Alexander-M-Davis-PapersDavis, Alexander M. PapersGuide to the Alexander M. Davis Papers Mss. 39.1 D30Finding Aid Authors: Special Collections Staff.Special Collections Research Center

2007-08-03

William & Mary Special Collections Research CenterEarl Gregg Swem Library400 Landrum DrWilliamsburg, VirginiaBusiness Number: 757-221-3090spcoll@wm.eduURL:

This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2025-05-15 12:25:45 -0400.The collection description/finding aid is written in English Special Collections Research Center Alexander M. Davis Papers Davis, Alexander Mathews, 1833-1889 Mss. 39.1 D30 /repositories/2/resources/20 2.834 Linear Feet 1850-1892 English Biographical Information:

Alexander Mathews Davis was born in Wythe County, Va. 17 January 1833. He graduated from Emory and Henry College, studied law and was admitted to the bar. He practiced law in Wytheville and in Grayson County, Va. He served in the 45th Virginia Infantry, Confederate States Army, rising to rank of lieutenant-colonel. He was a member of Virginia State Senate and served the House of Representatives 1873-1874 in a contested seat. He died in Grayson County, 25 September 1889.

Acquisition Information:

Presented

Processing Information:

Box and folder list inventory completed by Zach Woodward, SCRC staff, in February 2011.

Conditions Governing Use:

Before reproducing or quoting from any materials, in whole or in part, permission must be obtained from the Special Collections Research Center, and the holder of the copyright, if not Swem Library.

Conditions Governing Access:

Collection is open to all researchers. Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations, such as the Virginia Public Records Act (Code of Virginia. § 42.1-76-91); and the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (Code of Virginia § 2.2-3705.5). Confidential material may include, but is not limited to, educational, medical, and personnel records. If sensitive material is found in this collection, please contact a staff member immediately. The disclosure of personally identifiable information pertaining to a living individual may have legal consequences for which the College of William and Mary assumes no responsibility.

Preferred Citation:

Alexander M. Davis Papers, Special Collections Research Center, Swem Library, College of William and Mary.

Scope and Contents

Correspondence and accounts of Alexander Mathews Davis, lawyer of Grayson County, Va. Includes several Civil War letters.

Correspondence Daybooks Financial records Invoices Publications Reports Grayson County (Va.)--History--19th century Lawyers--Virginia--Correspondence Lawyers--Virginia--Grayson County Legal documents United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865 Letters/repositories/2/archival_objects/2682311856-1877English11Scope and Contents

