Windsor

DAVIS, Gilbert A.

1st Biography of Gilbert Asa DAVIS

Men of Vermont: Illustrated Biographical History of Vermonters & Sons of 
Vermont. Ullery. Brattleboro: Transcript Publishing Company, 1894, p 99 
(portrait p 99)

Gilbert A. DAVIS, of Windsor [Windsor County, Vermont], was born 18 December 
1835 at Chester [Windsor County, Vermont], son of Asa and Mary (HOSMER) 
DAVIS. Receiving an education limited to the district school and Chester 
Academy, he commenced to teach when he was fifteen years of age. In 1852 he 
removed to New Jersey, where he pursued the same profession for four years, 
giving instruction at Belvidere and other places in Warren and Hunterdon 
Counties. Here he began to read law with Hon. J. G. SHIPMAN of Belvidere 
[Warren or Hunterdon County?, New Jersey]. Returning to Vermont, he 
continued the study of his profession in the office of Hon. William ROUNDS of 
Chester [Windsor County], and later with Messrs. P. T. WASHBURN and Charles 
P. MARSH of Woodstock [Windsor County]. Mr. DAVIS was admitted to the bar at 
the May term of the Windsor County court in 1859. He remained with his last 
instructors about a year and then removed to Felchville in Reading [Windsor 
County]. Here he remained for nearly twenty years, and laid the foundation 
of a large and successful practice, and still keeps an office in Felchville 
since his removal to Windsor in 1879.

Mr. DAVIS has always been identified with public improvements, is a director 
in the Windsor Electric Light Company, has been a trustee of the village, and 
when the water works were constructed he was one of the commissioners for 
that purpose, and is the president and treasurer of the Windsor Machine 
Company. He is a member of the Republican party, and has held many important 
town offices; in 1858 and 1861 was assistant clerk of the House of 
Representatives, and to him was intrusted the task of making out the grand 
list; served as Register of Probate for Windsor County for five years; 
represented Reading in 1872 and 1874, serving both years on the committee on 
education, of which he was chairman at the session of 1874; elected to the 
Senate in 1876, where he was a member of both educational and judiciary 
committees; was state's attorney for Windsor County 1878-1880; and in 1874 
was selected by Gov. PECK to compile the school laws of Vermont. He has 
published a history of Reading. At the celebration of the centenary of that 
town, he delivered the address, and was also the orator at the centennial 
celebration of the adoption of the constitution and name of the state held at 
Windsor 09 August 1877.

In April 1862 at Turner [DuPage County], Illinois, he [Gilbert A. DAVIS] was 
married to [Miss?] Delia I. BOLLES, and their union has been blessed with 
four children, two of whom are now living: Mary I., and Gilbert F. Mr. 
DAVIS has been for many years an official of the Vermont Historical Society; a 
member of the Vermont Commandery of Knights Templar, the clerk of the 
Congregational Society of Windsor and the superintendent of the Sabbath school. 
He was a member of the Republican national convention at Chicago in 1888, 
and a member of the Triennial Council of Congregational Churches at Worcester 
in 1889 and Minneapolis in 1892.



2nd Biography of Gilbert Asa DAVIS

Encyclopedia Vermont Biography: A Series of Authentic Biographical Sketches 
of the Representative Men of Vermont and Sons of Vermont in Other States. 
Dodge. Burlington: Ullery Publishing Company, 1912, p 166-7

Gilbert Asa DAVIS, lawyer and farmer, Windsor [Windsor County, Vermont], was 
born 18 December 1835 at Chester [Windsor County, Vermont], son of Asa and 
Mary (HOSMER) DAVIS. Educated in the public schools and Chester Academy; 
taught school in New Jersey 1852-1856; began study of law in Belvidere 
[Warren County], New Jersey; continued in Chester and Woodstock [both in 
Windsor County, Vermont]; admitted to Vermont bar 1859. Practiced law at 
Felchville [Windsor County, VT] 1860-1879, when he removed to Windsor, where 
he has since resided and engaged in active practice in the courts of VT and 
NH and in the U. S. courts; has been admitted to practice in the U. S. court 
of appeals of the 2nd circuit, and U. S. supreme court; numerous briefs 
prepared by him have been published in the Vermont Reports. Has been 
register of probate for the district of Windsor four years; states attorney 
for Windsor County 1878-1880; referee in bankruptcy continuously since the 
enactment of the U. S. [p 167] bankruptcy law in 1898.

In 1862 he [Gilbert Asa DAVIS] married Delia I. BOLLES of Turner Junction 
(now West Chicago), [DuPage County], Illinois; they had four children: two 
sons who died in infancy; Mary Isabella, now Mrs. Stanley CARLETON, Thomaston 
[Knox County], Maine; and Gilbert Franklin of Windsor. Mr. DAVIS is a 
Republican; assistant clerk of House of Representatives 1858 and 1861; 
represented Reading in the Legislature 1872 and 1874, chairman of the 
committee on education; compiled the school laws in 1874, under appointment 
by Governor PECK; senator from Windsor County 1876, chairman of committee on 
education, and member of judiciary committee; introduced an act establishing 
the work house at Rutland [Rutland County, Vermont], now the House of 
Correction; chairman of the state bridge commission under Gov. Charles J. 
BELL; has held numerous town offices, e. g., superintendent of schools, 
moderator, auditor, president, and trustee of Windsor village; has been 
president, treasurer, and director of the Windsor Machine Company; president 
and director of the Windsor Canning Company; and president, director, and 
secretary of the Windsor Electric Light Company. Was alternate and acted as 
delegate to the Republican national convention 1888, which nominated Benjamin 
HARRISON for president.

In 1899 he built and donated to the town of Reading a substantial brick 
building, the Gilbert A. DAVIS library building, which contains over 2,000 
volumes. In 1874 and in 1904 published a History of Reading in two volumes; 
and with Rev. Dr. BYINGTON published a History of the First Congregational 
Church in Windsor, which was established in 1758. [The church history, 
"History of the First Congregational Church of Windsor Vermont, from 1768 to 
1898" by Ezra Hoyt BYINGTON, with statistics compiled by Gilbert A. DAVIS, 
was reprinted in 1998.] Member of Congregational Church; clerk for 
twenty-seven years; superintendent of the Sunday school ten years; has been 
three times member of the Triennial Conference of Congregational Churches. 
Member of the Masonic fraternity; past grand of Windsor Lodge No. 55, 
Independent Order of Odd Fellows; twice a representative to the Grand Lodge; 
member of Ascutney Grange.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly