DAViS
DAVIS
practise of law in 18G2, underwent a course of
medical treatment and in 18G3 settled on a farm
in Orange county, N. Y. He was a member of
the state assembly from Orange county in 1869.
On the '-ioth of March of that year he was ap-
pointed by Presiilent Grant assistant secretary
of sUite, and while holding that office served also
in 1871 as American secretary to the joint high
commission that made the treat)' of Wasliington.
He resigned in November. 1871, at the request of
Secretary Fisli, to accept the position of Ameri-
can agent before the tribunal of arbitration at
Geneva. He prepared the case for the United
States for submission to that tribunal. On Jan.
24, 1873, he was reappointed assistant secretary
of state and was selected as arbitrator between
Great Britain and Portugal for the settlement of
a dispute. In July, 1874, President Grant ap-
pointed him U.S. minister to the German empire
and after his return at the close of Grant's ad-
ministration he was made U.S. judge of the court
of claims by President Hayes, serving from
December, 1877, to December, 1881, when Presi-
dent Arthur appointed him assistant secretary
of state. This position he resigned upon being
reappointed to the bench of the court of claims
in December, 1882, and on Nov. 5, 1883, be re-
signed to accept the position of reporter of the
decisions of the U.S. supreme court. He re-
ceived from Columbia the honorary degree of
LL.D. in 1887. He is the author of: The Massa-
chusetts Justice (1847); The Case of the United
States Laid Before the Tribunal of Arbitration at
Geneva (1871); Treaties of the United States, icith
Notes (rev. ed., 1873); and vols. 108-170 of United
States lieports; and of the additional notes in Mr.
Justice Miller's Lectures on the Constitution. He
classified and arranged neglected matter of
historical interest in the clerk's office of the
U.S. supreme court and in the Centennial Ap-
pendix in Vol. 131, and also historical data
relating to the judicial functions of the govern-
ment prior to the adoption of the Federal con-
stitution.
DAVIS, John G., representative, was born in Fleming county, Ky., Oct. 10, 1810. He lived on a farm with his i)arents and attended the dis- trict school during the winter months. He removed to Rockville, Ind., was sheriff of Parke county, 1830-31; clerk of the superior and inferior courts of the county, 183:^51, and Avas a repre- sentative from Indiana in the 32d, 33d, 3;jth and 36th congresses. 1851-55, 1857-61. He died in Terre Haute. Ind., Jan. 18, 18G6.
DAVIS, John Lee, naval officer, was born in Carlisle, Ind.. Sept. 3. 1825. He entered the U.S. naval service in 1841, as mid.shipman, and was promoted passed midshipman, Aug. 10, 1847. He was on blockade duty off the Mexican ports.
1845-46, acting lieutenant on the Prehle of the
East Indian squadron, and in November, 1849,
distinguished himself by manning a boat with
sixteen men from the Preble and capturing a
Cliinese junk off Macao, while engaged in a
piratical exploit. He was commissioned master,
Sept. 14, 1855; lieutenant, Sept. 15. 1855. and was
attached to the Gulf squadi-on at the outbreak
of the civil war as executive officer of the Water
Witch. With this vessel he successfully engaged
the Confederate rain JIanassas and the squadron
near Pilot Town, Oct. 12, 1861. He declined the
command of the Water Witch in favor of his
senior officer, was made lieutenant-conmiander,
July 16, 1862, and was with Du Pont's fleet in the
attack on Fort McAllister Nov. 19, 1862. He suc-
cessfully repaired the damage made by a solid
shot piercing the iron clad Montauk below the
water mark, and again engaged the fort, Jan.
27-Feb. 1, 1863, and with the Montauk destroyed
the Confederate privateer Xashmlle, Feb. 28, 1863.
He then was transferred with Du Ponfs fleet
to Charleston and on March 19 sank the blockade
runner Gcor/jiana, as that steamer undertook to
enter the harbor. He next commanded the
Montauk and with that vessel engaged Forts Sum-
ter, Gregg, Moultrie and Battery Bee in Septem-
ber, 1863, and Fort Sumter, Nov. 5-10 and
Fort Moultrie, Nov. 16, 1863. He was transferred
to the command of the Sassaciis of the North At-
lantic squadron and was delegated to tow Butler's
powder ship Louisiana from Norfolk to Fort
Fisher, N.C., with the design of destroying the fort
by explosion. He engaged in the unsuccessful
attack of Dec. 24-25, 1864, and in the reduction
and capture of the fort, Jan. 13-14, 1865. He
was also engaged in the capture of Fort Ander-
son on Cape Fear River, N.C., Feb. 18, and of Fort
Strong, N.C., Feb. 20-21. 1865. He was commis-
sioned commander, July 25, 1866; captain, Feb.
14, 1873, and commander, Feb. 4, 1882. He was
on the lighthouse boax'd, 1876; commanded the
flagship Trenton of the European squadron for
three years, and was on the board of inspection,
1882. He commanded the Asiatic squadron,
1883-86, receiving his commission as rear-admiral,
Oct. 30, 1885; and was retired in November, 1886.
He died in Wasliington, D.C., March 12. 1889.
DAVIS, John Merrill, educator, was born in Ilarrisonville, Ohio, Nov. 16, 1846; son of Wil- liam and Samantlia (Chase) Davis; and grand- son of Jacob and Nancy (Hedrick) Davis, and of Tliomas Jefferson and Rebecca (Romine) Chase. He served in 1863 in the transportation department of the Union army in West Virginia and Ohio and in 1865 for seven months as pri- vate in the 188th Ohio volunteers. He was graduated at Ohio university in 1873. He was principal of the preparatory department, Oliio
