John Givan Davis (October 10, 1810 – January 18, 1866) was an American farmer and politician who served four terms as a

U.S. Representative The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply the House, is the lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the Senate being the upper chamber. Together they c ...

from

Indiana Indiana () is a U.S. state in the Midwestern United States. It is the 38th-largest by area and the 17th-most populous of the 50 States. Its capital and largest city is Indianapolis. Indiana was admitted to the United States as the 19th s ...

in the mid- 19th Century.

Early life

Born near

Flemingsburg, Kentucky Flemingsburg is a home rule-class city in Fleming County, Kentucky, in the United States. The population was 2,658 at the 2010 census, down from 3,010 at the 2000 census. It is the seat of Fleming County. Geography Flemingsburg is located no ...

, Davis moved to Indiana with his parents, who settled in Rockville, Parke County, in 1819. He attended the country schools and engaged in agricultural pursuits. He served as Sheriff of Parke County from 1830 to 1833, and clerk of the county court 1833–1850.

Political career

Davis was elected as a

Democrat Democrat, Democrats, or Democratic may refer to: Politics *A proponent of democracy, or democratic government; a form of government involving rule by the people. *A member of a Democratic Party: **Democratic Party (United States) (D) **Democratic ...

to the

32nd 3 (three) is a number, numeral and digit. It is the natural number following 2 and preceding 4, and is the smallest odd prime number and the only prime preceding a square number. It has religious or cultural significance in many societie ...

and 33rd Congresses but was unsuccessful for re-election in 1854 to the 34th Congress. He was elected as a

to the 35th Congress and re-elected as an Anti-

Lecompton Lecompton (pronounced ) is a city in Douglas County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population of the city was 588. Lecompton was the ''de jure'' territorial capital of Kansas from 1855 to 1861, and the Douglas County seat f ...

Democrat to the 36th Congress, he was not a candidate for renomination in 1860 to the Thirty-seventh Congress.

Later life

Following his political career Davis engaged in mercantile pursuits and meat packing in

Montezuma, Indiana Montezuma is a town in Reserve Township, Parke County, in the U.S. state of Indiana. The population was 1,022 at the 2010 census. It is located approximately 66 miles west of Indianapolis History Montezuma was laid out in about 1824. The town w ...

, and moved to Terre Haute, Indiana, and engaged in business as a dry-goods merchant.

Death

He died in Terre Haute, Indiana, on January 18, 1866, and was interred in Highland Lawn Cemetery.

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Davis, John Givan 1810 births 1866 deaths People from Flemingsburg, Kentucky Politicians from Terre Haute, Indiana Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Indiana 19th-century American politicians 19th-century American businesspeople