380 THE GROUNDSWELL. 



ence that saved him from strong drink, and, perhaps, a 

 drunkard s grave. 



Mr. Davis father was a stock-farmer, breeding horses, 

 mules, cattle, and swine, and selling the same for breeding 

 purposes, as well as for food. The subject of our sketch 

 continued working at the farm until reaching his twenti 

 eth year, acquiring that strength, nerve, and constitution 

 that were to enable him, in after life, to study and store his 

 mind with the knowledge that makes the cultured man. It 

 is this early culture that has, more than any thing else, 

 perhaps, given him the practical ability for which he is 

 remarkable. 



GETTING AN EDUCATION AND START IN LIFE. 



At nineteen, Mr. Davis left the farm and set about get 

 ting an education, spending two years as a student and clerk 

 in a drug store at Springfield, Illinois, and attending the 

 academy of Professor Esterbrook. From thence he went 

 to Jacksonville, and entered Illinois College. After leaving 

 college, he became one of Professor Turner s agents in intro 

 ducing the growth of the Osage orange on the prairies. This 

 connection continued three or four years, leading to a close 

 intimacy which was never sundered. Their minds worked 

 in perfect accord in relation to education to the industries. 

 The general ideas with the early agitators, on this subject, 

 to use Mr. Davis words, were, &quot;To discard the obsolete 

 and useless branches of education, and to adopt the modern 

 and practical subjects in their stead.&quot; 



In May, 1851, Mr. Davis was married to Miss Martha 

 Ann Powell, of Wisconsin, daughter of Eev. Joseph Powell, 

 and sister to Major J. &quot;W. Powell, who is now widely known 

 as the explorer of the Colorado River. About 1S53 ; Mr, 



