Henry G. Davis

Henry Gassaway Davis
Henry Gassaway Davis
Born	Template:Birth date; Near Woodstock, Howard County, Maryland, U.S.
Died	March 11, 1916 (aged 92); Washington, D.C., U.S.
Occupation(s)	Businessman, politician
Years active	Mid-19th century–early 20th century
Known for	U.S. Senator from West Virginia (1871–1883); 1904 Democratic vice presidential nominee; founder of Potomac and Piedmont Coal and Railway Company; co-founder of Davis Coal and Coke Company

Adapted from the English Wikipedia article Henry G. Davis, available under CC BY-SA 4.0Updated 11 August 2025

Henry Gassaway Davis (November 16, 1823 – March 11, 1916) was a prominent American businessman and political figure who represented West Virginia in the United States Senate from 1871 until 1883. He was chosen as the Democratic Party's candidate for Vice President of the United States in the 1904 presidential race.

Originating from a farm in Howard County, Maryland, Davis initially worked as a railroad executive before venturing into coal mining and banking. He founded the Potomac and Piedmont Coal and Railway Company, broadening his business interests. Prior to his Senate service, he held positions in both chambers of the West Virginia Legislature. His younger sibling, Thomas Beall Davis, also held a congressional seat. Following his Senate career, Davis collaborated with his son-in-law, Stephen Benton Elkins, to establish the Davis Coal and Coke Company, which evolved into one of the globe’s leading coal corporations.

During the 1904 Democratic National Convention, Alton B. Parker was nominated for president with Davis as his vice-presidential running mate, largely due to Davis's ability to finance the campaign. At age 80, he became the oldest individual ever nominated by a major party for national office. The Republican ticket featuring Theodore Roosevelt and Charles W. Fairbanks won by a substantial margin. After the election, Davis contributed to founding Davis & Elkins College. He passed away in Washington, D.C., at 92 years old.

Early life

Henry Gassaway Davis was born near Woodstock in Howard County, Maryland, the son of Louisa Warfield (née Brown) and Caleb Dorsey Davis, a merchant. His ancestry traced back to Maryland settlers including Thomas Davis and Colonel Nicholas Gassaway—both of Welsh descent who established roots in Maryland during the mid-1600s.

Woodstock was situated along stagecoach routes leading to Washington, D.C., and as a child, Davis vividly remembered observing the commencement of America’s first railroad on July 4, 1828, while perched on his father’s shoulders in Baltimore.

He grew up with three brothers and one sister. Although his father’s business initially flourished, a costly road grading project between Baltimore and Frederick, Maryland resulted in significant financial setbacks that compelled asset liquidation and adversely affected his father's health.

Early career

Following his family’s financial downturn, Davis left formal education at age 15 to support himself by carrying water for quarry laborers. Later, he became caretaker of "Waverly," a farm owned by Governor Howard. At 20 years old, coinciding with the completion of the B&O Railroad line to Cumberland, Davis began working as a brakeman. His commitment led to promotions as freight and passenger conductor. This position provided opportunities to meet influential politicians such as Senators Henry Clay, Thomas H. Benton, Lewis Cass, Benjamin Wade, Thomas Corwin, and Stephen A. Douglas, who frequently traveled via B&O trains. Additionally, he encountered notable figures like Senators William C. Rives, John C. Calhoun, and Daniel Webster during stops in Washington.

Later career

In 1854, Davis came into possession of $50,000 through an inheritance from his father-in-law, Gideon Bantz, which he skillfully transformed into a fortune worth millions. By 1855, following the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad’s extension to Wheeling on the Ohio River, Davis took charge of the pivotal Piedmont station. This location was critical as it served as the point where additional engines were attached to trains to facilitate their climb over the Allegheny Mountains. Initially residing in a boxcar until proper accommodations were constructed, he developed a strong appreciation for the area's abundant natural resources. Together with his brother Thomas, he established Henry G. Davis & Company, a business that exchanged agricultural products for manufactured goods. In 1858, Davis left his railroad position to dedicate himself fully to this venture.

