Bell-Whitley-Knox County KyArchives History - Books .....Davis, Peavler, Gilbert, McCarthy, Martin Families 1942 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ky/kyfiles.html ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Kelly Courtney-Blizzard http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000022 August 29, 2005, 9:51 am Book Title: History Of Bell County, Kentucky By Henry H. Fuson pg 172 When Judge Davis was a candidate for Attorney General of Kentucky, the following sketch of his life was prepared and distributed during the campaign: "Thirty years of public service and conspicuously successful career as attorney-at-law have prepared the Republican nominee for Attorney General to serve his fellow Kentuckians with distinction in that office. Until now Judge Davis, since retiring as Circuit Judge, has declined appointments to offices, including appointment as Commissioner of the Court of Appeals. It was only at the urgent request of party leaders and others of his friends interested in good government that he accepted the nomination and embraced this opportunity to render real, constructive service to his state. "William Tuggle Davis was born in Knox County, Kentucky, May 23, 1864. His parents were Murphy C. Davis, and Sarah Peavler Davis, both of whom were native Kentuckians and represented socially and politically prominent families. When he was a child his parents moved to Bell County, where he completed his education and began teaching in the public schools. He has been married twice. His wife was Mrs. Fannie Jones Gilbert, a sister-in-law of the present Assistant Attorney General, James M. Gilbert. His first wife was Mrs. Sophia McCarthy Martin, deceased, of Whitley County. pg 173 "For years Judge Davis has been one of the outstanding citizens of Southeastern Kentucky and enjoys to a marked degree, the love and esteem of his fellow citizens. He has been a lifelong Republican and has been signally honored by his party. In 1890 President Benjamin Harrison appointed him Postmaster at Middlesboro, Kentucky. Upon completion of this service he served two terms as Clerk of the Bell County Court. When elected Clerk he began the study of law and was admitted to the bar in 1898 and afterwards attended the law department of the University of Michigan. "In 1901 he was nominated without opposition and elected to the office of County Attorney and served two terms in this capacity. While serving as County Attorney, he soon acquired the reputation of being active, diligent and effective in the enforcement of the criminal laws. "In 1909 he was elected Circuit Judge of the 26th Judicial District and six years later was nominated without opposition and overwhelmingly re- elected. During his twelve years on the bench he had few reversals in the Court of Appeals. He acquired and maintained the reputation of being a just judge and in his court every litigant was assured of a fair and impartial trial. The splendid type of his public service has been attested to by the fact that, always a staunch Republican, he has enjoyed the support of many of his friends among the Democrats, particularly in his race for Circuit Judge. "After more than thirty years of public service he resumed the practice of law at his home in Pineville, where he now enjoys a large and lucrative practice. Not withstanding the demands which his profession made upon his time, Judge Davis has identified himself with every movement for the betterment of his community and to this end he has given liberally of his time, talents and means. He is a Mason, Knight of Pythias, Elk and Modern Woodman. "His religious life has been that of a sincere Christian and in early life he became a member of the Presbyterian Church. He is now a Ruling Elder, and President of the Men's Bible Class in the Moore Memorial Presbyterian Church of Pineville. He enjoys the unique distinction of having been the first layman to be elected Moderator of his Presbytery and was Commissioner of the Knoxville Presbtery to the General Assembly at its meeting at San Antonio, Texas. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ky/bell/history/1942/historyo/davispea111gms.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/kyfiles/