Bio: Davis B. Langford, Claiborne then Bienville Parish Louisiana Source: Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Northwest Louisiana The Southern Publishing Company, Chicago & Nashville, 1890 Submitted by: Kay Thompson Brown ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ************************************************ ************************************************ DAVIS B. LANGFORD Notary Public Gibsland Louisiana Mr. Langford was born in Claiborne Parish, Louisiana, on July 25, 1861, and is the youngest of four children, who are named as follows: Samuel B. (resides in Claiborne Parish and is an agriculturist and a manufacturer of and dealer in lumber; he is married), Josiah W. (resides in Gibsland, La., is married, and is a jeweler by trade), William H. (resides in Gibsiand, La., is married, and is an agriculturist by occupation),and Davis B. (the subject of the present sketch, is unmarried). The father of these children, Elhannon Hamilton Langford, was born in South Carolina on March 27, 1820, and is a retired physician and surgeon. He is a resident of Gibsland, La., and is hale and hearty. The mother, whose maiden name was Sarah C. Hutchings, was a native of the Old Dominion (Virginia), and was born October 1, 1821, and died at Gibsland, La., August 10, 1888. The father received his medical education in Macon, Ga., and graduated at the Southern Botanico-Medical College in that city in 1849. He followed his profession for about twelve years, after which time be was engaged in agricultural pursuits and milling until the past ten years. Davis B. Langford received his early education in the common schools of Louisiana, and by his own application obtained a practical education, which fitted him for the life he has ]ed up to the present time. He commenced life for himself at the age of twenty- one years as a merchant in Gibsland in 1883, and with moderate means and no outside aid, he has been fairly successful. He remained engaged in merchandising for about two years and then relinquished his mercantile pursuits to engage in general collections and buying, improving and selling real estate. He was appointed by Gov. S. D. McEnery notary public for the parish of Bienville on November 24, 1884, and this position he still fills, having been recommissioned by the present Gov. F. T. Nicholls. Mr Langford, prior to attaining his majority, and before removing to Gibsland, read law under Judge John Young and Hon. J. W Holbert, both eminent jurists in Homer, La., remaining under this firm's espionage and care as a law student for about two years, and he also read law by himself for some time, but never applied for admission to the bar. He practiced with unusual success in the justice courts four years, and it might here be mentioned that Mr. Langford is a self-made man, and one who has educated himself. He is well posted in surveying, has read Latin and is possessed of a fund or general knowledge. He keeps well posted upon all the business topics of the day, and is a gentleman who is enterprising, energetic and pushing. He has the full confidence of his patrons, and since he began his mercantile career, which business he resumed two years since, he has had a large and increasing business. He has always been a Democrat in politics, and has not been an ultra partisan. He is at present, as stated above, notary public for Bienville Parish, and although he has been tendered other positions, municipal and parochial, be has modestly declined them. Mr. Langford is a devout member of the Missionary Baptist Church of Gibsland, Louisiana. He is a young man of sound religious convictions, which are cardinal virtues in any man, be he young old. He is intimately connected with the Baptist Sabbath school, and has been secretary of the same for the past two years. Mr. Langford expects to make Gibsland his future home, for all his interests are centered here, and he is surrounded by warm friends. He is a member of the Louisiana Press Association, and is a journalist of merit, being well known by the versatile articles which have, from time to time, been contributed from his pen. Mr. Laagford is an ardent admirer of all good educational institutions, and has aided, as much as possible, in the furtherance of all projects to assist the cause of education.