DAVIS, E. M.

DAVIS, WATERS

Posted By: Administrator
Date: 10/3/2001 at 18:38:31

From the book "The History of Clinton County Iowa" by L. P. Allen (1879) Pages 669-697
Biographical Sketches of Clinton Residents

E. M. DAVIS, owner of Davis' Opera House, and Davis' Opera House Block, corner Second street and Sixth avenue ; is a native of Pottsville, Schuylkill Co., Penn.; he was left an orphan when 4 years of age, and had not a relative in the world. He was apprenticed to the machinist's trade, studying nights, and learning what he could in that way; when 19 years of age, he ran an engine. In 1852, he came West to Indiana; in the following year came to Chicago, and was engineer on the old Galena & Chicago Union Railroad. He held the position of master mechanic of theNew Albany & Salem Railroad for some years; when he resigned his position, he was presented by the employes of the road with an elegant English chronometer gold watch inscribed as follows Presented to E. M. Davis, master mechanic of the New Albany & Salem Railroad, by the employes, as a token of their regard ; Michigan City, Ind., Aug. 21, 1858." He was in the army during the war, and served over three years, and was connected with the railroad transportation department. In October, 1845, he married Miss Margaret Waters, from Schuylkill Co., Penn. They came to Clinton, November, 1865; since coming here, Mr. Davis has been very successful in his investments; in 1876, he built, on the corner of Sixth avenue and Second street, the finest business block in Clinton Co. ; it fronts ninety-five feet on Second street, and eighty-seven feet on Sixth avenue, and is five stories in height; there is a high stone basement under the whole building extending out under the sidewalk all round; the first floor is finished off in five stores, all occupied; the second floor is finished off in offices, all large and commodious, and finely frescoed; there is also a nice Music Hall, with ante-rooms adjoining, on the south side of this floor, in the rear of the front offices; the Opera House occupies the third and fourth floors of the building, and it is one of the finest audience-rooms in the West, and will seat 2,000 persons; there is not a pillar or post, or obstruction of any kind on the first floor or gallery; the gallery is held up by strong iron rods from the top of the building, attached to the main trusses that span the building; the dome in the center of the hall is finely frescoed, and paintings representing the four seasons; outside of the dome, the portraits of celebrated authors are represented, and on either side of the drop-curtain are the portraits of Shakespeare and Forrest; the drop-curtain represents a fine scene on Lake Como, Italy.; the hail is lighted with the sun-burner, with eighty-one jets, the same kind that is used in McCormick's Hall, Chicago; the hall contains a Hallett & Davis orchestra grand piano, made expressly for the Opera Hall at a cost of $1,500; the hall has a large and commodious stage with four dressing-rooms attached; there is a large plug with pipe attached, to be used in case of fire; there is still another floor above the Opera Hall; the hall is well ventilated, the chimneys being double with an eight-inch space for ventilation; the building is complete throughout, in every respect, and is a credit to any city in the West. It reflects great credit on the energy and enterprise of its owner, Mr. Davis. Mr. Davis also owns other property, including Davis' addition to Clinton, and the limekilns and stone quarries on the river below the mills, embracing twelve acres of valuable property. Mr. Davis is emphatically a self- made man, being an orphan from a child, with no education only what he obtained studying nights, and he never had a dollar given him; he worked his way unaided and alone. Mr. and Mrs. Davis have one daughter-Laura Margaret, now attending the high school.