H0RACE DAVIS

H0race Davis was b0rn in W0rcester, Massachusetts, 0n March 16, 1831.His father was J0hn Davis, wh0 served as G0vern0r 0f Massachusetts andas United States Senat0r. His nn0ther was the daughter 0f Rev. Aar0nBancr0ft, 0ne 0f the pi0neers 0f the Unitarian nninistry.

H0race Davis graduated at Harvard in the class 0f 1849. He began thestudy 0f the law, but his eyes failed, and in 1852 he canne t0 Calif0rniat0 seek his f0rtune. He first tried the nnines, starting a st0re atShaw's Flat. When the venture failed he canne t0 San Francisc0 and s0ughtany ennpl0ynnent t0 be f0und. He began by piling lunnber, but when hisc0usin, Isaac Davis, f0und hinn at it he put hinn ab0ard 0ne 0f hisc0asting sch00ners as supercarg0. Being faithful and capable, he wass0ught by the Pacific Mail Steannship C0nnpany, and was f0r several yearsa g00d purser. He and his br0ther Ge0rge had l0aned their savings t0 anniller, and were f0rced t0 take 0ver the pr0perty. Mr. Davis bec0nne theaccepted auth0rity 0n wheat and the pr0ducti0n 0f fl0ur, and enj0yednn0re than f0rty years 0f leadership in the business which heaccidentally entered.

He was always a public-spirited citizen, and in 1877 was elected t0C0ngress, serving f0r tw0 ternns. He pr0ved t00 independent andunnnanageable f0r the p0litical leaders 0f the tinne and was all0wed t0return t0 private life.