedy Of April f.
1863
Springfield was made the state capital In 1899 As the
Whg candidate for the state senate the year. Mr..
DAVIS WAS defeated; but in Isl he was elected and
served two years. He declined another term, but
willingly part in the state Constitute nal Convcn
ton IN l. II. By that pOdy admirable constitution
drafted aud adopted; and it went into effect In
1873 Under il the judges were to be elected by the
peoF e and Judge Treat thus taken from the Circuit
Court and placed upon tho supreme bench. Then The
entire bar OF the Eighth Circuit; led by Abraham
Lincoln urged Mr.. Davis to he candidate for the
vacancy. He consented and elected without
position. being then thrtythree old Twice he
WAS unanimously Reelected thus serving on the Circuit
lac sch continuously from ISIS 1852. In this oce he
BEGAN famous FOR his prOmptnoss, fruiuess aud i'm
rartaity his legal erudiiOn and acunen. and FOR
his Lard working energy. In all the fourteen years not
a term OF court lost hy BIS absence LOr even
delayed lie became acquainted with most OF tue
prominent lawyers OF the West including John r. Usher
Richard ". Thompson, Daniel Voorhees, aud Joseph 7.
Mcdonald, aud iavorite companion o. them all
IIo was a great reader OF historical ami biographical
works AMI the class of felton, and had keen
OF humor, th,t he became noted AS story teller
almost as much as his friend Lincoln.
Both the Republican state Convention OF Illinois AMI
the National Convention of the party in 1850 were tue
scenes great activity the part o Judge Davis. to
whose zeal persu ss@ power and skill In organization
was largely due the nominal of Lincoln FOR President
that year The SATURDAY before the National Conyen-
ton Lincoln had only hy delegates; on the first baot he
got lD2 votes and tie Third he nominaod; and
thca Judge DAVIS went to bed for the first time in
week. The contest had cost only $780, which Mr.
Lincoln to repay to Davis, but the latter would
not allow it, Judge Davis then took tine stump and
assisted IN carr, ing the state for his friend.
When President Lincoln went to Washington in 1851.
Ju ge Davis his ira .eng companion ani rem aimed
with HIM AS his confidential adviser until March 20 lie
rem erel valuable aid IN foing the CABINET and was
the mediator between seward AMI Chase in Their difer
enccs He also gave Mr.. Lincoln much counsel concern
ing the attitude be taken toward the seeding states
Then back to his judicial duties Ia Illinois. He
was at Bloomington when word came that sumter had
been fred upon. great non. partisan Union meeting
Was at held and ge Davis presided over it, lie
devoted himself enthusiastically the National cause,
and prominent in the work OF sending troops to the
front and caring !or the wounded.
Judge DAVIS III the second year OF his third term
IA Circait Judge when in October 1862. he
appointed by The President to be "a Justice or tie
Supreme Court OF the United States in place OF the rebel
John A. Campbell of Alabama. This was a erea
surprise 10 him, lie had declined to be considered
candidate lace, aud had himself woi ked III favor
of the APPOINTMENT Of Judge Stephen + Logan.
Curousy enough. Judg" Logan also had declined the
apuontmcnt and had urged Mr.. Lincoln to give it to
DAVIS. his place IN December, lS62, and was
assigned to Indiana. Illinois and Wisconsin Circuit.
His opinions attracted attention for Delr strength
and nc, ur,cy. IL WAS he vino delivered the courts
ui gieni the Myra CLARK Gaines Case. lie also rem
do ed ne famous opinion III The OF the United
ates agains, the Upiun Pacific Railroad Company
important decision Regarding tir LeaveDwOrtn
Railroads Usage Reservation land, by winch
the rights % settlers confirmed. During the
judge DAVIS one o those who maintained Tie Gov
ernm ruts hight To make greenbacks leg ten ier When.
IN 1868, .he ChiciDo imes was Suppressed by military
ROVER for its dlsuyal uieranc,s ana Its proprietor
appraleI courts. Juse DrunIbond. before whom
orongn', as~ed Judge DAVIS t" st VITA Inn
aud tue universal confidence frlt In Judge
Davis d what tire tei ed to be serious outbust
| at nutdic exc f.c trcd how
ever President resembling the order aud allowing the
u,rr To resume publication. AuUtncr famous
int OF l.. l.. Siilngan Colonel Bow les aui George
Iorsey who IN 1864 we're arrested Tor treason IN
In A Al ,poll., tried b. cOdr martial, convicted ana
seuence TO estI. j. l.. Mcdonald. terwdrd senator
from lndiaua was thor counsel, aud beng friend OI
President Lincoln iersua itd III susi eni sentence
I'll Keep them ia prison awhile SAID the Pteslicnl.
and then let them CO." But they we're SIN IN PRISON
when Lincoln WAS murdered, and President Johnson
-. I'M ~ IILL..