Robertson-Montgomery County TN Archives Biographies.....Davis, Duncan E. 1858 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/tn/tnfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@gmail.com November 13, 2005, 9:28 pm Author: Will T. Hale DUNCAN E. DAVIS, M. D. In the forefront of Springfield's substantial middle-aged citizens, we note Dr. D. E. Davis, who as a representative of medical science has served his city for nearly a quarter-century. The blended lines of typical Southern families contributed to the origin of Dr. Davis, whose career has done credit to his ancestry. His paternal grandfather was Isaac Davis, a native of Mississippi; his maternal grandfather was Benjamin Herring of Montgomery county, Tennessee, and his maternal grandmother, Rachel Whitfield, a native of Virginia. His father, Jeff Davis, born in Mississippi, was well known as a Mason, a Baptist and a Democrat. Financially ruined by the events of the Civil war, his death in 1868 left practically penniless his wife— Anna Herring Davis—and their twelve children, of whom Duncan E. Davis, was the eleventh. He was born near Clarksville, on April 7, 1858. Life therefore presented all the aspects of a stern struggle with an adverse fate, for the boy Duncan Davis. But he took hold of its opportunities with a strong hand and a steady will, gathering force from his meagre surroundings and purposive knowledge from the country schools which constituted his earlier educational advantages. He prepared himself for entrance to the medical college of Vanderbilt University, that noble institution which has turned out so many large-minded men of professional acumen. In 1888 he completed his course in medicine and his degree was conferred upon him. In that same year, Dr. Davis began his professional career in Springfield, where he has won the confidence of countless numbers of the residents of the city and its community. This has ever since been his home and the field of his medical practice, with the exception of seven years which he spent in balmy Florida. Dr. Davis is notably unassuming in manner and his abilities are far in excess of his claims for himself. He keeps abreast of the times in medical literature and in the deliberations of organized bodies of medical scientists. Both the Robertson County Medical Society and the Tennessee Medical Society are of especial interest to him. He is the vice-president of the former association and will serve as its next president. Being a representative Southerner, Dr. Davis is an unswerving Democrat and is interested in political affairs to such extent as is possible in connection with his heavy professional duties. His religious affiliation is with the Baptist denomination and he is a valued supporter of the local organization of that church. Mrs. Davis remains loyal to her inheritance of the Methodist Episcopal connection. The doctor's wife was formerly Miss Katie Ogburn. She is a daughter of Samuel G. Ogburn, whose useful and interesting career is elsewhere reviewed in these pages. It was on October 24, 1889, that she became Mrs. Duncan E. Davis. One son has been reared by the doctor and his wife. Luther E. Davis was born March 10th, 1890, and is now engaged as bookkeeper for the electric light plant of Springfield. Dr. Davis is an admirable example of the self-made man who has carved for himself every step he has taken in his upward climb, to success. Both he and the five other surviving members of his father's family of children can testify that being left an orphan and penniless is not the worst fate that can befall a human being. Strength of mind and character can overcome all such obstacles—a fact which is clearly demonstrated in the life of Duncan E. Davis. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/tn/robertson/bios/davis294nbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/tnfiles/ File size: 4.1 Kb