The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1916-03-11
WEST VlRGINlA'S 'GRAND OLD MAN."
HENRY GASSAWAY DAVIS, is DEAD
PASSED AWAY EARLY TODAY
AT DAUGHTER s WASH
INGTON HOME
HAD BEEN ILL BUT A FEW
DAYS AND END CAME
VERY SUDDENLY
WAS STATE S MOST PROMI-
NEHT CITIZEN - HAD
BRILLIANT CAREER
WASHINGTON, March ii, 2 :o2

WASHINGTON, March IL, 2 :02
a. m.-HenIy Cassaway Davis,
former United States senator from
West Virginia and Vice Presiden-
tial candidate on the Democratic
ticket in 190t, died here early to-
day after a brief illness, aged e9
years.
Despite his advanced years, Sen
ator Davis remained in good
health urtil few days ago, wher
he became i'll of the grip. His con.
dition has been REGARDED as serious
for the past three days.
He died at the home of his
daughter, Mrs. Stephen B. Elkins.
wife of the Late United st.tes Sen.
ator from West Virginia.
Henry Gassaway Davis was born in
the little village ~ Woodstock. Nd.
on the sixtecnth day OF November.
1929.
His father WAS Caleb Davis. who.
some years prior 10 Henry's birth.
had been "A successful merchant OF
Baltimore. but in his late years busi-
ness reVerses had come upon him and
be moved n few miles out into the
country and bought a small farm
where now is located the village or
Woodstock.
When Henry WAS very small boy.
still more business reverses struck
his father. and the little farm In How
ard county was taken away from him.
simultaneously some railroad con-
] tracts he had undertaken resulted dis
astrously and he died very shortly al
terward, when Henry was in his early
teens.
Z IL was to his mother. who was OF
Z Scotch-Irish blood. that Henry G. Da-
Wis owed his grePtest debt OF grati-
tude. She came from a remarkab Die
family noted for the prominence that
its members have attained. and the
sound common sense that has always
characterized them.
Mrs. Dayis's sister was the mother
of the late Senator Arthur Pue Cor
man. and the two FIRST cousins were
always intimate associates. both 20.
: ilitically and socially. until death sep
arated them.
! Former Governor Howard. OF Mary.
: land. who lived in the same neighbor-
hood with the Davises. realizing their
poverty stricken condition upon the
death or their father
Gave Them a Home on His Farm.
and furnished young Henry. who was
then a robust youth OF fifteen sum
mers, work on the farm at twenty-five
cents per day.
The only education that the boy
had an opportunity to imbibe was at
a three months term school which ne
attended in the winters until the time
he became the breadwinner for the
family.
lie then insisted upon his younger
brother going to school and deprived
himself OF the continuance Of his
nIeager educational advantages that
he might keep the younger boy in
school. However he studied some ~
random under tho direction Of his
mother. who was a woman Of much re-
tnement and many accomplishments
until the age OF nineteen when a life
long friend of the family. Dr Wood
side. who was superintendent OF the
new railroad which the baltimore a
Ohio company had extended 10 Cum
berland gave him position ns freight
brakeman.
RaiirOadinE in the early "forties''
was indeed crude and attended with
fContinued ON Pare Elsvsna