Legislator Details
Vital Records Information:
Marital Information:
married Estella Eldred, dau. of Thomas B. Eldred, 3/22/1867; children: 4, Anna (adopted), Dora, Thomas, and Percy
Number of Children: 4
Background
Education:
district schools; 1 year of high school in Crown Point, IN; attended college in Valparaiso, IN, 3 years; graduated from DePauw University at Green Castle, IN, AB, 1868, AM, 1871; attended Michigan Law school at Ann Arbor, 1869-70
Biographical Sketch:
Son of Samuel C. and Margaret J. (McSperren) Davis. He moved to Kalamazoo in 1870. He taught two years in the district schools of Indiana. While doing his collegiate work, he taught mathematics and Greek 1 year at Valparaiso college, and Latin, Greek and mathematics for 2 years at Danville Academy in Hendricks County, IN; also acted as tutor at DePauw University for 2 years. He was admitted to the bar in November 1870 in Van Buren Co., and practiced law in Kalamazoo. He held the office of justice of the peace in Kalamazoo for 12; was circuit court commissioner 4 years; and United States circuit court commissioner for the western district of Michigan 4 years. In the fall of 1888, he was elected judge of probate of Kalamazoo County, which office he held for 8 years. He was president of the Kalamazoo County Sunday School Association for over 10 years, and for 9 years member of the executive committee of the Michigan State Sunday School Association, having served as its president one year. He owned a farm in Kalamazoo Co. Member of the Knights of Pythias, Phi Gamma Delta fraternity
Notable Facts:
Kalamazoo County Probate Judge, 1889-1896