Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 03.djvu/177

 DAVIS

DAVIS

Contributio)is to Knoivledge (1848) contains the results of his extensive explorations, under the title Ancient Monuments of the Jlississippi Valley. He died in New York city, May 15, 1888.

DAVIS, Emerson, clergyman, was born in Ware, Mass., July 15, 1798. He was graduated at Williams college in 1831 valedictorian of the class. He was tutor at the college two years and preceptor of Westfield academy until his installa- tion as pastor of the Congregational church at Westfield, June 1, 1836, having studied theology and been licensed to ijreach in 1824. He was a trustee of Williams college, 1833-66, and its vice-president, 1859-66, presiding at the com- mencement of 1861. He was a member of the state board of education and received the degi-ee of A.M. from Williams in 1850 and the honorary degree of S.T.D. from Harvard in 1847. His published works include: Historical Sketch of Westfield (1829); The Teacher Taught (1839) ; The Half Century (1851). He left unpublished manu- script of an elaborate biography of Trinitarian Congregational clergymen of New England, for a five volume work, afterward deposited in the library of the Congregational association, Boston, Mass., He died in Westfield, Mass., June 8, 1866.

DAVIS, Garrett, senator, was born in Mount Sterling, Ky., Sept. 10, 1801. He received a fair school training and was employed in the count}' and circuit courts of his district in copj'ing and other clerical work. His association with the law determined him to adopt it as a profession and he was admitted to practice in 1823. He served for three terms from 1833 as a member of the state legislature from Paris, K}^, and was a delegate to the state constitutional convention of 1839. He represented Kentucky as a Plenry Clay Whig and the personal friend of that states- man in the 26th, 27th, 28tli and 29th congresses, 1839-47, declining further election and devoting his time to his profession and to the cultivation of his plantation near Paris, Ky. In 1861 he was again called to the public service by the legisla- ture of Kentucky, which body elected him as a senator in congress to succeed John C. Breckin- ridge, who had resigned to join the Confederate army. He was a prominent Unionist and his influence largely decided his state against seces- sion. He was made a member of the committees on foreign relations, territories, claims and pen- sions. In 1864 President Lincoln appointed him a regent of the Smithsonian institution and in 1866 he was designated as one of the senators to attend the funeral of Lieut. Gen. Winfield Scott. He was re-elected to the U.S. senate in 1867. He was an eloquent debater and while he sustained the administration of Mr. Lincoln in all measures toward putting down rebellion, he disapproved of emancipation and confiscation, claiming the

slaves to be property and the proposed confisca- tion acts, as affecting the rights of 6,000,000 persons to $5,000,000,000 in property, as uncon- stitutional. His brother, Amos Davis, was a member of the Kentucky house of representa- tives, 1819, 1825, 1827 and 1828; a Whig repre- sentative in the 23d congress, 1833-35, and died at Owingville, Ky., June 5, 1835. Garrett Davis died at Paris, Ky., Sept. 22, 1872.

DAVIS, George Royal, representative, was born at Three Rivers, Palmer, Mass., Jan. 3, 1840; son of Benjamin and Cordelia (Bviffington) Davis; grandson of Benjamin and Tlieodosia (Barnes) Davis, and of Royal and Eunice (Morse) Buffington ; and a descendant of William Davis, who emigrated from Carmathan, Wales, in 1635 to Oxford, Mass. He was graduated from Williston semi- nary, Easthampton, Mass., in 1860, and began the practice of law, but at the out- break of the civil war enlisted in the 8th Massachusetts volun- teer infantiy, rising to the rank of captain, Oct. 30, 1862. He re- signed his commis- sion, Aug. 7, 1863, and organized a battery of light artillery in Massachusetts. He then became a captain in the 3d Rhode Island cavalry and was promoted to the rank of major, Sept. 12, 1863. As senior major he commanded that regiment in its field service. After the war he served in the west in a civil capacity under Sheridan, whom he accompanied to Chicago in 1869. He also took part in many Indian fights under General Custer. In 1867 he was married to Gertrude Schulin of New Orleans, La. In 1871 he resigned from service in the army and made his home in Chicago, where he became a member of the state militia and senior colonel of the 1st Illinois na- tional guard. He was treasurer of Cook county, was defeated for representative in the 45th con- gress, and was a representative in the 46th, 47th and 48th congresses, 1879-85. He was director- general of the World's Columbian exposition. He died in Cliicago, 111., Nov. 25, 1899.

DAVIS, George Thomas, representative, was born in Sandwich. Mass., Jan. 12, 1810. He was graduated from Harvard in arts in 1829 and in law in 1832, was admitted to the bar, and practised law in Greenfield, Mass. In 1832 he established the Franklin Mercury, which he edited, 1832-36. He was a member of the Massachusetts house of representatives for one year; was a