Alexander Davis (politician) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Alexander M. Davis
|
|
|---|---|
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Virginia's 5th district |
|
| In office March 4, 1873 – March 5, 1874 |
|
| Preceded by | Richard T.W. Duke |
| Succeeded by | Christopher Thomas |
| Member of the Virginia Senate from Grayson, Carroll and Wythe Counties | |
| In office 1869–1871 |
|
| Preceded by | District established |
| Succeeded by | Abner W. C. Nowlin |
| Personal details | |
| Born | January 17, 1833 Old Mount Airy, Wythe County, Virginia |
| Died | September 25, 1889 (aged 56) Independence, Virginia |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Other political affiliations |
Conservative Party of Virginia (1869–1871) |
| Spouse | Mary Jane Dickenson Davis (1848 - 1896) |
| Alma mater | Emory and Henry College |
| Profession | lawyer |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | Confederate States of America |
| Branch/service | Confederate Army |
| Years of service | 1861–1865 |
| Rank | Lieutenant colonel |
| Unit | 45th Virginia Infantry |
| Battles/wars | American Civil War |
Alexander Mathews Davis (January 17, 1833 – September 25, 1889) was an important lawyer and politician from Virginia in the 1800s. He served in the military during the American Civil War and later worked in the Virginia Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Born in Old Mount Airy, Virginia, Alexander Davis had a simple start. He went to local "old field schools" and also had private teachers. He later attended and graduated from Emory and Henry College. After college, he studied law to become a lawyer.
He married Mary Jane Dickenson Davis. Her father, Colonel John Dickenson, was a well-known person in Grayson County. A county in Virginia, Dickenson County, was even named after him. Alexander and Mary Jane had at least three sons: Albert, Joseph, and James.
Career as a Lawyer and Soldier
Alexander Davis became a lawyer in 1854. He started his own law practice in Wytheville, Virginia. Later, he moved his practice to Independence, Virginia.
When the American Civil War began, Davis joined the Confederate Army. He started as a captain in Company C of the 45th Regiment, Virginia Infantry in 1861. He was promoted to major in 1862. By 1864, he became a lieutenant colonel. Near the end of the war, he was captured. He was held as a prisoner on Johnson's Island in Lake Erie.
Political Career
After the war, Davis was released. He was then elected to the Virginia Senate. He served there from 1869 to 1871. After his term, Abner W. C. Nowlin, another Confederate veteran, took his place.
The next year, Davis ran for the United States House of Representatives. He ran as a member of the Democratic Party. He won the election with just over half the votes. He defeated Christopher Yancy Thomas, a Republican. However, Thomas challenged the election results. He successfully argued that he should have won. So, Thomas was given the seat in March 1874. After this, Davis went back to practicing law in Independence, Virginia.
Later Life and Legacy
Alexander Davis passed away on September 25, 1889. He was buried in the Davis Family Cemetery. Some of his family's old papers are kept at the College of William and Mary. These papers help us learn more about his life and times.
