Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-02-11
MAINE lE clslaluae.
CONTINUED from page ~

And whereas, we desire to express our
appreciation of his high character and
ability, as well as our regard for his great
personal worth. he il
Resolved, That in the death of Daniel
f. Davis the State has lost an eminent
and greatly beloved citizen. whose con-
spicuous ability brought him early in life
to the highest Office in the Gift of it's peo-
pie. and whose courage and devotion to
duty and wise and patriotic administra-
ton of the government in the trying
times of his official life are a part of the
history of the State.
Resolved, That in his death the State
lieved in the grandeur of our heritage; to
whom our varied and limitless resources
were the promise of inevitable greatness
and prosperity. and whose intense loyal
~ to this conviction made him every
where the eloquent advocate and cham
pion of his native State.
Resolved, That in his death one has
gone from our midst whose generous
qualities Of heart and mind endeared
him alike to rich and poor; whose help
full and kindly impulses were a constant
inspiring hope and confidence. will always
remain pleasant memory.
Resolved That the sympathy and con-
dolence of the Senate be extended to his
sorrowing family, and that these resolu-
tions be entered upon the records OF TINS
warded to the family of the e's deceased.
Mr.. Engel then said:
Mr.. President On the morning. OF
january 3tn. 1871, the Hon. Odlllel y
Davis, ex-Governor of the state. finished
this earthly existence. TO his immediate
friends who for some months had
watched with great solicitude the break
ing up of his fine physical forces ana
who had come to be apprehensiVe that
his life was held by an uncertain tenure.
community in which he lived and to the
state at large it came as lightning from
a clear sky. His familiar figure was not
missed from the streets. before the an,
q
universal sorrow swept over the city
and hushed all it's activities.
1t may well be doubted whether any
person Of his generation has gone out
from that community more universally
lnourncd than Governor Davis. His
friends were confined to no walk OF life.
susceptible to kindly considerations and
substantial sympathy, were those who
came to love and esteem him. and the
poor and humble were as sincere mourn
ers on that sad day Us those to whom
the closer relations of daily life had re-
vealed the rare sweetness of his noble
spirit.
1t is under the sense of such a sorrow
! speak today of my neighbor. friend and
had come to know as ! know few men,
and for whom 1 had the strongest per-
sonal attachment
Daniel Il. Davis was born ut Freedom
of September, 1913. and was ut the time
Of his death in the tifty-fourth year Of
MS age his IdtncT, the heV. Moses T..
Davis. was. an esteemed minister of the
Christian church. He was of English de-
scent, his progenitor in America emigrat-
ing to New Hampshire in the 18th CEN
fury. His mother Mary (French Davis,
was related to the Brewsters and
Frenchs of the old colony of Massachu-
sets Bay
Gov. Davis's boyhood was passed upon
the farm which his father was obliged to
carry on to exc out the scanty receipts
from his ministerial labors. His parish
including
ties. and required his absence much from
home. which threw much responsibility
from the early age of thirteen years took
upon himself the care of the farm and
became the. stay of the growing family.
He attended school in the intervals of
his books at home under the instruction
and guiding care of his father and
mother. In 1868 he entered East Corinth
academy but soon thereafter enlisted as
private soldier in the army. where he
served Till the end of the war keeping up
his studies in camp and on the march as
civil life he again took up his studies at
the academy and there and afterwards at
academic studies. He then entered the
law office of Hon. Lewis Barker. then
resident of Stetson. and there pursued the
study of law and was admitted to pvac-
gust. 1869 located at East Cornth where
he commenced the practice of law and
WltTt ne continued TO reside until AFTER
he retired from the office of governor of
the State. He rose with remarka BILE
rapidity in his profession. He was the
embodiment of honor and integrity. He
had u most attractive and winning "es-
cnce. He was cordial and hearty II his
greetings His sympathies Were broad
for his notice. He remembered the hard
ships Of his early life and his quick SYM
patty l:indlcd always for those who weie
Struggling. in life's battle. His bearing
cheerful and n1uIy. He had a. y
allied sense of the dignity of MANHOOD
No base or glovelling thoughts mad place
in his mind. The religious atmosphere OF
the home in which he was reared had
mellowed and softencd all natural i'm
pulses. He revered his father and mother
and was devotedly attached to his broth
ers and only sister who had been so
much his care from early boyhood. He
early came TO be master of mis- own
spirit. No ebullition of temper would
ever betray the strong feeling 10 which
he was often moved and under the stress
of great excitement he maintained a per-
feet Self-control.
1t was such a man as this who entered
ON that day in August, 1869.
His bearing in court was marked by
SciI-possessioa. Easy in manner and
courteous to all. he became a favorite
among his, associates in the profession,
and he had the confidence and esteem of
The court. He was aggressive in the trial
of cases but with no asperity of manner
toward counsel or witnesses. His adj
forcible and oftcntimes eloquent and he
had marked success in winning verdicts
His popularity at once marked him as
the tribune OF the people and he became
their advocate on all public occasions
He WAS early called into the field of
politics as a campaign speaker. His rare
candor and sincerity and his rapid Wig
orous and eloquent speech made him a
powerful advocate OF the principles he
espoused. and everywhere he met with
cordial and enthusiastic reception. His
Fellow citizens demanded his service as
their representative in the State Legis-
nature, and in 1874 Gas soon as he would
consent he entered the House of Repre-
sentatives where. without any show of
ostcntation his conspicuous ability at
once advanced him to prominence in tho
deliberations of that body.
His service there was followed by cleo
tion to the Senate. and in this chamber
his eminent abilities became so marked
that the Republican party of the State a
year later looking for n standard bearer
who sftould be without fear and without
reproaciT." almost without warning and
certainly without preliminary effort or
possible expectation on his part. nomi-
mated him for the high office of governor
of the State. The laborious campaign
which followed: the exciting, dramatic
ard almost tragic scenes which succeeded
the election and attended the organiza-
ton of the Legislature. the ultimate tri-
umph of the Republican cause and the
inauguration of Governor Davis. are too
familiar to all who hear me to make
further allusien to them necessary
His adminiSt nj tho