Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury [Connecticut]) 1903-1917, 1904-08-10
HENRY GASSAWAY DAVIS
DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE FOR THE
VICE PRESIDENCY.
Started Life as Brakeman and Now
Is One Of Americas Rich
est Men.

Henry Gassaway Davis, statesman,
capitalist and former United States SEN
ator from West Virginia, who was nom
mated for vice president by the demo-
cratic national convention, lis 81 years
old, but hearty and vigorous and so ac-
tive in politics and affairs that he has
been the leading candidate among the
democrats In West Virginia for the
gubernatorial nomination for the past
year.
Mr. Davis was born in Baltimore No
vember 10, 1928, and attended the coun-
ty schools. Early In life he was de-
prived OF both his parents and forced to
earn his own living
At the age of 18 Davis became mana
ger OF plantation in Virginia, which
position he left shortly to engage In rail-
reading. He was successfully brake
man, conductor and station agent on the
Baltimore & Ohio at Piedmont, w. Va,
and later, having stamped his strong
personality upon men Of affairs In his
adopted state, and having made UP his
mind that there we're great possibilities
in the development OF the state, he en-
gagged In coal mining, and rapidly ac-
cumulated fortune.
He projected and carried through to
success the West Virginia Central &
Pittsburg railroad, Of which he is presi-
dent, and slowly became Identified with
almost every substantial interest In the
state.
Among other positions he IL presi-
dent of the Piedmont q Cumberland
railroad, the Davis national bank at
Piedmont, where he lives, and OF half .
dozen coal and iron companies.
| Mr. Davis isworth over $40 200, 900 and
| is one OF the most popular men In his
| state. where he is known as the grand
| old man Of West Virginia"
During the war Mr.. Davis espoused the
cause OF the union. IN 1865 he was elect
ed to the West Virginia house of dele
| gates. He became state senator In
1867, serving two terms, and In 1871 he
was elected to the United States senate.
He served one term there and declined
a reelection.
MIR. Davis has been delegate to six
democratic national conventions and
was one Of the American delegates to the
| Pan-American congress.
He was delegate-at-large to the st.
Louis convention.
He Is the father-in-law
/ Of United States Senator Elkins, of West
Virginia. the republican leader Of the
state, and COUSIN Of Senator German,
Of Maryland.
Henry G. Davis began in business life
as brakeman. BY lEyinE carefully ans
~ L
man was enabled to purchase short
time later over $4,000 acres OF wilder
ness land in the heart OF West Virginia.
The land developed rich stores Of coal
deposits, and the timber when cleared
brought good prices. This fortunate in
vestment was the beginning Of Davis
fortune.
He built the West Virginia Central
/ railroad and superintended the entire
work from the start to its completion
Workmen were accustomed to say that
Davis knew every nail that entered into
the construction Of the road
This wilderness has now large towns
and many industries.
He had gone on horseback over the
4 whole route and bought up the station
sites and surroundings long before the
report about the new road was pub
1 lished Mr.. Davis-or Senator Davis, as
he lis universally called--is one OF the
leading muItismilI ionaires of the coun-
try. He has not figured as much in the
news of the day as he once did, but that
does not mean that he has not takes
4 large hand in the great matters Of
business and politics.