Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1900-12-05
PROMINENT IN PEACE AND WAR
Stubbornly Fought Death That
He Might Live for the
Sake ofHis Country.

city last night at $40 o'clock. lie
suffered greatly during two months
OF sickness and gradually sank away,
being unconscious for several hours
before death, and so far as could be
known, suffered no pain.
Appreclating the approach OF the
end, Mr.. Davis sent for Venerable r.
II. NJ. Villers Appleby, archdeacon of
the Protestant Episcopal diocese of
Minnesota, and Rev. Theodore Sedg-
wick, rector OF the church Of st. John
the Evangelist. An attempt had
been made to secure the attendance
OF Bishop Whipplc, but the bishop
wHs In Florida. senator Davis was
for n time sufficiently rationnl to ex-
press his grateful appreciation of the
clcrgymcn's ministratlons.
His last conscious uttcrance was
the expression OF wish to live; not
for the snkc OF life itself, but because
he believed his country needed MIN.
His words were: "Oh, that | might
live live years more for my country's
sake"
MS LIES WORK.
Cnshman Kellogg Davis was born
In Henderson, Jefferson county, New
York, June lG, lN:iS. In that year his
parents moved to Naukesha. Wis,
where his father iarmed until 1850.
After attending the common schools
young Davis spent three years I'm
Carroll college, at Waukesha, pre-
parng himself for the University of
Michigan, from which he graduated
t. lN5I. Daring hit bcyt~Dod he heli
some time u position as telegraph
operator in what j. now suburb of
Milwaukee. After his graduation he
entered the law Office Of Alex. w.
Ramsey, uiterwarl Ii war governor of
Wisconsin,.
In 1850 Mr.. Davis began the prnc-
ticc oi law, ana also took an active
part In the campaign resulting In the
election Of Lincoln. Two years later,
war having come, he closed his law
Office to enlist in the volunteer army.
He served for two years la the army
OF Tennessee, Arkansas and Mis- Sis
sippi, part OF the time on staff duty.
When In 1854 broken health com.
PEELED his retirement he was first
lieutenant vi company B, Twenty
eighth Wisconsin volunteer infantry.
Going to st. Paul he formed law
partnership with his army chief. Gen.
W. A. German, ex-governor of Min
nesota territory. In 1865 he was
elected to the state legislature and
two years later was appointed Cnit-
ed Stats district attorney, serving
five years in that position.
In 1873, by majority OF one vote,
he was nominated by the Republicans
for governor and elected by major
ity OF 1896. The campaign issue was
then new, being whether the state
could control the charges OF railroads
Governor Davis asserted this right
and such legislation was enacted and
enforced during his term OF Office.
During Il prutracted senatorial con
test at that session Governor Davis
was one Of the candidates. but Chief
Justice Mcmillan was finally elected.
1t was at this time that the great
grasshupper plague devastated
southwestern Minnesota, and Gov
ernrr Davis raised over 100000 In
money, besides supplies for the vic
tins OF the plague.
Governor Davis declined n re-nomi-
nation and resumed the practice Of
Inv. His successor. Governor Pills
bury, retained him To argue In the
| United States supreme court the case
Of the state ui Wisconsin against the
city OF Duluth and the state of Min
nesota, to restrain the opening of the
present Duluth ship canal. through
which all the commerce OF that port
now passes. Mr.. Davis won the suit
for Minnesota.
lie continued In the practice OF law
until ISL, also giving considerable
attention To pDlitics, In 1851 he head
ed the Blaine delegation to Chicago,
where he made one oi the nominating
speeches for that candidate. In lSSG
many Of the state newspapers advo-
Gated his election AZ United States
senator, and when the legislature oI
1851 met, Senator Nc MILAN withdrew
az a candidate for reelection and Mr.
Davis received every vote.
Senator Davis first chairmanshlI