Samuel Tait Davis

As printed in 1904

SAMUEL TAIT DAVIS.

Among the promoters and upbuilders of Sioux City Samuel Tait Davis was prominent. With keen discrimination he recognized possibilities and utilized opportunities and contributed in large and important measure to the improvement of the city along substantial lines of development. In his business career he worked his way upward from humble surroundings to large worldly success through the opportunity which is the pride of our American life, and his value as a citizen and business man were so widely recognized that his death was regarded as a public calamity in Sioux City. Mr. Davis was a native of Meadville, Pennsylvania, his parents being George and Eliza (Reichard) Davis. Until ten years of age he dwelt with his parents in Meadville and during a portion of that time attended an academy. The family afterward became residents of Mercer county, Pennsylvania, where Mr. Davis of this review continued until twenty-one years of age, assisting in the arduous task of clearing and developing a farm which was covered with a heavy growth of timber when it came into possession of his father. He also attended the pioneer schools which existed in that frontier neighborhood and later he engaged in teaching. Desirous, however, of acquiring more advanced knowledge himself, he entered Allegheny College, at Meadville, leaving that institution while in the sophomore year, in 1852. Subsequently he became principal of Greenville Academy at Greenville, Pennsylvania. Entering upon the study of law under the direction of Hon. David Derrickson, of Meadville, he was admitted to the bar in the autumn of 1885 and then, believing that he might have better opportunities in the west, he came to Sioux City, Iowa, arriving here on the 29th of February, 1856.

Mr. Davis became a partner in the firm of Parker, Gray & Davis, land agents and attorneys, and with the growth of the town their clientage rapidly increased. Mr. Davis continued to make investments in realty and after a number of years he abandoned the practice of laAv in order to give his attention to his extensive property interests. He platted several additions to the city and in many other ways materially advanced its progress and upbuilding. Perhaps the greatest improvement, conceived and carried out through the genius of Mr. Davis was the straightening of the channel of the Floyd river within the city limits. However, it is because of the building of her railroads that Sioux City owes to him a debt of gratitude which can never be repaid. The early development of a community depends upon its railroad facilities which bring it into close touch with other parts of the country, affording a market for its products and bringing to it all necessary supplies. Mr. Davis aided in organizing and incorporating the Sioux City & Pembina Railroad Company. He drew up the articles of incorporation and assisted in organizing the Sioux City & St. Paul Railroad, of which company he was made secretary and director. He likewise became a stockholder in the State Savings Bank of Sioux City, of which he Avas the vice-president, the Sioux City Savings Bank, the National and the Home Savings Banks. He was rated as one of the eight millionaires whose fortunes were made in Sioux City. He displayed excellent business ability and sound judgment, carrying forward to successful completion whatever he undertook. He was distinctively a man of affairs and his efforts were directed into channels where keen foresight and enterprise led the way. He accomplished much when his record is viewed from a financial standpoint and he accomplished even more in the development of a character which made him a most respected and honored resident of his community. Everything pertaining to the welfare of the city received his interested attention and ofttimes his active co-operation. In the fall of 1866 he was elected prosecuting attorney and in 1871 he was chosen mayor of Sioux City, and in both positions discharged his duties in a most commendable, prompt and public-spirited manner.

On the 9th of February, 1859, occurred the marriage of Mr. Davis and Miss Jane A. Putnam, of Sioux City, who passed away in 1877. They were the parents of six children, of whom five are now living, namely: Stella, the wife of William Gordon; Mary, the wife of H. M. Bailey; Florence, who married William C. Hutchins; George and Ross.

On the 13th of October, 1881, Mr. Davis was again married, his second union being with Miss R. C. Smith, of Nantucket, Massachusetts. They had one son, John Allen, who is now attending the Boston Polytechnic school, and his mother spends much of her time there while he is in school.

One day, while crossing at Ninth and Jackson streets. Samuel T. Davis was struck by an electric oar and died about an hour later. lie had largely losl Ids hearing and was therefore not aware of the approaching ear. Ins attention being hold l.y a game of ball which was in progress in the neighborhood. Sioux City thereby lest one of its must prominent, influential and honored residents. He was respected and esteemed by all net only because of the splendid success which he had achieved, making him one of the millionaires "1' northwestern Iowa, hut also because of the honorable, straightforward policy he had ever followed. He came to the west with little capital save the qualities with which nature had end..wed him, his strong intellect and marked enterprise, and he directed his efforts along lines that proved of material benefit to his city as well as a source of ratifying income to himself.

As printed in Past and present of Sioux City and Woodbury County, Iowa (1904). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.