Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-03-25
VALUED AS CITIZEN
Life of EIdred G. Davis Had
Been a Useful One.
LONG RESIDENT OF CAPITAL
Prominent in the Business, Official
and Social Life of the
City.

In connection with the death and burial
this week OF Eldred G. Davis former
collector OF taxes OF the District, many
expressions OF regret are being uttered.
Few men of his day 1t is declared. had
more friends than Mr. Davis His career
as a public officer, as well as his actty-
tiles In private business life formed one
continuous record OF weil-doing F. G.
Davis was past grand master OF Masons
OF the District OF Columbia and as one
OF his close friends expressed il at his
funeral yesterday, he was Mason in
all that Masonry implies"
The funeral of Mr.. Davis was held yes
terday afternoon at 3 o'clock from his
late home. 2211 X street northwest. Serv-
ices were conducted by Rev. DR.. Herbert
Scott Smith, rector of st. Margaret's
Episcopal Church. Grand Commander
Walter II. Klopfer. assisted by the other
officers Of the Grand Commandery,
Knights Templar, of the District of Co
lumbia, performed the Templar burial
service at the house. Grand Master of
Masons George c. Ober. assisted by the
other officers OF the Grand Lodge. coz
Quoted the Blue Lodge rites at the grave
George z. COLLISION was the bearer Of the
great lights. and the bearers Of the lesser
lights were William J. Acker, Abram r.
Server and John N. Sterzer Burial was
in Oak Hill cemetery
Pallbearers at Funeral.
The active pallbearers were j. E. Heff-
ner and George A. Meyers. representing
Lebanon Lodge, No. Z; f. j. Bernhard
and Victor l.. Dodge. representing Wash
ington Royal Arch Chapter, No. 2; Benja-
min s. Graves and William s Parks, rep
resenting Washington Commandery, No.
1, and Alex. Mckenzie and Past Grand
Master Henry Is. Simpson, representing
the Grand Commandery. OF all of whrcn
bodies the deceased was member. The
honorary pallbearers were Past Grand
Masters Mccoy. Sample, Baird, Trimble
Merrill, Henderson, Wetmore, Woodman
and Coolidge.
Eidred griffith Davis was the son of
Rebecca Griffith Davis and William Da-
Wis. and he was born December %, 1887,
near Newmarket, Frederick county, Md.
At the age of seventeen he came to
Washington. and his first venture into
the business world was as clerk in
dry goods store In 1850, on account OF
the death OF his father, he returned to
frederick county TO manage the estate
and to take charge of the family farm.
Four years later he came again to Wash
inston and became clerk in the whole
sale store of S. S. Corbin & Co. Soon aft
erward he went. to Richmond, Va, and
opened branch store for the firm, and
so successful was he that within twelve
months he was offered a place in the
firm and a half interest in the Richmond
branch.
This offer he declined as he preferred
to accept tender on part OF an old
Maryland friend of the family. d. II.
similar business. Mr.. Gather furnished
the capital and Mr.. Davis the expert
ence, and the firm of Davis & Gather
was formed in 1866.
Bought Out His Partner.
The reia tions of the partners always
were pleasant. and within three years
Mr.. Davis was enabled to buy out Mr.
Gathers interest and continue on his
own account.
He was appointed collector of taxes of
the District in 1883, which post he held
for twenty years.
E. G. Davis was prominently identified
with many business interests in the CAPT.
tai. being director Of several companies.
He was director of the old Columbia Rail-
way Company and was vice president when
that company was sold to the Washington
Railway and Electric Company. For many
years he served on the directorate of the
Firemen's Insurance Company of Wash
ington and Georgetown, and he was serv-
ing as president of this company at the
time of his death. Mr.. Davis was mem
Der Of the excise board. of the board of
assessors of the District and was a MEM
Der of long standing of the Board of
Trade.
Mr.. Davis was married October IA. 1874.
to Miss Myra Louisa Davis. daughter
of one of the founders of Chicago. and
seven children born of the union sur
Davis of New York. Misses Ethel Clark,
Myra Louise. Maud Morrison. Madeline
Howard, and Mrs. Lillian Wilcox Cald-
well. and Mrs. Lorraine Addison Upton,