Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1911-12-02

Davis, moved to Piedmont, w. Va.
aid entered the employ OF the Balti-
more and Ohio Railroad COMPANY A
few years later he became a merchant
lumbernban, banker, miner and finally
a builder of railroads. e
In later years he had devoted ;nneh
tine to farming and raising finessfock
He was elected to the Legislature OF
West Virginia from Mineral county as
a democrat in 1898, overcoming a
large republican majority He has
been a member OF the state demo
cratic executive committee for more
than 80 years and was elected to the
Fifty-ninth Congress from the Second
Congressional district Of West vir-
ginia, at special election held juno
G. 1905. to fill the vacancy caused by
the resignation of former Congress
man Al G.. Dayton. He served until
the end of the Fifty-ninth Congress.
Colonel Davis made Keyser one OF
fhe most thriving and important OF
the minor cities OF West Virginia.
His gifts to the West Virginia Pre-
raratory School, at Keyser, have more
than once insured its permanency and
resulted in an efficient school being
established. Colonel Davis was never
married. but he kept up an oid-fash.
toned home in the outskirts OF the
town. where he welcomed his friends
with open-handed hospitality
-. II
Until the last year OF his life he had
manifested great interest IN the
breeding of fine horses. and the Davis
stables at Keyser have been Famed
throughout tie East. In the late
summer and fall 1t was his custom to
visit all the cornty fairs with his
string. and they we're generally win
FRS. Although he occasionally raced
his horses outside the state, he al
Why's favored the West Virginia fairs.
Colonel Davis, his brother, Henry
G. Davis. the late ex-senator Stephen
l5 Elkins and r. c. Kerens. did more
for the development OF this section
OF West Virginia than any other set
OF men. They purchased the West
Virginia coal and timber lands many
years ago, developed them. and with
the aid OF other capital built the West
Virginia Central and Pittsburg Rail-
way route from Cumberland to Elkins.
w. Va, with branch line to Davis,
their interest controlling the lt1e.
This line they later sold to the Wes-
tern Maryland Railroad Company, con-
tinuing the construction of the Coal
and Coke Railway from Elkins to Dur
bin, w. Va, where IL connects with
the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad
This latter road was constructed and
owned by Colonel r. B. Davis aad the
three men named above.
He was interested in banking. coal
mining and many other industries n
the state and was worth several mil
lions OF dollars. A considerable
amount OF his vast fortune he has
been distributing to relatives during
the past few years. but he still leaves
quite large fortune, which win go
to his nephews ami nieces, his nephew
and namesake, Thomas Is. Davis, Of
New York, it is understood. being the
chief beneficiary.
The funeral took place on Tues
Gay, under the auspices OF Davis
Lodge No 81, Ancient. Free and Ac-
cepted Masoas of Keyser OF which
lodge he was a charter member ard
whose lodge-room he furnished COM
pletely. A special train carried the
Masonic fraternity and the funeral
marty to Elidns on Tuesday, leaving
Keyser at s O'Clock in the morning,
interment was in Maplewood GENE
terry, at TahLs.
Former Senator Davis, who had re-
Gently gone to Washington for the
winter, came to Keyser as soon as he
received the telegram notifying him