John H. Davis (publisher) facts for kids

John H. Davis (born around 1820s or 1831 – died 1896) was an important African-American leader in Roanoke, Virginia. He was a newspaper publisher, a politician, and a very successful businessman who bought and sold land. People said he was smart and good at business, and he used his money to buy lots of property. He worked hard to help his community grow and succeed.

Early Life of John Davis

John Davis was likely born in the 1820s or early 1830s. Records show he was of mixed race and lived in Campbell County, Virginia. We don't know much about his very early years. However, by the end of the American Civil War, he had taught himself how to read and write. By 1869, he owned some property. He was married to Ann Eliza Stuart, and they probably did not have children.

Because of the time he was born, John Davis was a "self-made man." This means he achieved success through his own hard work. He was born near Lynchburg around 1831. After teaching himself to read and write, he moved to Big Lick (which later became Roanoke) because land there was inexpensive.

Roanoke's First Black Newspaper

In 1891, John Davis started the Roanoke Weekly Press newspaper. He worked with Dr. Robert J. Boland and lawyer Thomas T. Henry, who helped write and edit it. This was the first newspaper for Black people in Roanoke, and maybe even in all of southwestern Virginia.

Only one copy of the newspaper still exists today, kept at the Library of Virginia. However, some of its articles were printed again in other Black newspapers across the country.

The Roanoke Weekly Press strongly spoke out against unfair treatment, like lynching and unequal court sentences for Black people. It supported the Republican Party (United States) in Roanoke and demanded better schools for everyone. The newspaper also encouraged self-reliance. One article told local Black people to "work for ourselves: educate, educate, acquire property, establish businesses and encourage manufactories among our own people." This meant they should build their own businesses and communities.

John Davis's newspaper was so well-known in the Gainsboro neighborhood that even businesses owned by white people advertised in it. The newspaper was published from May 1891 to March 1892.

Buying and Selling Land

John Davis was one of the first people to buy and sell land in Roanoke. He bought over 30 pieces of property in different parts of the city. He was worth a lot of money, possibly between $50,000 and $75,000, which was a huge amount back then.

He helped turn the Gainsboro, Roanoke, Virginia neighborhood into a busy business area. He had bought land very cheaply before Big Lick became the city of Roanoke. After the city grew, the value of his properties went way up.

He built a four-story wooden building called Davis Hall. It was a famous meeting place for Black social events. It had spaces for rent, meeting rooms, a grocery store, and a restaurant. He also built the Davis Hotel, a two-story building. By 1893, Davis also ran a drugstore. This was one of the first drugstores in southwestern Virginia owned by a Black person. He hired Isaac D. Burrell, who later became a well-known doctor and pharmacist. Dr. Burrell bought Davis Hall in 1896 and kept his drugstore there until it burned down in 1900.

Active in Politics

John Davis was very involved in local politics. He was a member of the Republican Party (United States) and also the Virginian Readjuster Party. The Readjuster Party wanted to "readjust" (change) Virginia's state debt to help fund public schools.

He ran for Roanoke's City Council twice, in 1884 and 1885. In 1884, he represented his district at a state convention in Richmond. He was chosen to go to the National Republican Convention in Chicago, but he did not attend. He ran for city council in Roanoke's Second Ward as a Republican, but he did not win. A year later, in 1885, he ran again for city council and was nominated by Black leaders, but he still did not win.

Death and Burial

After a difficult economic time in 1893, John Davis became sick with stomach cancer. He passed away in 1896. His body was displayed at Davis Hall, and his funeral was handled by a local funeral home. His obituary mentioned that he was not a member of any church, but he liked the Baptist faith. He was also a Mason and an Odd Fellow, which are social and charitable organizations.

He was buried in the Davis Family Cemetery, near the public cemetery in the Gainsboro neighborhood. In 1961, when Interstate 581 was built, it's possible that John and Ann Davis's remains were moved to another cemetery called Coyner Springs. Today, the exact location of their graves is unknown.