The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-07-27
HENRY c. DAvls's CAREER.
Democratic Vice Presidential candl-
 date Is Nearly 91 Years Old.
From the New York Times.

From the New York Times.
 Henry Gassaway Davis. the democratic vice-presldential nominee is a man with more than an ordinary business and po- litical career In West Virginia and near by states he long has been regarded as financial giant, and his political life has been characterized by conservatism and sagacity.
 His nomination at St. Louis confers upon him the peculiar distinction of being the oldest candidate ever selected for the office, Mir Davis having been born in Woodstock Md, on November 16, 1923. Ills father was Caleb Davis, successful Baltimore merchant, who died a few after the sons birth, and his mother was a Miss Louise Brown. whose sister was the mother of Senator German of Maryland.
 Like Judge Parker MT. Davis spent his early days a farm. He received his education in a village school, and at the age of twenty entered the employ of the Baltimore and Ohio railroad as brake man. He was promoted to be a con ductor and afterward became station agent at Piedmont. his present home. Having served with the railroad company for fourteen years, he turned his atten- ton to commercial pursuits and estab- lished the firm of Davis & Brothers at Piedmont
 Socially he always was diffident even backward at times. but when called upon he never failed to declare his con- victions. Tn his railroad life, however. his practical skill. courage, and energy overcame all difficulties
 Piedmont was the center of the Cum berland bituminous coal region. The pres ent great coal fields of that part of the country were then undeveloped, and Davis perceived that that section was one of immense industrial promise The firm of Davis & Brothers engaged In the shipping of coal and lumber for the producers, and their business grew rapidly.
 In 1860 Henry G. Davis organized the Piedmont Savings bank and became it's president. This bank was supplanted by the National Bank of Piedmont, of which MT. Davis Is also the guiding spirit. He and his brothers, whose possessions were originally insignificant, have since been able to count their capital by millions while their landed estate at one time ap- proximated 100000 acres.
 Before the war MT. Davis was a whIg, while after it's close he allied himself with the conservative wing of the democratic party.
 He made his entry into politics in 1865, when he was elected to the West Virginia house of delegates. He was a delegate from West Virginia to the democratic na-
  in 1868 he was elected to the legislature of his state as union democrat being re- elected two years later. In 1870 he was made United States senator to succeed w. T. Wiley. republican. he being the first democratic member of that body from the then young state of West Virginia. At the expiration of his term he was re- elected. After serving twelve years In the senate and seventeen years in the leg islature he declined further political hon ors, preferring to devote his entire time to his private affairs.
 Early In his public career he assumed an unequivocal position on financial ques- tions, from which he has never departed. Almost at the beginning of his legislative service he was confronted with the issue of the responsibility of West Virginia for a portion of the debt of the Old Dominion. Despite the advice of friends who consid- cred momentary popularity rather than justice, he took a bold stand in favor of his states meeting her Just proportion of the debt of the mother state, when that equitable proportion could be ascertained. By reason of his determination he made a profound impression upon all his asso- ciates.
 Until recently MT Davis was president of the West Virginia, Central and Pitts burg railroad, which he projected, and also of the Piedmont and Cumberland railroad. He was one of the delegates to the Pan-American congress, and was a member of the United States Interconti- mental Railway Commission Today he is known as one of West Yirginias Big Four and had the boom of Senator Cor aged 1t.
 In 1853 he married Miss Kate A. Bantz a daughter of Judge Gideon Bantz of Frederick. Md. He has ore son, John T. Davis. who lives in Elkins. Md. and three daughters-Mrs. Stephen B. Elkins, Mrs. R. Nj. c. Brown and Mrs. Arthur Lee. His wlie died two years ago, He has a beau- tiful villa at Deer Park Md, where he passes the summer months.