|
a.
|
Note: richard douglas 'r.d.' davis was literally raised in his local courts. his father was capt. e.p. davis, u.s. army, 36-year clerk of the carter county, ky courts, and its 1-term sheriff and perenially considered the informal whig/republican 'party boss.' r.d.'s earliest known scribing was 13 mar 1861 when he signed documents as the 'deputy circuit court clerk'. after completing education in the local schools about this same time, the bookish r.d. served as deputy clerk of clark county for 19 months before serving the same capacity in madison county for 2 1/2 years beginning in february 1865. in march 1867 r.d. was admitted to the kentucky bar while serving in madison county. in september 1867 he became court clerk there for 11 months, returning about september 1868 to practice law in his native carter county. in march 1870, r.d. married mary lewis, daughter of democratic 'party boss' charles nelms lewis II. that year, r.d. was elected county attorney. gaining political momentum over the ensuing decade, he was then elected 2-term county judge from 1878-1886, and carter co.'s state representative, 'providing entire satisfaction' [from his biography] 1873-75. in the spring of 1888 he moved his family to boyd county and was soon elected judge there. it is said that each election davis won was a landslide. he was a major railroad and lumber industry shareholder, and along with childhood friend col. chas. kitchen, was co-founder of 2nd national bank of ashland, ky., now in its 2nd century of operation. r.d. was its first president. r.d. davis was a master mason and a commander of local masonic and knights templar lodges.
|
