Henry G. Davis
Encyclopedia
Henry Gassaway Davis was a self-made millionaire and U.S. Senator (1871–1883) from West Virginia. He was the Democratic Party's nominee for Vice President of the United States in 1904. His brother was U.S. Congressman Thomas Beall Davis
.
Henry Gassaway Davis was born near Woodstock, Howard County, Maryland to Caleb Dorsey Davis and Louisa Warfield Brown, He was the great-great-great grandson of Maryland pioneer Thomas Davis, and the great-great-great-great grandson of Maryland politician and justice Colonel Nicholas Gassaway
, both of whom were of Welsh ancestry and emigrated to Maryland in the mid 17th century.
Davis worked on a farm until 1843, when he began to work for the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
as a brakeman
and conductor. Later he was put in charge of the Piedmont, West Virginia
terminal of the railroad, and soon went into coal mining and banking in Piedmont. Davis married Katherine Ann Salome Bantz on February 22, 1853 in Frederick County, Maryland. Henry and Katherine had 8 children, 3 of whom died in infancy.
. The following year, he founded the Potomac and Piedmont Coal and Railway Company with the intent of furnishing transportation to his coal mining and timbering interests. The company was given the right to construct railroad grades in Mineral
, Grant
, Tucker
and Randolph Counties
. He became a state senator
in 1869. In 1871, he was elected to the United States Senate
, serving two terms, with his service ending in 1883.
Following his service in the Senate, Davis retired to Elkins, West Virginia
, where he resumed banking and coal mining. Davis’ company now controlled 135000 acres (546.3 km²), employed 1,600 men of sixteen nationalities, operated two power plants, and worked over 1,000 coke ovens and 9 mines within one mile (1.6 km) of the central office at Coketon
in Tucker County
. By 1892, the Davis Coal and Coke Company, a partnership between Davis and his son-in-law, Senator Stephen Benton Elkins
, was among the largest coal companies in the world.
Davis represented the U.S. at the Pan-American Conference
s of 1889 and 1901.
. Parker and Davis lost to the Republican ticket of Theodore Roosevelt
and Charles Fairbanks. At age 80, Davis was (and is) the oldest person to be nominated for President or Vice President on a major party ticket.
RMS Republic when it collided with the Italian liner SS Florida and sank off Nantucket on the following day. Bessie had her 2 living children (Hallie Elkins Davis and Henry Gassaway Davis III) with her on the voyage, as well as her mother, but no harm came to any of them and they were evacuated (along with almost all the other passengers) onto other ships which had answered the distress calls of the RMS Republic. Bessie's son Henry Gassaway Davis III later became the first husband of Grace Vanderbilt, daughter of Cornelius Vanderbilt III and Grace Graham (Wilson) Vanderbilt.
in Elkins, West Virginia
. He died in Washington, D.C.
at age 92 and is interred in the Maplewood Cemetery (Elkins, West Virginia). A bronze equestrian statue of Davis was erected in 1927, at Sycamore Street and Randolph Avenue in Elkins; it is located in the Wees Historic District
.
Thomas Beall Davis
Thomas Beall Davis , of Keyser, West Virginia, was an American politician.-Biography:Davis was born in Baltimore, Maryland, the brother of Henry Gassaway Davis....
.
Early life
Nicholas Gassaway
Colonel Nicholas Gassaway was a colonial military and political leader and justice in early Maryland. He is also notable for having originated the family name Gassaway , as a variant of his father Thomas Gaswaie’s family name...
, both of whom were of Welsh ancestry and emigrated to Maryland in the mid 17th century.
