John W. Davis Portrait, Carlisle, Indiana

Description:	On August 3, 1944, Mrs. Ella M Chaney, President of the Library Board, presents to the Sullivan Public Library the portrait of John W. Davis. This portrait hung on the wall at the National Capitol in Washington, D.C. when John C. Chaney completed his terms of office as a congressman, knowing John W. Davis was from the same county as Mr. Chaney this picture was given to him. Mr. Chaney made the request that this picture of John W. Davis be given to the Sullivan Public Library and hung upon its walls. Dr. John W. Davis, In the spring of 1823, there arrived in the town of Carlisle, a young physician from Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, who, according to his own account, had but 3 cents in his pocket. Yet this same young man afterward attained to such importance by virtue of his ability, tact and manhood, that he came within one vote of being President of the United States, for at the convention that nominated Pierce he was only one vote behind the number to nominate, and his nomination then would have been equivalent to an election. This gentleman, Dr. John W. Davis, of whom all the citizens of Sullivan feel justly proud, was the first delegate to the Legislature selected from this town. He served several terms in Congress, was Speaker of the House of Representatives, Minister to China and Governor of Oregon. After a life of faithful service to this township, county, State and country, he died at his home in Carlisle, Indiana and his funeral was attended by two of his more eminent countrymen -- Judge Huntington and Thomas A. Hendricks, then Secretary of the Interior. A fuller account of this eminent statesman and exemplary citizen will be found in the general history of the county. Dr. John W. Davis of Carlisle of the Democratic National Convention at Baltimore, Maryland 1852. Franklin Pierce was nominated for President and was elected at the Fall Election. The old Residence of John W. Davis stills stands in Carlisle. He is buried in the old town cemetery at Carlisle.
Origin:	2014-05-03
Contributor(s):	Carlisle Scan Day, May 3, 2014
Publisher:	From the collection of the Carlisle Public Library;
Source:	http://indianamemory.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/scc/id/792
Collection:	Sullivan County Community
Rights:	http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/UND/1.0/
Copyright:	Copyright Undetermined
Subjects:	People Politics Legislators Physicians Governors People Famous Hoosiers

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