Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-02-01
WESTMORELAND DAVIS
HAS UNIQUE RECORD
New Governor Of Virginia Comes Into Office on Platform
OF Economy and Real Business Efficiency in
Administration of State Affairs.

When Wcstihorcland Davis, OF Lou
doun County. takes the oath of Office
to-day. for the first time in its history.
virginia Will have as it's Governor
man who took that high position "a
the first political Office ever held b.
him.
When n young man in Richmond. Mr..
Davis was elected from the ranks as
captain Of Company G.. First Virginia
Volunteers and when he was a stranger
In a strange land he was again called
from the ranks to captaincy in the
Scvcntyfirst New York Regiment Ito
served for eight years as president OF
the Virginia State Farmers Institute.
but to-day will be his first as the holder
If political Office.
NEW GOVERNOR WAS
BORN on HIGH SEAS
Westmoreland Davis was born Au-
gust 81. 1852. on the high seas. while
his parents were on their way to Paris.
Ills father was the late Thomas Cor
don Davis, who came from South Caro-
lima TO Gloucester County, where he
married Miss Annie l.. Morriss. through
whom tho new Governor is related to
many Of the ancient families of that
county and the State.
Ills father died when he was but
nine months old. and his mother. like
many another Virginia woman, fought
the fight with poverty and privation
:SnSle- handed during the carly child
GOD OF the future Governor. teaching
q private school in Richmond a number
OF years. Finally, however. she was
enabled to send her son 70 the Virginia
Military Institute. Graduating there
from. Mr.. Davis in the early eighties
entered the employment Of the Rich
Inond and Danvillc and later of the
Richmond ana Allegheny Railroad. for
which he was car tracer and freight
Tf. nrfn hat. if1 NJ
his life that he became connected with
Company G, First Regiment, Virginia
Volunteers, and was elected TO It's cap
'aincy. lie was the youngest officer of
his rank in the state, but brought his
command, popularity known as the
Guard Of the Commonwealth to
high state of efficiency
SEEKS HIS FORTUNE IN
AMERICAS METROPOLIS
lie finally decided TO seek his fortune
IN New York. landing in the greatest
American city without friends or
means. lie was SO much of stranger
that he asked policeman to direct
him TO place where he might find
lodgings.
He finally secured employment with
:. law firm. working during the day and
pursuing his studies a, night Grad
ually overcoming every obstacle, this
plucky Nirginian finally hewed his way
into tOlum Did CEiNcrsity, from which
he finally graduated with the degree
Q. LII. Is He became a member Of a
law firm specializing in real estate and
commercial law. Success attended his
,noris. and tho aforetime struggling
Virginia youth became a man of affairs
and Importance III business and pro-
fess!onal circles.
MRS. DAVIS RELATED TO THE
LATE REV. j. l.. VI. CURRY, ID. d.
In the meantime he married Miss
Marguerite lumaa. a native Of Atlanta,
Ca. whose father Was William II. In
man, prominent cotton factor OF Geor-
gia. with offices In New York. Mrs.
| Davis's nother Was a Miss Curry. a
I near relative OF Rev. ]. l.. VI. Curry.
/ l.. H.. OF beloved memory among the
/ people OF Richmond and Virginia.
\ No Nirginian, IL he is so blessed with
success as TO DC able to matcrialize his
] ideals. Will long fai! to rc-establish in
/ his own life the ancient customs and
habits of living OF his people since
! Colonial days. The successful Virgin
ian in New York had a mind picture
OF the farm he wanted TO live on back
I home. How many others cherish such
dreams without being able TO material
1 ze them.
I Hence in 1909. after spending some
time in looking around. one finds Mr..
Davis buying Morven Park. in Lou