Davis worked on a farm until 1843, when he began to work for the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad was one of the oldest railroads in the United States and the first common carrier railroad. It came into being mostly because the city of Baltimore wanted to compete with the newly constructed Erie Canal and another canal being proposed by Pennsylvania, which...
as a brakeman
Brakeman
A brakeman is a rail transport worker whose original job it was to assist the braking of a train by applying brakes on individual wagons. The advent of through brakes on trains made this role redundant, although the name lives on in the United States where brakemen carry out a variety of functions...
and conductor. Later he was put in charge of the Piedmont, West Virginia
Piedmont, West Virginia
Piedmont is a town in Mineral County, West Virginia, United States. It is part of the 'Cumberland, MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area'. The population was 1,014 at the 2000 census. Piedmont was chartered in 1856...
terminal of the railroad, and soon went into coal mining and banking in Piedmont. Davis married Katherine Ann Salome Bantz on February 22, 1853 in Frederick County, Maryland. Henry and Katherine had 8 children, 3 of whom died in infancy.
Political and commercial life
In 1865 Davis was elected a member of the West Virginia House of DelegatesWest Virginia House of Delegates
The West Virginia House of Delegates is the lower house of the West Virginia Legislature. Only three states—Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia—refer to their lower house as the House of Delegates.-Historical:-Current:-District organization:...
. The following year, he founded the Potomac and Piedmont Coal and Railway Company with the intent of furnishing transportation to his coal mining and timbering interests. The company was given the right to construct railroad grades in Mineral
Mineral County, West Virginia
Mineral County is a county located in the U.S. state of West Virginia. It is part of the Cumberland, MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2010, the population was 28,212. Its county seat is Keyser.-Ancient history:...
, Grant
Grant County, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 11,299 people, 4,591 households, and 3,273 families residing in the county. The population density was 24 people per square mile . There were 6,105 housing units at an average density of 13 per square mile...
, Tucker
Tucker County, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 7,321 people, 3,052 households, and 2,121 families residing in the county. The population density was 18 people per square mile . There were 4,634 housing units at an average density of 11 per square mile...
and Randolph Counties
Randolph County, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 28,262 people, 11,072 households, and 7,661 families residing in the county. The population density was 27 people per square mile . There were 13,478 housing units at an average density of 13 per square mile...
. He became a state senator
West Virginia Senate
The West Virginia Senate is the upper house of the West Virginia Legislature.There are 17 senatorial districts. Each district has two senators who serve staggered four-year terms....
in 1869. In 1871, he was elected to the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
, serving two terms, with his service ending in 1883.
Following his service in the Senate, Davis retired to Elkins, West Virginia
Elkins, West Virginia
Elkins is a city in Randolph County, West Virginia, United States. The community was incorporated in 1890 and named in honor of Stephen Benton Elkins , a U.S. Senator from West Virginia. The population was 7,032 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Randolph County...
, where he resumed banking and coal mining. Davis’ company now controlled 135000 acres (546.3 km²), employed 1,600 men of sixteen nationalities, operated two power plants, and worked over 1,000 coke ovens and 9 mines within one mile (1.6 km) of the central office at Coketon
Coketon, West Virginia
Coketon is an unincorporated community in Tucker County, West Virginia, USA. Coketon lies at the confluence of Snyder Run and the North Fork Blackwater River south of the town of Thomas....
in Tucker County
Tucker County, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 7,321 people, 3,052 households, and 2,121 families residing in the county. The population density was 18 people per square mile . There were 4,634 housing units at an average density of 11 per square mile...
. By 1892, the Davis Coal and Coke Company, a partnership between Davis and his son-in-law, Senator Stephen Benton Elkins
Stephen Benton Elkins
Stephen Benton Elkins was an American industrialist and political figure. He served as the Secretary of War between 1891 and 1893...
, was among the largest coal companies in the world.
Davis represented the U.S. at the Pan-American Conference
Pan-American Conference
The Conferences of American States, commonly referred to as the Pan-American Conferences, were meetings of the Pan-American Union, an international organization for cooperation on trade and other issues. They were first introduced by James G. Blaine of Maine in order to establish closer ties...
s of 1889 and 1901.
