DAVIS COLLECTION
1888-1894
MS 16
Municipal Archives
Windsor Public Library
Acc. No. 1986/7Mark Walsh
9 in./22.8 cmMunicipal Archivist
19 Feb 1988
DAVIS COLLECTION
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Table of Contents
Box and Unit Listing
Historical Note
Content Note
Collection Description
Box and Unit Listing
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Box 1Units 1 – 4
Box 2Units 5 – 8
DAVIS COLLECTION
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Historical Note
Frances Julia Davis was born at Sandwich in 1844. As a daughter of William Duperon Baby, Mrs. Davis was well known among local society. Her father had been a councillor on the Western district Council for Sandwich from 1846 to 1849, also serving on the same body in 1849 when it was known as the Municipal Council of the United Counties of Essex and Lambton. From 1851 until 1856 W.D. Baby served as sheriff of both counties mentioned.
In 1872 Frances became the second wife of John Davis. Her husband was born in Prescott, Ontario, in 1836. After a career which included working in distilleries in Chicago and Peoria, Mr. Davis was appointed an excise officer in 1863. Promoted to assistant inspector of distilleries in 1867 he advanced to inspector of the same in 1872 and located in Windsor. In 1888 he was appointed Chief Inspector of Distilleries for Canada. John Davis was elected mayor of Windsor five times, four by acclamation and served the City of Windsor in that capacity from 1897 until 1901. The Davis family were among the founders of Immaculate Conception Church, established in 1904. Mayor Davis died in 1912 after a lengthy illness. Frances Julia Davis survived him until her death in 1928. She was well known for her charitable works.
Children of John and Frances Davis were: Gaspė, who settled in Pittsburg; Dr. Joseph W. who became surgeon to the Indo-China Steam Navigation Company; Patrick; Francis M. employed by the Bank of Commerce in Windsor; Frances Julia and May.
The Davis family home still stands at the corner of Hall Avenue and Riverside Drive East. Only the upper story façade remains unaltered.
DAVIS COLLECTION
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Content Note
The diaries of Frances Julia Davis cover 1888 through 1894. They concern the day-to-day life of the Davis household, including the work of her husband as Dominion Inspector of Distilleries. The activities of the Davis children are also documented.
Information from the diaries provides insights into a number of different aspects of Victorian Windsor and the Davis Family. Many entries are particularly useful in understanding daily life in the period, with prices for food and services often given. Mrs. Davis also was connected with the establishment of HotelDieuHospital in 1888. Entries tell of time spent on affairs associated with the hospital. A very religious woman, Frances Julia Davis often recorded her attendance at services, most likely at St. Alphonsus Church.
Of particular importance is the location of the Davis Family home. At the time of the writing of the diaries, the house was in the Township of Sandwich East between Walkerville and Windsor. Entries point to the importance of Sandwich Street (present day Riverside Drive) as a main thoroughfare.
This collection will be useful to persons interested in social or religious history. Further information on Mr. Davis’s participation in municipal affairs will be found in City Council minutes for 1897-1901 found in RG 2 AIV.
John Davis, Five Times Mayor,
Passes Away Sunday Night
Following Illness of Two Years,
One of Windsor’s first Citizens, dies,
FOUR TIMES ELECTED
MAYOR BY ACCLAMATION
Retired From Business in 1910 After Collapse
Enjoyed Interesting Career
John Davis, one of Windsor’s most highly esteemed
and popular men who for five years filled the position
of mayor of this city, passed away at his home.,
341 Sandwich street east, at 10 o’clock Sunday
morning. Around his bedside when death came were
his family and the attending physician, who, following
a turn for the worse in the condition of Mr. Davis on
Saturday, had announced that the end of one of Canada’s
first citizens was a matter of only a few hours.
Following a collapse in 1910 Mr. Davis had
suffered ill health, incapacitating him for active work,
and he spent the last two years of his life visiting many
of America’s foremost health resorts in an effort to
regain his strength.
Death Keenly Felt
The death of Mr. Davis is keenly felt. Ever since his
location in Windsor in 1872 he has been one of the
city’s best and most substantial citizens. He stood as a
representative man of this locality and his genial disposition,
his upright conduct in business relations, his loyalty to
the crown, his fidelity in the pursuance of his official
duties and his personal attributes made him a man whom
his fellow-citizens delighted to honor.
Perhaps nothing could more clearly demonstrate the
popularity of Mr. Davis than the attitude of the people in
regard to the highest municipal office in their gift. For five
consecutive years he was elected mayor of this city, four
elections being by acclamation, an almost unheard-of
occurrence. His first election to office was in 1897, the
last in 1901. Although the office was urged on him again,
he absolutely refused, assuring his fellow-citizens that
one of their number, so loyal to them, would acceptably
serve them.
Rose Rapidly
Mr. Davis was born in Prescott, Ontario, 76 years ago.
School facilities were very inadequate and at 13 he went
to work in the distillery conducted by his father. Application
to duty and individual study in spare hours, enabled him to
pass the excise examination. In 1863 he joined the inland
revenue department of the Dominion government.
Promotion came rapidly after that. Four years later he
took the position of assistant inspector of distilleries, was
inspector in 1872 and in 1888 was made chief inspector for
the entire Dominion. The manner in which he performed his
arduous duties gave him a reputation for marked executive
ability. He was an intimate friend of the late Sir John A.
Macdonald, former premier of Canada.
At the age of 25 he married Miss Mary Conty. She died
After six years of wedded life. Five years later he married
Francis Julia, daughter of the late William Duperon Baby.
Seven children survive that union.
Prominent Athlete
In his earlier years Mr. Davis was known throughout
America as an athlete. He took a prominent place in the
rowing and swimming contests of importance for many years.
He was a member of the Royal Canadian Yacht club, the
Halifax club and the Walpole Island Game club. He founded
the old Hanlon Rowing club, now well known as the Toronto
Rowing club. The champion four cared crew of Canada knew
him as their stroke oar for several seasons. He also carried the
distinction of being the champion amateur swimmer of the
St. Lawrence river. Five persons who were in danger of
drowning are indebted to him for saving their lives.
Had Useful Career
When Mr. Davis came to Windsor he immediately took
up an important position in the affairs of the city. The
reputation of being the wealthiest citizen was augmented by
the useful career he had and the progressive policies he
introduced as mayor.
He was president of the Windsor Street Railway company
before that corporation was absorbed by the Detroit United
Railway. He served for several years as a director of the
North American Life Insurance company of London, Ont.;
president of the Ontario Asphalt Block company, agent for the
Canadian and American express companies. He was one of
the promoters of the first electric street railway in America the
line which operated along the Detroit river for several years.
During the ten years he acted as a member of the high
school board, he advocated many progressive measures which
increased the efficiency of the school. He started the work of
paving in Windsor and his ideas in that connection are still
carried out.
Surviving him are his wife, three brothers. William David
of Cincinnati, Ohio; James of Montreal, Thomas of London;
eight children James, by his first marriage, and Gaspé Hall,
Joseph William, Mrs. E.R. Whitehead of Winnipeg, Manitoba
Patrick, Frances Mercer, Mary Christina, member of the Sacred
heart order and William Duperon, by his second marriage.
DAVIS COLLECTION
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Series Description
The Davis Collection consists of seven diaries for 1888-1894 with one envelope of receipts and ephemera. Entries diminish in length and scope across the time span.
UnitDateRemarks
11888-1894Loose receipts and ephemera
21888
31889
41890
51891
61892
71893
81894