The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1904-08-21
HOME LIFE OF
HENRY G, DAVIS
Interesting Children and Grand
children of the Democratic
Candidate for Vice
President.
CIRCLE At "GRACELAND."
Mrs. Arthur Lee, Mrs. Elkins and
Mrs. John T. Davis Spend
Much of Their Time at
the West Virginia
Retreat.
CIRCLE At "GRAcELAND."

speciaI Correspondence Of The Sunday Republic.
| Elkins. ". Va. Aug. 1s.-The rugged
personality OF the Democratic nominee for
| Vice President is typical Of that wild part
Of West Virginia in which he struggled
| and won such marvellous success.
The overwhelming difficulties that con-
| tronted the man at the time he entered
West Virginia would be only an interest
| ing engineering problem to-day. for twen-
~ years have seen great strides in gen.
| eral progress.
When former Senator Davis in the sad
| die and afoot, covered every acre of the
territory that was to be part of his great
railway and mining scheme. a great por-
ton OF the State OF which he is one of the
foremost citizens was a wilderness, mag
niicent In its undeveloped resources, yet
wilderness.
For DAYS he travelled without seeing man
or his habitatiop
The mountains were filled with game,
great and small.
splendid forest growth was made. in
many parts almost impossible by under
brush.
Progress was slow. as a blazed pathway
was a necessity OF the situation. But this
never faltered.
The enterprises that he contemplated
were vast and his resources at the outset
small.
His resolution was .ndomitable. and his
energy never slackened Until he had built
railroads that made the wilds of West
Virginia accessible to the world, gave her
a carrier for her enormous wealth and. in
bic men of the world.
When tine West Virginia Central Rail-
way was completed the terminal was
named for the man who made 1t possible
The town OF Davis grew from box car
home to thriving community almost
overnight but the limitation of the town
soon became apparent TO Senator Davis.
and the road was carried on TO the beau
tiful valley where the town Of Elkins now
lies.
The West Virginia Central Railway was
wholly Davis scheme. ana all OF the
towns that sprang up along the line were
named for some member OF the family or
come OF their friends-names such as Hen
Davis and Elkins.
Some meant post Offices OF the growing
class in the department at Washington.
The new town OF Gassaway-and. by the
way. Gassaway Is pronounced by the fam
ily as II it were spelled "Gazway'-which
Senator Davis has planned on the line
Oh the coal ana tCke railway. Is naII
way between Elkins and Charleston.
When I asked Katherine Brown, the 1T
tie granddaughter of Senator Davis. about
this new town. knowing that she and her
aunt had been there a year ago. she
promptly replied: "Gassaway? Why. it's a
hole" There was no misunderstanding
that.
HE MARRIED EARLY.
Nj Davis married very early In life
Miss Bantz of Frederick. Nd. OF good Old
was a woman OF striking appearance, tall
and slender. In the years before bar
death her beautiful, wavy hair became
very white.
In the gallery at Graceland there hangs
an excellent portrait of her. painted by a
Baltimore artist. Her grandchild. Kath-
crime Brown. who was named for her,
stands at her side. Senator Davis has had
| five cNldren-Hallie. Katherine, Henry G.,
Jr.: Grace and John.
Halle Davis Elkins Is the wife of Sen
ator Stephen b. Elkins. whose country
place, Halliehurst, adtoins that of Senator
Davis. Katherine Davis married Com
mander Brown OF the navy.~now retirei
Henry G. Davis. .Jr., the eldest son.
bore a striking resemblance to his father
In many ways.
From one end Of the line to the other
Harry was beloved.
He knew and remembered at all times
every man. woman and child lat re ever
met. His sense OF humor ard love q. a
joke were well known, and il Is told OF
him that ono day he met a particularly for
lorn-lcoking tramp walking the crossties.
His greeting was. Hobo. I.ave a drink -
Taking him TO the nearest saloon he