Daniel F. Davis (courtesy Maine State Museum)
(1843-1897) , born in Freedom, was elected Governor by the Legislature after the disputed election of 1879 resulted in no majority at the polls. Although Davis, the Republican candidate from Corinth, received by far the most votes (68, 967 of 138,806 cast), the Legislature apparently elected at the same time refused to confirm his victory.
After a Supreme Court ruling in favor of Republicans in the Legislature, and the physical takeover of the State House by the GOP members, the newly constituted Legislature elected Davis Governor, in which office he served for the year 1880.
Davis attended the East Corinth Academy, at the Corinna Academy, and at the Wesleyan Seminary in Kent’s Hill. He studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1869, and began practice in East Corinth. During the Civil War, he served as a private in a Maine cavalry regiment. Davis entered politics in 1871, serving in the Maine House of Representatives, for four years. He also served as a member of the State Senate from 1875 to 1879.
When his term expired as governor, he established a law practice in Bangor. Davis was born on September 12, 1843 and died on January 9, 1897.
Additional resources
Chase, Henry, ed. Representative Men of Maine.
*Kennebec Journal, Augusta, January 11, 1897.
Maine. Legislature. Memorial addresses on the life and character of Daniel Franklin Davis of Bangor, ex-governor of the state of Maine, delivered in the Senate and House of representatives, Sixty-eighth Legislature, Feb. 10, 1897. Augusta., ME. Kennebec Journal. c.1897.
“Maine Governor Daniel Franklin Davis.” National Governors Association. http://www.nga.org/cms/render/live/en/sites/NGA/home/governors/past-governors-bios/page_maine/col2-content/main-content-list/title_davis_daniel.html
*McIntyre, Philip W. and Blanding, William F. Men of Progress. Boston: New England Magazine, 1897, pp. 462-463.
*Memorial Addresses on the Life and Character of Daniel Franklin Davis. Augusta: Kennebec Journal, 1897.
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*Cited in Friends of the Blaine House at http://blainehouse.org/governors(accessed April 25, 2011) (accessed April 25, 2011)