The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1902-04-10
CAPT. DAVIS TO RETIRE.
Old Revenue officer Will Be Retired by
Bill Passed Thursday

Captain A. B. Davis of the1revenue
cutter Morrill,, now in dry dock'in Mil
waukee, is over the age limit for the
revenue cutter service, according to
the provisions of the bill passed by
congress yesterday and now awaiting
the signature of the President. The
age limit, as provided in the bill, is "a
years. Captain Davis is 90 years old
and has been in the revenue cutter
service since 1861. When seen last night
in the rooms of the Milwaukee club in
Milwaukee, where he makes his home
when on shore, he expressed himself
as well satisfied with the provisions of
the bill, and said that he had no objec-
TONS to being retired, though he ex-
pected that it would be esome months
before that is brought about. At pres
ent he receives a salary of So, 500
year and ration money at 'the rate of
SO cents day. Accordingsto the new
bill, he will be retired on $1,000, but
will no longer receive IRA ton money,
which will make his pay after retire
ment practically the same as before.
Captain Davis comes of family of
sailors. Ills father and grandfathers
were all sailors, and he went to sea
himself when he was seventeen years
old, after receiving goodsaCommon
school education in Philadelphia. He
down the coast of South America and
to Australia. He also was in the
coasting trade for some time along
the eastern coast of the United States.
When twenty-one years D1d'heSbecame
master of his first vessel, which was
the Governor Won Oxho1m. He en-
tered the revenue cutter service soon
after the Civil war hadIassumed serious
proportions, and was made aislieuten-
ant on the schooner Varina, which
was stationed on the Atlantic coast.
Later he was transferred to the Miami.
While on that vessel he was frequently
detailed to carry Presidents sLipcoln
down the coast to Fort Monroe and
other points. He became we'll &C
quainted with him and often talked
with the President.
He also carried Secretaries iStanton
and Seward, as we'll as 0many of the
army officers high .ini crank, among
them being Genera1sI Sherman, Sheri-
dan and Hancock. lIns 1864 Lieuten-
ant Davis was promoted to the rank Of
captain in the revenue cutterssservice,
which is equal to the ranksof ina jor in
the army or lieutenant scommander in
the navy.
In 1881'CaptainuDavis came toisMi1-
waukee to take charge 1of the' station
there. He was inI command of the
Andrew Johnson, but'left in 1885 for
New York, where hestook command of
the Bear and sailed it around the cape
to San Francisco. He came back to
Milwaukee and the Andrew ~ Johnson
three years later.
In 1898 he was put in command of
the Gresham and started with her for
the Spanish-American war, but on ac-
count of his age was taken offs9in De-
troit. Later the same year.she was
given the Morrill,, which he sailed
from Philadelphia by way'of the st.
Lawrence river to Milwaukee, which
has been his headquarters since. His
duties of late years have Sbeen 'on the
St. Mary's river and investigating the
papers of the boats in the different
ports along Lake Michigan.
The retirement of Capt. Davis will
be of great interest in Kenosha, as he
is we'll known in this city. Capt.
Davis represented the United States
government at the unwilling of the
Soldiers monument and while here he
royalty entertained many ofhis friends
aboard the Morrill,.