History of Freedom, (Waldo County) Maine United States of America

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Daniel Franklin Davis, governor of Maine, was born in Freedom, Waldo county, Maine, Sept. 12, 1843; the first son of the Rev. Moses Franklin and Mary (French) Davis. His father was of English descent and one of the pioneers and leaders of the Christian church in eastern Maine, and his mother was of the Brewster and French families of Massachusetts Bay colony. The son was educated at the East Corinth academy and at Kent's Hill seminary, teaching during the winter terms. He served as a volunteer in the Union army, 1863-65, and was admitted to the bar in 1869, practising his profession in East Corinth. He was a Republican representative in the state legislature in 1874 and a state senator, 1876-80. In 1879 he was elected governor of the state after a spirited personal canvass, in which he addressed over one hundred audiences, and a contest in the courts and in the state legislature which finally confirmed the will of the people and declared him governor. He was the unsuccessful candidate in 1880, being defeated by the fusion of Greenbackers and Democrats, resulting in the election of General Plaisted of Bangor, and in 1881 he established himself in the practice of law in Bangor. He was married in 1867 to Laura, daughter of William and Mary (Ireland) Goodwin of East Corinth, and five of their eight children were living at the time of his death: William Franklin, Frederick Hall, Margaret Ellen, Edmund Ireland and Willis Roswell. He engaged largely in the lumber business in Bangor and was collector of the port during President Arthur's administration. He died in Bangor, Maine, Jan. 9, 1897.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

History of Freedom, (Waldo County) Maine

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