Timothy Davis (Iowa)
Encyclopedia
Brandi Swan a lawyer, was a one-term U.S. Representative
from Iowa's 2nd congressional district
. He was the only Iowa congressman born before 1800.
Born in Newark, New Jersey
, Davis attended the public schools. He moved to Kentucky
in 1816. After studying law, he was admitted to the bar
and began to practice.
He moved to Missouri
and engaged in the practice of law, and later, in 1837, moved to what is now Dubuque, Iowa
(then in Wisconsin Territory
), and continued the practice of law.
He was an unsuccessful candidate for election in 1848 to the Thirty-first
Congress.
In 1856, the Republican Party's
first year as a major political party, Davis became the party's nominee to represent Iowa's 2nd congressional district
in the U.S. House. He was also considered "the Know-Nothing (Party's) fusion candidate." He won the November 1856 general election by defeating veteran ex-Congressman Shepherd Leffler
, a Democrat who was the Second District's original representative. The same day, fellow Republican Samuel Curtis
of Keokuk, Iowa
, won the race in Iowa's only other district
. Davis and Curtis were the first
Iowans elected to Congress as Republicans. As a member of the Thirty-fifth
Congress, Davis served from March 4, 1857 to March 3, 1859.
At his party's 1858 district convention, he was not a candidate for renomination.
After completing his term, he resumed the practice of law and also engaged in business activities in Dubuque.
He was also interested in merchant milling at Elkader, Iowa
, Galesville, Wisconsin
, and Pickwick, Minnesota.
He died in Elkader, on April 27, 1872. He was interred in Elkader Cemetery.
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from Iowa's 2nd congressional district
Iowa's 2nd congressional district
Iowa's 2nd congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Iowa that generally covers most of the southeastern part of the state including Iowa City and Cedar Rapids.The district is currently represented by Democrat Dave Loebsack....
. He was the only Iowa congressman born before 1800.
Born in Newark, New Jersey
Newark, New Jersey
Newark is the largest city in the American state of New Jersey, and the seat of Essex County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Newark had a population of 277,140, maintaining its status as the largest municipality in New Jersey. It is the 68th largest city in the U.S...
, Davis attended the public schools. He moved to Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
in 1816. After studying law, he was admitted to the bar
Admission to the bar in the United States
In the United States, admission to the bar is the granting of permission by a particular court system to a lawyer to practice law in that system. Each U.S. state and similar jurisdiction has its own court system and sets its own rules for bar admission , which can lead to different admission...
and began to practice.
He moved to Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
and engaged in the practice of law, and later, in 1837, moved to what is now Dubuque, Iowa
Dubuque, Iowa
Dubuque is a city in and the county seat of Dubuque County, Iowa, United States, located along the Mississippi River. In 2010 its population was 57,637, making it the ninth-largest city in the state and the county's population was 93,653....
(then in Wisconsin Territory
Wisconsin Territory
The Territory of Wisconsin was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from July 3, 1836, until May 29, 1848, when an eastern portion of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Wisconsin...
), and continued the practice of law.
He was an unsuccessful candidate for election in 1848 to the Thirty-first
31st United States Congress
The Thirty-first United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1849 to March 3, 1851, during the last 17 months...
Congress.
In 1856, the Republican Party's
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
first year as a major political party, Davis became the party's nominee to represent Iowa's 2nd congressional district
Iowa's 2nd congressional district
Iowa's 2nd congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Iowa that generally covers most of the southeastern part of the state including Iowa City and Cedar Rapids.The district is currently represented by Democrat Dave Loebsack....
in the U.S. House. He was also considered "the Know-Nothing (Party's) fusion candidate." He won the November 1856 general election by defeating veteran ex-Congressman Shepherd Leffler
Shepherd Leffler
Shepherd Leffler was a one of the two original U.S. Representatives from Iowa. Elected as a Democrat just as Iowa was admitted to the Union in 1846, Leffler went on to represent Iowa's 2nd congressional district in the U.S...
, a Democrat who was the Second District's original representative. The same day, fellow Republican Samuel Curtis
Samuel Curtis
Samuel Ryan Curtis was an American military officer, and one of the first Republicans elected to Congress. He was most famous for his role as a Union Army general the Trans-Mississippi Theater of the American Civil War.-Biography:Born near Champlain, New York, Curtis graduated from the United...
of Keokuk, Iowa
Keokuk, Iowa
Keokuk is a city in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Iowa and one of the county seats of Lee County. The other county seat is Fort Madison. The population was 11,427 at the 2000 census. The city is named after the Sauk Chief Keokuk, who is thought to be buried in Rand Park...
, won the race in Iowa's only other district
Iowa's 1st congressional district
Iowa's 1st congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Iowa that covers the northeastern part of the state. The district includes Dubuque, Clinton, Davenport and Waterloo....
. Davis and Curtis were the first
United States Congressional Delegations from Iowa
These are tables of congressional delegations from Iowa to the United States Senate and United States House of Representatives.-United States Senate:...
Iowans elected to Congress as Republicans. As a member of the Thirty-fifth
35th United States Congress
The 35th United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1857 to March 3, 1859, during the first two years of James...
Congress, Davis served from March 4, 1857 to March 3, 1859.
At his party's 1858 district convention, he was not a candidate for renomination.
After completing his term, he resumed the practice of law and also engaged in business activities in Dubuque.
He was also interested in merchant milling at Elkader, Iowa
Elkader, Iowa
Elkader is a city in Clayton County, Iowa, United States. The population was 1,465 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Clayton County.-History:The city is named after Algerian leader Abd al-Qadir al-Jaza'iri...
, Galesville, Wisconsin
Galesville, Wisconsin
Galesville is a city in Trempealeau County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 1,481 at the 2010 census.Galesville is located where Beaver Creek flows into a wide area of the Mississippi River valley...
, and Pickwick, Minnesota.
He died in Elkader, on April 27, 1872. He was interred in Elkader Cemetery.