Item 1: James A. Davis, at Emory, Washington County, Va., to Mary F. Wiley, at Jonesville, N.C., 9 July 1856 Item 2: Bastin Fulton to Col. A[lexander] M. Davis, 30 Oct. 1858 Item 3: James A. Davis, at Emory, Washington County, Va., to Alexander M. Davis., 4 Aug. 1859 Item 4: D.F. Boyd, at Rocky Mount, Bossier Parish, La., to [?], 18 September 1859 Item 5: James O'Briens, at McGabeysville, [Rockingham County, Va.], to Alexander M. Davis, 16 March 1860 Item 6: Enoch Ware to Alexander [M.] Davis, at Independence, [Grayson County], 14 February 1861 Enoch Ware to Alexander [M.] Davis, at Independence, [Grayson County]. 14 February 1861. Mutilated. Item 7: L.H. Bryan [?] to Capt. A[lexander] M. Davis, 1 April 1862 Item 8: A[lexander] M. Davis to William R. Dickey, at Independence, Grayson [County], 1862 A[lexander] M. Davis to William R. Dickey, at Independence, Grayson [County]. 1862. Mutilated. Item 9: John M. Davis, at Winston, N.C., to his brother, [?], 21 December 1863 Item 10: William M. Dickinson, in Camp near Marion, [Smyth County], Va., to Maj. A[lexander] M. Davis, 45th Regiment, Virginia Infantry, at Camp near Saltville, [Smyth County], Va., 8 April 1864 Item 11: Alexander M. Davis to C. Fredeking, 7 July 1866 Item 12: Cans Leberman Co., at Philadelphia, to John M. McLean, 18 June 1867 Cans Leberman Co., at Philadelphia, to John M. McLean. 18 June 1867. Copy. Item 13: J.M. Bradstreet & Son, at Baltimore, to Alexander M. Davis, 24 June 1867 Item 14: Penniman & Brother, at Baltimore, to Alexander M. Davis, 8 July 1867 Penniman & Brother, at Baltimore, to Alexander M. Davis. 8 July 1867. Item 15: William Edwards to Jerry Lovelace, 24 June 1868 William Edwards to Jerry Lovelace. 24 June 1868. Note: This letter includes a receipt for money paid William Edwards. Item 16: J.B. Barrett & Co., at Wytheville, Va., to Alexander M. Davis, at Independence, [Grayson county, Va.], 1 July 1868 Item 17: Merchants Union Law Company, at New York, to Alexander M. Davis, at Independence, [Grayson County], Va., 15 September 1868 Merchants Union Law Company, at New York, to Alexander M. Davis, at Independence, [Grayson County], Va. 15 September 1868. Printed circular letter. Enclosures: Printed subscription blank and envelope. Item 18: Robert Crockett, Jr., at Wytheville, Wythe County, Va., to Col. John Dickenson, 13 April 1869 Item 19: P.F. Howard, at Richmond, to [Alexander M. Davis], 17 July 1869 P.F. Howard, at Richmond, to [Alexander M. Davis]. 17 July 1869. Printed circular letter. Item 20: Alexander P. Matthews, at Lewisburg, West Virginia, to Alexander M. Davis, 19 July 1869 Item 21: A[lexander] M. Davis, at Richmond, Va., to J.C. Miller, October 1869 A[lexander] M. Davis, at Richmond, Va., to J.C. Miller. October 1869. Copy Item 22: L.I. Leberman, at Philadelphia, to A[lexander] M. Davis, 1 November 1869 Item 23: Kent Paine & Co., at Richmond, to John Dickinson, at Nuckollsville, Grayson County, Va., 7 December 1869 Item 24: John Dickenson, at New River, to Col. A[lexander] M. Davis, 