Throughout the Civil War, although John Work Garrett, president of the B&O Railroad, initially held Southern sympathies, the railroad played an essential role for the Union. Davis aligned himself with the Union cause and supported President Abraham Lincoln. He was instrumental in restoring B&O operations after Confederate forces damaged critical infrastructure. The western region of Virginia largely supported Unionist efforts, which contributed to the creation of West Virginia in 1863; subsequently, Davis was elected to represent Hampshire County in the West Virginia House of Delegates in 1865.

Following the war, Davis broadened his interests into natural resource development throughout the Allegheny region by acquiring timber and coal properties often at prices as low as one dollar per acre. He constructed sawmills and extended branch rail lines to access coal mines while also investing in banking institutions based in Piedmont. By 1897, his assets encompassed more than 100,000 acres of coal-rich land and 400 coke ovens, positioning him as a leading producer of bituminous coal in the United States. Additionally, he played a key role in developing railroads such as the West Virginia Central and Pittsburg Railway, which connected eastern and central West Virginia to larger transportation systems, facilitating cost-effective coal distribution.

Personal life

On February 22, 1853, Davis married Katherine Ann Salome “Kate” Bantz in Frederick County, Maryland. Together they had eight children; however, three passed away during infancy. The seven children who survived included:

(1) Mary Louise “Hallie” Davis (1853–1933), who wed industrialist and politician Stephen Benton Elkins in 1875. Elkins later became both Davis’s business associate and protégé.
(2) Kate Bantz Davis (1856–1903)
(3) Anderson Cord Davis (1859–1862)
(4) Ada Kate Davis (1862–1863)
(5) Grace Thomas Davis (1869–1931)
(6) Henry Gassaway Davis Jr. (1871–1896), who was lost at sea near South Africa
(7) John Thomas Davis (1874–1935)

Political and commercial life

Davis secured election to the West Virginia House of Delegates in 1865. The following year, he founded the Potomac and Piedmont Coal and Railway Company to support his timber and coal enterprises by obtaining authorization to construct railroads within Mineral, Grant, Tucker, and Randolph counties. He served as a state senator in 1869 before being elected to the United States Senate in 1870, where he completed two terms until 1883.

After concluding his Senate service, Davis retired to Elkins, West Virginia, dedicating his efforts primarily to banking and coal mining ventures. His company managed extensive operations employing approximately 1,600 workers from sixteen different nationalities. It operated two power stations, over 1,000 coke ovens, and nine mines located near Coketon in Tucker County. By 1892, the Davis Coal and Coke Company—a joint enterprise with his son-in-law Senator Stephen Benton Elkins—had become one of the largest coal producers worldwide.

Davis also represented American interests at the Pan-American Conferences held in 1889 and again in 1901.

Vice presidential nomination

During the 1904 campaign, Davis was chosen as the Democratic vice-presidential candidate, running alongside Alton B. Parker. Their ticket suffered a decisive loss to the Republican duo of Theodore Roosevelt and Charles W. Fairbanks. At 80 years old, Davis holds the distinction of being the eldest individual ever nominated on a major party's presidential ticket. His nomination was primarily attributed to his exceptional ability to raise campaign funds.

Final years

In his twilight years, Davis served as chairman of the permanent Pan American Railway Committee from 1901 until 1916, and he generously contributed land for the establishment of Davis and Elkins College in Elkins, West Virginia. He passed away in Washington, D.C. on March 11, 1916, at the age of 92, and was interred at Maplewood Cemetery in Elkins. In 1927, bronze equestrian statues commemorating Davis were installed in both Elkins and downtown Charleston, West Virginia.

Legacy

Davis and Elkins College, located in Elkins, WV; named in honor of Senators Davis and Elkins
Graceland (Elkins, West Virginia), Davis' summer residence designated as a National Historic Landmark
Henry Gassaway Davis House, his home built in 1871 situated in Piedmont, West Virginia
The towns of Henry, West Virginia, Gassaway, West Virginia, and Davis, West Virginia bear his name

External links

The West Virginia & Regional History Center at West Virginia University preserves the Henry G. Davis papers across three collections: A&M 13, A&M 717, and A&M 1028