D. W. Davis
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| D. W. Davis | |
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12th Governor of Idaho
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| In office January 6, 1919 – January 1, 1923 |
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| Lieutenant | Charles C. Moore |
| Preceded by | Moses Alexander |
| Succeeded by | Charles C. Moore |
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| Born | April 23, 1873 Cardiff, Wales |
| Died | August 5, 1959 (aged 86) Boise, Idaho |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Florence Gilliland (widowed), Nellie Johnson |
| Residence | American Falls |
| Profession | Banker |
| Religion | Methodist |
David William Davis (April 23, 1873 - August 5, 1959) was a Republican Governor of Idaho, serving from 1919 to 1923.
Davis was born in Cardiff, Wales. His family immigrated to the United States in 1875, and settled in Rippey, Iowa. At the age of twelve, Davis went to work in the coal mines to support his widowed mother.
He left the mines, finding work as a manager of the Farmer's Cooperative Association and as a bank cashier. He spent a brief stint in the United States Navy, attaining the rank of Petty Officer, First Class after distinguished service in the Philippines. After moving to American Falls, Idaho, Davis founded the First National Bank of American Falls.
He entered politics in 1912, serving as a delegate to the Republican National Convention. He also served as a member of the Idaho State Senate from 1913 to 1915.
Davis won the Republican nomination for governor in 1916, but was narrowly defeated by the Democratic incumbent, Moses Alexander. Davis was nominated again in 1918 and defeated Democrat H. F. Samuels. He was reelected in 1920 after a tough election battle, in part due to a clerical error on his military discharge papers that made it appear as if he had received a dishonorable discharge.
During his tenure, funding was sanctioned for the establishment of the bureau of budget and taxation; as well as, a veteran's welfare program and a teacher's pension system. A road-building program was initiated, the state's statutes were reorganized, the state's administrative agencies were unified, and three constitutional amendments were sanctioned.
Davis left office on January 1, 1923. Two months later, he was appointed as a special assistant to the Secretary of the Interior, to supervise the United States Reclamation Service, and served until 1924. He then served from 1924 to 1932 as commissioner of reclamation and director of finance for the Interior Department, and for a short time in 1931 as a special advisor to President Herbert Hoover.
Governor David W. Davis died on August 5, 1959, and was buried at the Cloverdale Cemetery in Boise, Idaho.
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