Alexander Mathews Davis (January 17, 1833 – September 25, 1889) was a nineteenth-century politician and lawyer from Virginia.[1] Davis served for two years in the Virginia Senate and briefly in the U.S. House of Representatives, before his opponent successfully contested the election result.
Born in Old Mount Airy, Virginia, Davis attended the old field schools and was privately tutored as a child. He later attended and graduated from Emory and Henry College, then read law.
He married Mary Jane Dickenson Davis (1848–1896), daughter of Col. John Dickenson of Grayson County (and for whom Dickenson County was named upon its creation in 1880). They would have at least three sons: Albert Conley Davis (1869–1893), Joseph C Davis (1871–1888) and James Garnett Davis (1873–1931).
After his release, Davis was elected to the Virginia Senate, and served from 1869 to 1871, when he was succeeded by fellow Confederate veteran Abner W. C. Nowlin. The following year Davis ran as a Democrat for the United States House of Representatives. He was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives with 50.55% of the vote, defeating Republican Christopher Yancy Thomas. However, Thomas successfully contested the result and was seated in March 1874. Afterward, Davis resumed practicing law in Independence, Virginia
Death and legacyedit
Davis died in Independence on September 25, 1889. Some of his family's papers are held in the special collections at the College of William and Mary.[2]
Referencesedit
^"Dictionary of Virginia Biography - Alexander M. Davis Biography".
^. Archived from the original on 2020-05-31. Retrieved 2020-06-12.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
alexander, davis, politician, lieutenant, governor, mississippi, alexander, davis, architect, alexander, jackson, davis, alexander, mathews, davis, january, 1833, september, 1889, nineteenth, century, politician, lawyer, from, virginia, davis, served, years, v. For the lieutenant governor of Mississippi see Alexander K Davis For the architect see Alexander Jackson Davis Alexander Mathews Davis January 17 1833 September 25 1889 was a nineteenth century politician and lawyer from Virginia 1 Davis served for two years in the Virginia Senate and briefly in the U S House of Representatives before his opponent successfully contested the election result Alexander M DavisMember of the U S House of Representatives from Virginia s 5th districtIn office March 4 1873 March 5 1874Preceded byRichard T W DukeSucceeded byChristopher ThomasMember of the Virginia Senate from Grayson Carroll and Wythe CountiesIn office 1869 1871Preceded byDistrict establishedSucceeded byAbner W C NowlinPersonal detailsBornJanuary 17 1833Old Mount Airy Wythe County Virginia USDiedSeptember 25 1889 1889 09 25 aged 56 Independence Virginia USPolitical partyDemocraticOther politicalaffiliationsConservative Party of Virginia 1869 1871 SpouseMary Jane Dickenson Davis 1848 1896 Alma materEmory and Henry CollegeProfessionlawyerMilitary serviceAllegianceConfederate States of AmericaBranch serviceConfederate ArmyYears of service1861 1865RankLieutenant colonelUnit45th Virginia InfantryBattles warsAmerican Civil War Contents 1 Early and family life 2 Career 3 Death and legacy 4 References 5 External linksEarly and family life editBorn in Old Mount Airy Virginia Davis attended the old field schools and was privately tutored as a child He later attended and graduated from Emory and Henry College then read law He married Mary Jane Dickenson Davis 1848 1896 daughter of Col John Dickenson of Grayson County and for whom Dickenson County was named upon its creation in 1880 They would have at least three sons Albert Conley Davis 1869 1893 Joseph C Davis 1871 1888 and James Garnett Davis 1873 1931 Career editAdmitted to the bar in 1854 Davis began his private legal practice in Wytheville Virginia and later moved to Independence Virginia At the outbreak of the Civil War Davis served in the Confederate Army as captain of Company C of the 45th Regiment Virginia Infantry in 1861 He earned a promotion to major in 1862 and another to lieutenant colonel in 1864 Captured near the end of the war he was held prisoner on Johnson s Island in Lake Erie After his release Davis was elected to the Virginia Senate and served from 1869 to 1871 when he was succeeded by fellow Confederate veteran Abner W C Nowlin The following year Davis ran as a Democrat for the United States House of Representatives He was elected to the U S House of Representatives with 50 55 of the vote defeating Republican Christopher Yancy Thomas However Thomas successfully contested the result and was seated in March 1874 Afterward Davis resumed practicing law in Independence VirginiaDeath and legacy editDavis died in Independence on September 25 1889 Some of his family s papers are held in the special collections at the College of William and Mary 2 References edit Dictionary of Virginia Biography Alexander M Davis Biography Archived copy Archived from the original on 2020 05 31 Retrieved 2020 06 12 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint archived copy as title link External links edit nbsp Biography portal United States Congress Alexander Davis id D000091 Biographical Directory of the United States Congress Retrieved on 2008 09 27 U S House of Representatives Preceded byRichard T W Duke Member of the U S House of Representatives from Virginia s 5th congressional district1873 1874 Succeeded byChristopher Thomas nbsp This article about a member of the United States House of Representatives from Virginia is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte nbsp This article about a person of the American Civil War is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Alexander Davis politician amp oldid 1219511885, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
