The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1909-01-02
Death Of Hon. Raht. G. DaYeY.

Death of Hon. RObt. G. DaYeys
After long and painful illness, the
progress of which was marked by FREE
quent periods It remuneration and a
display of remarkable courage and
vitality on the part of the victim, Hon.
Robert Charles Davey, memter OF con-
gress from the second district OF this
state, succumbed TO his malady at the
Hotel Dieu, New Orleans, at 6 O'Clock
last Saturday morning, the 10Th OF
December.
Mr.. DaYey was born in New Or
leans, Oct. q, 1853, and that city was
always his home. His education was
obtained in the public schools and IN
the we'll known St. Vincent's College
of Cape Girardeau, Mo-, the alma
mater of many young men from south
ern Louisiana. His father wished him
to become lawyer, but young Davey's
tastes were in the direction of COM
mereial life, and he served for years
as a clerk ia the wholesale grocery
house of SchWabacher & Hirsch. Sub
sequently he became .memher OF the
leading undertaking firm of F. John
son & Son, in which be retained an
interest until his death.
He entered politics ia 1878 more by
accident than design, being chosen at
that time by warning factions of his
party as compromise candidate for
member OF the Democratic state COM
mittee from the second ward, a posi-
ton he continued to hold for the rest
OF his life, with the exception of one
term during which he prevailed upon
another citizen of the ward to I'LL
the place. In 1879 he was elected to
the state senate and continued a mem
Der of that body until his election to
congress in 1892, being chosen presi-
dent pro tenn of the senate in 1884 and
1886. In 1880 he was elected judge OF
the first recorders court, serving two
terms of four years each, and thus
acquiring the title of "Judge DaVey'
by which he was afterwards generally
known.
In 1888 he was the regular Demo
cratic candidate for mayor OF New Or
leans, but was defeated by the late
JOS. A. Shakespeare, who had the
support OF the Young Mems Demo
cratic Association and the Republican
organization. His first election to con-
gress, as already stated, was in 1892.
He declined a RECONCILIATION In 1884
and supported Hon. G. F. Buck, who
was elected. In 1896 Judge Davey was
again chosen congressman and was
reelected successfully each second
year thereafter, including 1908.
Though not prone to speechmaking,
he was an interchangeable worker and
had the knack of making friends
among his colleagues, without dis
tinction of party lines, that enabled
him to accomplish results and WELD
an influence that mere oratory would
never have gained. His nature was
kindly, open and true, and his word
was his bond. Therein lay the secret
IF it can be called a seeret-of his
great personal popularity and po-
litical strength.
Judge Dagey was married in 1875 to
Miss Margaret Johnson, daughter OF
the late Frank r. johnson, the under.
taker. Mrs. Davey died years ago,
leaving two daughters, Mesdames
Edward Lutz and James Coogan OF
Milwaukee, who survive their father.
Two brothers, John G. and William
J.sDavey, are also left with a number
of more distant relatives to mourn the
loss of a distinguished kinsman. The
funeral took place on Monday, Dec.
%, and was one of the largest that
has been seen in New Orleans for
many years. Services were celebrated
in the ST. Patrick's Catholic church,
of which deceased was a devout MEM
Der, and the remains were laid to rest
in the beautiful Metairie Cemetery.