3 February 1870 Item 25: A.M. Young, at Spring Valley, [Grayson County], Va., to Col. A[lexander] M. Davis, 7 March 1870 Item 26: W. de V. Corning [?], Postmaster, at Wytheville, Va., to A[lexander] M. Davis, 4 [?] June 1870 Item 27: Shipley, Roane & Co., at Baltimore, to A[lexander] M. Davis, at Independence, Grayson County, Va., 11 June 1870 Item 28: J.C. Miller, at Louisville, Ky., to [?], 13 July 1870 Item 29: Gilmore & Derrick, at Marion, [Smyth County], Va., to Col. A[lexander] M. Davis, 18 July 1870 Gilmore & Derrick, at Marion, [Smyth County], Va., to Col. A[lexander] M. Davis. 18 July 1870. Enclosure: Receipt for special business tax. Item 30: C.G. Elliott, at Hilsville, [Carrol County], Va., to A[lexander] M. Davis, 7 December 1870 Item 31: John McKillop & Co., at Philadelphia, to Alexander M. Davis, at Independence, [Grayson County], Va., 9 December 1870 Item 32: G.E.W. Herring & Son, at Baltimore, to A[lexander] M. Davis, 27 December 1870 Item 33: John McKillop & Co., at Philadelphia, to A[lexander] M. Davis, at Richmond, Va., 12 January 1871 Item 34: William H. H. Cowl, at Wilkesboro, N.C., to Col. [Alexander M.] Davis, at Independence, [Grayson County], Va., 24 May 1871 Item 35: Mastin Hail to [?], 16 March 1872 Item 36: William A. Burwell, at Patrick Court House, Va., to Col. [Alexander M.] Davis, 16 August 1872 Item 37: Armstrong, Cator & Co., at Baltimore, to Davis & Dickenson, 29 December 1872 Item 38: George W. Cornett, at Elk Creek, [Grayson County], Va., to A. F. Gregory, at Johnson City, Tenn., 5 February 1873 Item 39: Edward McPherson, Clerk of the House of Representatives, at Washington, D.C., to A[lexander] M. davis, at Independence, [Grayson County], Va., 8 February 1873 Item 40: John Goode, Jr., at Norfolk, Va., to [?], 16 April 1873 Item 41: C.W. Jones, at Marion, [Smyth County], to [?] Dickerson, 26 April 1873 Item 42: C.A. Wetherow, at Nuckollsville, to Col. A[lexander] M. Davis, 1 October 1873 Item 43: Miss S. J. Cooke, at Leatherwood, Henry County, Va., to A[lexander] M. Davis, 9 January 1874 Item 44: T.M. Oglesby, at Muckollsville, Va., to Davis and Dickenson, 28 January 1874 Item 45: S.M. Fulton, at Summerfield, Grayson County, Va., to A[lexander] M. Davis, 10 February 1874 Item 46: W.J.T. Slum, at Glenn Springs, S.C., to A[lexander] M. Davis, at Independence, [Grayson County], Va., 17 July 1874 Item 47: A. Oppenheimer, at Richmond, Va., to Davis & Dickenson, 17 February 1875 Item 48: James H. Baldwin, at Wytheville, Va., to Col. A[lexander] M. Davis, 21 December 1875 Item 49: Joseph W. Davis, at Elmwood, to Col. A[lexander] M. Davis, 7 March 1876 Item 50: Mrs. M. Newman, at Wytheville, to Mrs. Davis, 3 July 1876 Mrs. M. Newman, at Wytheville, to Mrs. Davis. 3 July 1876. Note: This letter includes an account. Item 51: F.J. Lundy, at Independence, [Grayson County], Va., to Col. A[lexander] M. Davis, 13 August 1877 Item 52: A.L. Ellet & Co., at Richmond, Va., to Davis & Dickenson, at Independence, Grayson County, Va., 17 September 1877

