D. W. Davis - Idaho Banker and Governor

Idaho Banker and Governor

In 1903, Davis's first wife, the former Florence O. Gilliland, died. Two years later, he married Nellie Johnson, whose father owned a bank that merged with the one where Davis worked. The following year, the couple moved to American Falls, Idaho, which he had apparently observed during his rest cure.

In 1907, Davis helped organize the First National Bank of American Falls. Over the next several years, he aggressively promoted the town and its farm interests. At some point, Davis' parents followed him to American Falls, where his father lived until his death in 1913.

Davis also became very active in the Republican Party (United States) in Idaho. In 1912, he served 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. Ex-governor James H. Hawley said that, for various reasons, "A great many of the old time Democrats in the state refused to support Mr. Samuels." Davis won by a margin of 57,626 to 38,499 votes. He was reelected in 1920. Although the election was a three-way race, Davis received 53 percent of the votes, out-polling his nearest rival by 75,748 to 38,509.

During his tenure, funding was sanctioned for the establishment of the bureau of budget and taxation, plus 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.