Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 03.djvu/194

 DAVIS

DAVIS

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staff of the Charleston Xeirs and Courier, 1875, and was principal of Mt. Zion institute. 1876-^0. In 1877 he was married to Sallie E., daughter of Dr. Joseph Le Conte of the University of Cali- fornia. On the reopening of the South Carolina college of agriculture and mechanics in 1880 he was elected to the chair of history and political science and civics, and as a resident of Columbia, was elected in turn a member of the county, state, and city school boards. He published the History of Education in South Carolina (1883), and numerous articles on economic subjects.

DAVIS, Robert Thompson, representative, was l)orn in County Down, Ireland, Aug. 28, 1823; son of John and Sarah (Thompson) Davis. He was brought to America in 182G, and acquired his early education in the schools of Ames- bury, Mass., and at Friends school. Prov- idence, R.I. He was graduated in med- icine from Harvard in 1847, and practised in "VVaterville, Maine, 1847-50, and in Fall River, Mass., after 1850. He was a mem- ber of the Massachu- setts constitutional convention in 1853, and in 1858 and 1860 was elected a state senator. He served as a delegate to the National Republican conventions of 1860 and 1876, and in 1873 was mayor of Fall River. He was a representative in the 48th, 49th and 50th congresses, 1883-89. His first wife, Sarah Congden "Wilbur, died in 1856, and he was married in 18G2 to Susan A., daughter of Moses Haiglit of We.stcliester county, N.Y.

DAVIS, Robert Wyche, representative, was born in Lee county, Ga., March 15, 1849; son of the Rev. Jesse M. and Elizabeth (Dickerson) Davis, and grandson of the Rev. William Davis, a pioneer Bapti.st minister of Georgia. He was educated in the public schools, and in 1863 entered the Confederate army, serving until the close of the war. He was admitted to the bar in 1868, and practised law in his native state until 1879 when he removed to Florida. He was a representative in the Florida state legislature in 1885 and 1886, and .speaker in 1886. He was an unsucce.ssful candi<late for governor in 1888. He was a Democratic representative from Florida in the 55th-58th congresses. 1897- 1903.

DAVIS, Thomas, representative, was born in Dublin. Ireland, Dec. 18, 1806. He was brought to America in 1817 by his parents who .settled in

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Rhode Island, where he was educated. He learned the trade of jeweller and extended the business to that of a manufacturer of jewelry, organizing the firm of Sackett, Davis & Co., Providence. He represented North Providence in the General assembly, 1845-53, was a repre- sentative in the 33d congress, 1853-55, and a state senator, 1877-78. He was an unsuccessful candidate for the 34th, 36th, 42d, 43d and 46th congresses. In 1878 his firm became financially embarrassed and in 1883 went into liquidation. The laws of Rhode Island deprived him of the right of citizenship, as he held no property, and as an alien he lost his right to vote. This con- dition attracted wide attention, presenting, as it did, an ex-representative of the U.S. congress deprived of his right of franchise by reason of loss of wealth. Mr. Davis paid all his debts and thereafter devoted himself to obtaining a repeal of the unjust law. He was returned to the General assembly of Rhode Island, and served in that body, 1887-90, and for a number of years on the Providence school committee. He died in Providence, R.I., July 2G. 1895.

DAVIS, Thomas Frederick, fifth bishop of South Carolina, and 57th in succession in the American episcopate, was born at Wilmington, N.C., Feb. 8, 1804. He was graduated at the University of North Carolina in 1822, and prac- tised law for several jears. He was ordained a deacon in the Protestant Episcopal church, Nov. 27, 1831, and was admitted to the priest- hood, Dec. 16, 1832. During his diaconate he served at Pittsboro and Wadesboro, and was afterward rector of St. James's, Wilmington, and St. Luke's, Salisbury. In 1846 he became rector of Grace church. Camden, S.C, and on Oct. 17, 1853, was con.secrated l)ishop of South Carolina as successor to the Rt. Rev. Christopher Edwards Gadsden, deceased. He received the honorary degree of D.D. from Columbia in 1853, and that of S.T.D. from the University of South Carolina the same year. He published ad- dresses, pastorals and occasional sermons. He died at Camden. S.C, Dec. 2, 1871.

DAVIS, Thomas Treadwell, representative, was born in Middlebury, Vt., Aug. 22, 1810; son of the Rev. Henry and Hannah Phoenix (Tread- well) Davis, and grandson of Tliomas Treadwell. His father was president of Hamilton college, 1817-33, wliere he was graduated in 1831. He wiis admitted to the bar in 1833. He became inter- ested in railroad and mining enterprises botli as counsel and as an investor. He was a repre- sentative to tlie 38th and 39th congre.sses, 1863- 67, and tliereafter witlulrevv from political life and devoted Jiis time to liis law practice and business interests. He died in Syracuse, N.Y,, May 2. 1872.