Democratic Sentinel, Volume 10, Number 22, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 July 1886 — BIOGRAPHICAL. [ARTICLE]

BIOGRAPHICAL.

A Short Sketch of Judge Davis' Busy I,ife. Judge David Davis was born in Cecil County, Maryland, March 9, 1815. He received a careful education in the best American schools of the early part of the century. He studied law with Judge Bishop in Lennox. Mass., and afterward in the law school at New Haven, Conn., graduating as the first of liis class. Judge Davis removed to Bloomington, HI., in 1836, being then 21 years of age. His home was in that city from that date until his death. He soon gained prominence as a lawyer and local politician. In 1845 he was chosen a member of the lower house of the Illinois Legislature. He was a member of no party, and he soon attracted attention by his conscientious work and bis freedom of action on all questions. He was chosen to th a Constitutional Convention of 1847, and tho next year elected Judge of the Eighth Judicial Circuit of Illinois. He was re-elected to this office in 185), and again in 1861. His capacity for work and his clearcut decisions soon became proverbial all over the State and beyond its borders. He and Abraham Lincoln became warm friends long before the latter rose to more than local prominence. He became one of Lincoln’s most ardent supporters for the Presidency and took an important place in national affairs as adviser of Lincoln after Lincoln’s election to that high office. President Lincoln appointed Judge Davis Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States Deo. 8, 1862. After Lincoln's death Judge Davis became administrator of his estate. At the National Convention of the labor reform party held in Columbus, Ohio, Feb. 21, 1872. Judge Davis was nominated for President of the United States, the candidate for Vice President on the same ticket being Joel Parker, of New Jersey. When the Liberal Republicans nominated Horace Greeley for President at tho Cincinnati Convention of the same year, Judge Davis, who had been a candidate before the same convention, receiving 92% votes oil the first ballot,withdrew from the field. Judge Davis remained on the Supreme Court bench until 1877,when he resigned to take his seat in the United States Senate, he having been elected to that body by the Independents and Democrats of the Thirtieth General Assembly of Ulinois. After the death of President Garfield Judge Davis was chosen President of the Senate, in which position be was virtually Vice President of the United States. Soon after retiring from the Senate in 1883, he was married to a niece of Judge Green, member of Congress from North Carolina. From that time to his demise he resided quietly at his home in Bloomington.