Alexander M. Davis | |
|---|---|
| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromVirginia's5th district | |
| In office March 4, 1873 – March 5, 1874 | |
| Preceded by | Richard T.W. Duke |
| Succeeded by | Christopher Thomas |
| Member of theVirginia Senate fromGrayson,Carroll andWythe 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, US |
| Died | September 25, 1889(1889-09-25) (aged 56) |
| 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 a nineteenth-century politician and lawyer fromVirginia.[1] Davis served for two years in theVirginia 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 fromEmory and Henry College, then read law.
He married Mary Jane Dickenson Davis (1848–1896), daughter of Col. John Dickenson of Grayson County (and for whomDickenson 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).
Admitted to the bar in 1854, Davis began his private legal practice inWytheville, Virginia, and later moved toIndependence, Virginia.
At the outbreak of theCivil War, Davis served in theConfederate Army ascaptain of Company C of the45th Regiment, Virginia Infantry in 1861. He earned a promotion tomajor in 1862 and another tolieutenant colonel in 1864. Captured near the end of the war, he was held prisoner onJohnson's Island inLake Erie.
After his release, Davis was elected to theVirginia Senate, and served from 1869 to 1871, when he was succeeded by fellow Confederate veteranAbner W. C. Nowlin. The following year Davis ran as aDemocrat for theUnited States House of Representatives. He was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives with 50.55% of the vote, defeating RepublicanChristopher Yancy Thomas. However, Thomas successfully contested the result and was seated in March 1874. Afterward, Davis resumed practicing law inIndependence, Virginia
Davis died in Independence on September 25, 1889. Some of his family's papers are held in the special collections at theCollege of William and Mary.[2]
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
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| Preceded by | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives fromVirginia's 5th congressional district 1873–1874 | Succeeded by |
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