Biographical Sketch of Theodore Whitehead Davis, St. Joseph, Buchanan 
County, MO

>From "History of Buchanan County, Missouri, Published 1881, St. Joseph
Steam Printing Company, Printers, Binders, Etc., St. Joseph, Missouri.
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Theodore Whitehead Davis was born June 9, 1844, at Pine Plains,
Dutchess County, New York, and when four years old, in 1848, his
parents removed to Poughkeepsie.  His early education was received
at the Dutchess County Academy and the collegiate school of Pough-
keepsie.  Afterwards he entered the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute,
Troy, New York, taking a course in civil engineering.  In the year
1862, he entered the United States Navy, and served in the Mississippi
River engagement and in the blockade at Mobile, attached to the per-
sonal staff of Admiral D. G. Farragut, as Fleet Ensign and Senior Aid.
In 1864, from partial, at the time considered permanent, blindness,
the result of injuries received in the service, he was discharged.
In 1866, he was married to Mary Estelle, eldest daughter of John P.
H. Tallman, Esq., of Poughkeepsie.  In 1867, he commenced the practice
of his profession.  From 1869 to 1880, was engineer, and after the
completion of the works, he was superintendent of the department of
water works and sewers of the City of Poughkeepsie, and at the same
time City Engineer.  The works, in his charge, were recognized by
the profession as the standard on the subject of filtration of potash
waters, and took rank with the most economically managed public works.
In November, 1880, Mr. Davis removed to St. Joseph and to his present
position, as superintendent of the St. Joseph Water Company.  Was one
of the charter members of the Poughkeepsie Society of Natural Sciences.
In military affairs he has occupied the positions of Brigade Engineer
and Inspector of the Eighth Brigade of the National Guard of the 
State of New York, to which brigade staff the world known riflemen
Colonels John Bodine and Henry A. Gildersleeve, and Henry F. Clark
were formerly attached.  He is a member of the Masonic fraternity,
and was Master of Poughkeepsie Lodge No. 266, in 1874, 1875, 1876,
1877 and 1878; District Deputy Grand Master of the Ninth Masonic
District, 1878; a member of, and for six consecutive years, P. S.
of Poughkeepsie Chapter No. 172, of Royal Arch Masons, and also a
member of King Solomon's Council of Royal and Select Masters.  Mr.
and Mrs. Davis have three children:  Angie W., William T. and Charles
G.

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