The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1908-10-08

still Young man, ami Colonel Walter
survive unu about a year $50, when he
passed away in Massaci Use IT'S, where he
had made his home since tfe war, past
ninety years Of age. II Was my gocu
fortune to meet him Tor The first tim At
the Boston G. 4. r. encGmpment four
years ago, then vigorous IN body anC
mind also extremely interesting III re
lating incidents OF his service with TIE
4th Maine, iii which he paid nigh rribuae
TO Lieut.. Colonel Davis end Major Roo IT
H. Gray of Stoc.: ton, who vas morally
wounded in The Wilderness battle. When
the government resumed control of sou h
ern ports in 1865, Colonel Davis was ap
pointed Collector of Customs at Browns
vile, Texas. which Office he held to the
day Of his death, 20 years later. On the
border of Mexico, with q complication OF
questions constantly arising in national
revenue jurisprudence, his Office was
most important one, involving ARITHMETIC
knowledge prudence and tact. He found
himself in hostile country comparatively
alone but was always equal to every
emergency. He was honest. dignified,
Just and conciIiatory, but firm as public
official, and soon won the respect end
friendship of the southern people to
marked degree. which he retained to the
end. He found a congenial climate and
decided his life work to be there. He
identified himself with the people and the
interests of his new home, and finally
married the daughter Of a Captain Chand-
Ter of New Orleans, by whom he had two
daughters, now living. After his death
the family moved to Southern California,
where Mr. Davis had brother, and it
+Io+ lo o1Iacf Jo1ub-
ter, when quite young, married James
Floyd Walker son of J. H. Walker,
former member Of the great bonanza
mining firm Of Flood, Mackey & 0 Brien.
They moved to Boise City, Idaho Mr..
Walker is an architect and designed and
constructed the Idaho State building at
the St. Louis Worlds Fair. They now
reside in San Antonio, Texas, and have
two children, d son and daughter, II and
19 respectively Marie was ten years old
at time of her fathers death, and remen1-
bers him wildly Her sister George,
named for her father, was eight years
younger. She married eighteen months
since Theodore Wempel of ST. Louis, Of
distinguished Missouri family, who is
now connected with the Mexican Railroad
Co. They reside in Monterey. Mexico.
George is said to resemble her father in
features and general character. She IS
extremely talented and superior mu-
stefan. Both young ladies manifest
deep interest in the history OF their tath-
err and write Of him IN expressions OF ten
derness most touching. | feel Justi1ed III
quoting an extract from letter written
bv Marie, the eldest, to a sister Of Col.
Davis, because of the extreme interest
with which it will be received by the
many friends of her father, especially
by those who shared with him the hard
ships and dangers of battle in the old 4th
Maine. When writing of her son and his
fondness for horseback riding she says
papa had such good looking horses.
loved to ride and | had my own horse,
white pony. Papa was so indulgent. he
got me the most beautiful saddle, MeNl-
can leather | remember it was all de
signed like the carved Mexican ''peos.
| would 90 for my rides through the
country, a typical Texas girl, hair tying
| always wore it in ringlets. What
happy petted child | was, humored and
loved by the best of fathers. What a
world of comfort we would have been to
each other. | seem to feel so close TO
him tonight. Thinking OF my beautiful,
darling papa, always Weaves a speA ABOUT
me which l cannot explain On we ala
love each other so dearly.
The large circle of old friends OF Colonel
Davis have but slight knowledge OF ms
career after locating in the south, anu few
are aware that he has a family. To them
such a sweet message from MS daughter
will be especially gratifying
Woodbury. Davis, the youngest member
of this noted family was from chlldhood
| a book worm with but few books at his
call. He never lost an appetite Tor knoWl7
edge of any character and never rested
until he mastered any problem brought
to his attention. His one recreation was
the game of checkers, and in it his equal
was not to be found in the surrounding
| towns while he gave it attention. he
| embraced the first opportunity to locate
| at the county seat, as clerk IN the store
of Beaman & Perry, to be where he could
have access to books, finally completing
his law studies in the office OF Nehemiah
| Abbott. a leader of the Waldo county
bar. who was elected a member OF Con-
gress in 1856.
Mr.. Davis was admitted to practice IN
1S47. Although for several years he nao
been an adviser and admitted wise
counsellor to his townsmen, VINO al
recognized his learning, his quiet logic
and bower in dealing with all questions,
his nomination for county attorney nav
| ing been made two years before admis-
sion to the bar. He had debated the
slavery and temperance questions at tne
schoolhouse lyceums, and at all puoIic
discussions was regarded by those VINO
disagreed with him as dangerous op-
ponent, but his natural modesty prevent
ed him assuming party leadership, as ne
did not possess those qualities, winch apcc
pear inherent in so many individuals OF
much less capacity in other particulars.
He opened the first office in Brooks, put
changed to Belfast in 184S, where until
1854, his profession afforded him scarcely
more than living. His retiring dlspo-
sition and unassuming manners made an
advancement slow, but the unpopularlty
of his political principles and champion
ship Of the Maine liquor law placed MN ~,
in class alone at the bar. and his aolll-
ties, scholarship and legal knowledge re-
ceived but slight recognition from broth
er lawyers, the Waldo bar then embrac-
ing several men who had no superlors IN
the State. Mr.. Davis continued STU,
dent, and the years constantly increased
his store of knowledge. Not only legaal
but in literature, science and general al
fairs. When the new Republican party
came into being Mr.: Davis was at once nc