The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1906-02-24
r. n. DAVIS.


O'Clock Mr.. R. H. Davis OF this
city passed away, after brief ILL
ness The news of his death came
as a great shock, as few knew that
he was sick.
Mr.. Rees H. Davis was the second
son of Mr.. and Mrs. E. ]. DAVIS,
deceased, and was born in Aber-
avon, Wales, July, 1857. With h1sI
parents he came to this country IN
1863, going to Salt Lake City, and
then to Brig ham City, Utah, where
they .esided about two years
They then moved to Oneida county,
settling at Malad, Idaho. Mr.
Davis father was shoemaker
But shortly after coming to Idaho,
then a territory, he was elected
assessor of Oneida county, in which
Office he served several terms, after
which he was appointed postmaster
His father and mother were OF
strong, sturdy Welsh stock, and
from them he derived the rugged
ness of his character. His father
was a skillful leader of men, OF
ready wit, and keen reasoner.
Mr.. Davis, the subject of this
sketch, enjoyed the benefits, which
were very meagre, of such educa-
ton as the schools of Malad, a
pioneer frontier town, afforded.
But he was an omniverous reader OF
GOOD books, as we'll as keen judge
of human nature. These were the
solid bases to his education. From
the former, he gained a wide in
formation of the affairs of life; from
the latter, he learned to know hui
mainly. His experience, too, was
varied. When boy, he started te
team between Utah and Montana
later he became a lineman ano
telegrapher on the old telegraph
line between Salt Lake City ant
Butte. For several terms he laugh
school in the Malad Valley, hi
wife and brothers and sisters bein,
among his pupils.
He was married to Miss Sophi
Lewis, daughter of Judge Lewis G
Malad in 10 and from this unio
seven children were born, five Q
whom-John L., Margaret, Emyr
J., r. H., jr., and Geo. Ian
his wife survive him.
After his marriage, he becam
the owner of saw mill nes
Malad, in Oneida County, whlc
he conducted until after he pull
chased a newspaper,-The Oneid
Herald,-in 1886. He installe
this plant in room OF his hous
at Malad and named 1t the Mala
Enterprise. Up until this time tt
paper was practically a failur
But in 1890 the paper had a rep
tation because of the cleaness ar
forcefullness of its editorial ute
ances over all that section OF tt
state. In I8oo-I,-when the pap
exposed the scandals under II
Wiley administration.-it gain
State wide reputation, and sin
that time Mr.. Davis has been
public character, known throug
out this inter-mountain region as
thinker and writer. In 1898.
came to this city and purchas
from Steunenberg Bros, the Cal
we'll Tribune. And in the sai
year he established the Onei
Herald at Preston, Idaho, tt
giving him the editorship and &C
troll of three newspapers in diff
ent parts of the state. lmmedia
ly on coming here he took up
matter of popular ownership
irrigation canals and in spite
reyerses, abuse and opposite
kept up the agitation agai'
private ownership of water syste
until the greater number OF
canals in this and other sections
the State passed to the peopl
hands. A. about the same time
opposed the naming of its che
for Senator by the Republicans
convention at the dictation
Co.o&or nrhoiS which mt Qule