Park Davis Biography


	This biography appears on page 1350 in "History of South 
	Dakota" by Doane Robinson, Vol. II (1904) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

	This file may be freely copied by individuals and non-profit 
	organizations for their private use. 

	Any other use, including publication, storage in a retrieval 
	system, or transmission by electronic, mechanical, or other 
	means requires the written approval of the file's author.


	PARK DAVIS, of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, one of the leading 
lawyers of South Dakota, was born in Athens, Windham county, Vermont, 
September 24, 1837, son of Elijah and Miriam Davis. His father died when 
the subject was quite young and left him largely dependent on his own 
resources for advancement. He attended Leland Seminary at Townshend, 
Vermont, and in 1862 was graduated from Middlebury College. He read law 
under Butler & Wheeler, prominent attorneys of Jamaica, Vermont; was 
admitted to the bar in Windham county in 1864; and in February, 1865, 
commenced the practice of his profession at St. Albans, Vermont, with 
Dana R. Bailey, under the firm name of Bailey & Davis. Later he was 
admitted to the supreme court, the circuit court of the United States, 
and the supreme court of the United States. He prospered as a general 
practitioner of law at St. Albans until 1879, when he removed to St. 
Paul, Minnesota, and, in connection with Hiram F. Stevens, of that city, 
successfully practiced his profession until September 1, 1881. Then he 
temporarily withdrew from the law and engaged with his brother-in-law in 
a mercantile venture at Albany, New York, under the firm name of Gray & 
Davis. In October, 1885, he went to Sioux Falls, South Dakota, formed a 
partnership with his old friend and former partner, Dana R. Bailey, and 
since has ranked as one of the leading lawyers of his state. In 1874 he 
represented St. Albans in the general assembly of Vermont and was a 
prominent and influential member of that body. 

	Mr. Davis is highly distinguished in Masonic circles. He served 
three terms as grand master of Masons of Vermont. His record in this 
important office was a brilliant one. Since coming to South Dakota he has 
been honored with the office of grand high priest and many other 
positions of honor and trust by the Masonic fraternity. He is the author 
of a treatise on Masonic trials and forms for procedure which have been 
incorporated into a monitor published by the grand lodge of Vermont. 

	Mr. Davis was married at Townshend, Vermont, October 27, 1863, to 
Delia S. Gray.and they have two children, Henry P. and May L. Mr. Davis 
is one of Sioux Falls' leading citizens and is favorably known throughout 
the state. He is an able lawyer, a genial gentleman and his record as a 
man is without reproach.