Milford chronicle. [volume] (Milford, Del.) 1878-1974, 1924-02-01
KIND WORDS FOR MEMORY
OF HENRY WINTER DAVIS

The following article was printed in
the Buffalo Voice." a paper printed
at Buffalo, Wyoming, Immediately af-
ter the death of H. Winter Davis, who
was born in Milford, Delaware, and
married Miss Anna P. Marshall, who
survives him. His life is almost a
page of history of the State of Wyom-
ing. Before settling he had travelled
over the great northwestern country,
but returned to Buffalo, Wyoming, to
take up his life work. The article is
reproduced from the news columns of
the local paper and follows:
/ December Goth, 1928, marked the
passing of one of Johnson COunty's
and WyOming's most characteristic
men, Henry w. Davis, who died from
a stroke of paralysis at his ranch
home on Powder River.
Born in Milford, Kent County, Della
ware in 1857, graduated from the Uni
versity of Pennsylvania, and a MEM
Der of the K A. fraternity, he came
west in his youth with saddle pony
and pack horse. Arriving at Cheyenne
he worked at the ]. N. Carey ranch
during the years of 1873 and 1879,
coming to Johnson County in 1880,
when he settled on the ranch on Pow
der River which has since been his
home. With the years he gathered to-
gether what is now one of the largest
ranches left. In 1881 he was married
to Miss Anna P. Marshall. of Milford,
Delaware, who survives him, and to
them were born son, William, who
died in infancy, Henry W., Jr., Fran
els A, Mark j., Dorothy Bell, Made
line and Frank, who are all living.
Through all of his life H. W. Davis |
was a builder; building the big things |
for his state and county. He was the |
prime mover in the building of the Sa-
hara Ditch, one of the largest irriga-
lion projects in this part of Wyoming,
and of greater benefit to the people
Of this part of the state than any
)ther single enterprise; in the heart
If an isolated country it makes the
waste spaces bloom to the very doors
If Salt Greek. While interested in
)ther ventures he had day by day
,uif up his ranch with the aid of his {
smarkably capable wife, and it had
,rown under his management to a ,
tupendous business enterprise.
In the early days of Salt Creeks q
truggle for recognition, when it was
nOwn positively that the earth in that e
icinity abOunded in oil, H. w. Davis S
-ent to New York and through ac- o
gained an interview with u
ohm D. Rockefeller, whose interest Il
e tried to enlist, but it was not until Il
ears later that he saw the fruits of "
is endeavOr grow to be the largest u
nd best producing oil field in the
orld-and like the iron hand of fate
Ie interests he had so enlisted de-
royed his own lands and farms by M
rning the oil refuse into his own In
reams, causing his well known law In
1t with the firm, and which was still
litigation at the time Of his death. 81
H. W. Davis was one Of the most In
iliant scholars of his day and kept
with all the good things in litera- Ri
re and in civilization to the end Of In
) days. He was an intimate friend
Owen Wisters' and it was at the M
wis ranch when they both were In
1ng, that most Of the scenes for
sters' "Virginian" were taken and BT
ny Of the anecdotes in Lin Nc I'M
ian were told to Wister by Mr.. Da-
in their happy evenings together Cd
the Powder River ranch. Int
When a young man, crossing the
ms of Wyoming alone, Mr.. Davis Ma
e up one night to a lonely camp Int
!, finding a young fellow in charge j
asked to camp by. The privilege To
5 granted and the two young men Int
veled together for several days. At J
lr parting Mr.. Davis was told that Gal
companions name was Theodore Int
,sevelt, of New York" Years later j
was entertained in the White
Use by his chance companion of the Z
ms.
mong other things of service to his
nty H. w. Davis served as legis- Ere
r in the first legislature establish Int.
when Wyoming became a state. il
hus marks the passing of one Of Che
innings most well known pioneers Int
he old west, having done the things Ja
CHI his education enabled him to Viol
the things no other person Of his Int.
, could have done, he came sud- ia
y to the end of the old road, and Clay
him there is new trail, west. Bull