Candidate for Vice President
In 1904, Davis became the Democratic nominee for Vice President on a ticket with Alton B. ParkerAlton B. Parker
Alton Brooks Parker was an American lawyer, judge and the Democratic nominee for U.S. president in the 1904 elections.-Life:...
. Parker and Davis lost to the Republican ticket of Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt was the 26th President of the United States . He is noted for his exuberant personality, range of interests and achievements, and his leadership of the Progressive Movement, as well as his "cowboy" persona and robust masculinity...
and Charles Fairbanks. At age 80, Davis was (and is) the oldest person to be nominated for President or Vice President on a major party ticket.
Bessie A. Davis and the Wreck of the RMS Republic
On January 23, 1909, Bessie A. Davis, the wife of Henry's son John Thomas Davis, was aboard the White Star linerWhite Star Line
The Oceanic Steam Navigation Company or White Star Line of Boston Packets, more commonly known as the White Star Line, was a prominent British shipping company, today most famous for its ill-fated vessel, the RMS Titanic, and the World War I loss of Titanics sister ship Britannic...
RMS Republic when it collided with the Italian liner SS Florida and sank off Nantucket on the following day. Bessie had her 2 living children (Hallie Elkins Davis and Henry Gassaway Davis III) with her on the voyage, as well as her mother, but no harm came to any of them and they were evacuated (along with almost all the other passengers) onto other ships which had answered the distress calls of the RMS Republic. Bessie's son Henry Gassaway Davis III later became the first husband of Grace Vanderbilt, daughter of Cornelius Vanderbilt III and Grace Graham (Wilson) Vanderbilt.
Last years
Davis in his last years acted as chairman of the permanent Pan American Railway Committee (1901–1916) and also donated land to build Davis and Elkins CollegeDavis and Elkins College
Davis & Elkins College, also known as D&E, is a small residential liberal arts college located in Elkins, West Virginia, United States. The school was founded in 1904 and is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church. It was named for Henry G. Davis and his son-in-law Stephen B. Elkins who were both...
in Elkins, West Virginia
Elkins, West Virginia
Elkins is a city in Randolph County, West Virginia, United States. The community was incorporated in 1890 and named in honor of Stephen Benton Elkins , a U.S. Senator from West Virginia. The population was 7,032 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Randolph County...
. He died in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
at age 92 and is interred in the Maplewood Cemetery (Elkins, West Virginia). A bronze equestrian statue of Davis was erected in 1927, at Sycamore Street and Randolph Avenue in Elkins; it is located in the Wees Historic District
Wees Historic District
Wees Historic District is a national historic district located at Elkins, Randolph County, West Virginia. It encompasses 282 contributing buildings, 1 contributing site, and 1 contributing object in a primarily residential section of Elkins. The district includes houses representative of popular...
.
See also
- Davis and Elkins CollegeDavis and Elkins CollegeDavis & Elkins College, also known as D&E, is a small residential liberal arts college located in Elkins, West Virginia, United States. The school was founded in 1904 and is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church. It was named for Henry G. Davis and his son-in-law Stephen B. Elkins who were both...
, in Elkins, WV; named for Senators Davis and Elkins - Graceland (Elkins, West Virginia)Graceland (Elkins, West Virginia)Graceland in Elkins, West Virginia is a historic mansion that was the summer home of Henry Gassaway Davis, a United States Senator from 1871–1883. The mansion was completed in 1893. It is listed separately on the National Register of Historic Places and is a designated National Historic...
; the summer home for Davis and a National Historic Landmark - Henry Glassaway Davis HouseHenry Glassaway Davis HouseHenry Glassaway Davis House, also known as the Knights of Pythias Lafayette Lodge Number 3 and Calanthe Temple #8 Pythian Sisters, is a historic home located at Piedmont, Mineral County, West Virginia. It was built in 1871, for U.S. Senator and Vice Presidential nominee Henry G. Davis . It is a...
; Davis' home at Piedmont, West Virginia, built in 1871