Letters/repositories/2/archival_objects/2682321878-1892, undatedEnglish12Scope and ContentsItem 1: [?], at Forest Hill, Shelby County, Tenn., to W.V. Wilson, Jr., 20 May 1878 [?], at Forest Hill, Shelby County, Tenn., to W.V. Wilson, Jr. 20 May 1878. Incomplete. Item 2: J[ames] A. Davis, at Emory, [Washington County], to Col. Alexander M. Davis, 2 December 1878 Item 3: S.M. Fulton, at [Richmond], Va., to A[lexander] M. Davis, 4 February 1879 Item 4: John Dickenson, at New River, to Col. A[lexander] M. Davis, 12 February 1879 Item 5: John H. Gibboney, at Wytheville, Va., to Col. A[lexander] M. Davis, 29 October 1879 Item 6: T.M. Logan, at Richmond, Va., to A[lexander] M. Davis, at Independence, Grayson County, 8 December 1879 Item 7: Spencer Higgins to A[lexander] M. Davis, 16 December 1879 and 20 December 1879 Item 8: M.L. Blackley, at Bristol, Tenn., to Alexander [M.] Davis, 20 December 1879 Item 9: D.C. Booth, at Grayson Old Court House, Va., to Alexander [M. Davis], 6 March 1880 Item 10: A[lexander] M. Davis, at Independence, Grayson [County], Va., to G. W. Gleaves, 3 May 1880 A[lexander] M. Davis, at Independence, Grayson [County], Va., to G. W. Gleaves. 3 May 1880. Copy Item 11: James S. Greever, at Town House Post Office, Smyth County, Va., to Col. A[lexander] M. Davis, 7 June 1880 Item 12: A[lexander] M. Davis, at Independence, Grayson [County], to Col. F.J. McMillen, 27 June 1881 A[lexander] M. Davis, at Independence, Grayson [County], to Col. F.J. McMillen. 27 June 1871. Rough draft. Item 13: S.M. Fulton, at Summerfield, [Grayson County], to A[lexander] M. Davis, at Independence, [Grayson County], Va., 16 October 1881 Item 14: A.F. Gregory, at Elk Creek, Va., to Col. [Alexander <.] Davis, 16 November 1881 Item 15: M.M. Wagner's Sons, at Taylorsville, Tenn., to A[lexander] M. Davis, at Independence, Grayson County, Va., 6 December 1881 M.M. Wagner's Sons, at Taylorsville, Tenn., to A[lexander] M. Davis, at Independence, Grayson County, Va. 6 December 1881. Postal Card. Item 16: [William Edwards, at Edwards Cross] Roads, N.C., to A[lexander] M. Davis, 1882 [William Edwards, at Edwards Cross] Roads, N.C., to A[lexander] M. Davis. 1882. Mutilated. Item 17: Stephen F. Ewald, at Wytheville, Va., to Col. A[lexander] M. Davis, 24 August 1883 Item 18: William C. Fields, at Sparta, N.C., to A[lexander] M. Davis, at Independence, [Grayson County], Va., 4 February 1884 Item 19: S.M. Fulton, Sr., to Col. A[lexander] M. Davis, 15 September 1884 Item 20: J.H. & M.M. Caldwell, at Wytheville, Va., to Col. A[lexander] M. Davis, 4 January 1886 Item 21: William Edwards, at Edwards Cross Roads, N.C., to Col. A[lexander] M. Davis, 22 May 1886 Item 22: The Virginia Law Journal, at Richmond, Va., to [Alexander M. Davis], 1 July 1886 The Virginia Law Journal, at Richmond, Va., to [Alexander M. Davis]. 1 July 1886. Printed circular letter. Item 23: J[ames] A. Davis, at Emory, [Washington County], to Col. A[lexander] M. Davis, 17 November 1886 Item 24: [?], at Independence, Va., to her son, [?], 21 April 1887 Item 25: [James A. Davis], at Emory, Va., to his sister, Mollie [J. Davis], 27 June 1887 Item 26: M[ollie] J. Davis, committee for A[lexander] M. Davis, to John Miller, 22 July 1889 Item 27: J.K. Fulton, at Summerfield, [Grayson County], Va., to Mrs. A[lexander] M. Davis, 10 March 1890 Item 28: Mrs. W.S. Staty, at Marion, [Smyth County], Va., to [?], 6 May 1890 Item 29: J.G. Davis, at Emory and Henry College, Emory, Va., to his uncle, [?], 13 December 1891 Item 30: J.F. Dickenson, at Lawen, Harney County, Oregon, to his sister, Mollie [J. Davis], 26 February 1892 Item 31: R. Crockett, at Wytheville, to M[olly] J. Davis, at Independence, [Grayson County, Va.], 29 March 1892 Item 32: J[ames] A. Davis, at Emory, [Washington County], Va., to Mollie J. Davis, 15 November 1892 Item 33: J[ames] A. Davis, at Emory, [Washington County, Va.] to Mollie [J. Davis], 13 December 1892 Item 34: William Edwards to Col. [Alexander M.] Davis, undated Item 35: B[ettie] S [?] to [?], undated B[ettie] S [?] to [?]. Incomplete. Item 36: Bettie [?], at Charlottesville, to her sister, [?], undated Item 37: J. [?], at Old Town, [Grayson County], to Mollie [J. Davis?], undated Item 38: Loulah [?], at Arcadia, to her aunt, Mollie [J. Davis?], undated Item 39: Two unidentified, incomplete letter, undatedAccounts/repositories/2/archival_objects/2682331851-1890English21Scope and Contents

Item 1: Day book of Col. Alexander M. Davis, 1873-1874 Day book of Col. Alexander M. Davis. 1873-1874. 236 pages. 14 1/2 x 6 inches. Item 2: Accounts, invoices, notes and receipts of Col. Alexander M. Davis, 1851-1890 Accounts, invoices, notes and receipts of Col. Alexander M. Davis. 1851-1890. 57 pieces. Item 3: Accounts of the estates of Mrs. Mary Dickenson and of Martin Dickenson, 1873 Accounts of the estates of Mrs. Mary Dickenson and of Martin Dickenson. 1873. 2 pieces. Item 4: Other accounts, invoices, receipts and tax bills, 1854-1881 Other accounts, invoices, receipts and tax bills. 1854-1881. 15 pieces.

Legal and Other Papers/repositories/2/archival_objects/2682341850-1890English22