Samuel Post Davis
Samuel Post Davis was a notable figure born on April 4, 1850, in Branford, Connecticut. The son of an Episcopal priest, he experienced a nomadic upbringing that took him across the United States. Initially pursuing theology, Davis found his true passion in journalism after being expelled from Racine College. He eventually settled in Nevada, where he became an influential public servant, holding positions such as state controller and deputy secretary of state. Alongside his political career, he worked for local newspapers, contributing insightful pieces focused on social change, particularly relating to the state's railroads and silver industry.
Davis was also a creative writer, publishing a book of fiction titled "Short Stories" in 1886, which garnered favorable reviews and showcased his storytelling abilities. His connections with notable literary figures such as Mark Twain and Ambrose Bierce enriched his career, and he maintained correspondence with political figures like Theodore Roosevelt. Known for his humor, Davis often played pranks in his newspaper work, including a famous hoax about a nonexistent earthquake. He passed away on March 17, 1918, leaving behind a legacy marked by his contributions to journalism, literature, and Nevada’s political landscape.
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Samuel Post Davis
Writer
- Born: April 4, 1850
- Birthplace: Branford, Connecticut
- Died: March 17, 1918
Biography
Samuel Post Davis was born in Branford, Connecticut, on April 4, 1850, one of four children of Reverend George R. and Sylvia (Nichols) Davis. His father, an Episcopal priest, moved the family around throughout the United States. Davis attended Racine College and entered the program in theology, but was expelled. During his time in college he discovered a love for journalism, and after his expulsion, he worked for numerous publications for short periods. He ultimately settled in Nevada.
He held several public offices there, serving as deputy secretary of state of Nevada, 1895; state controller of Nevada, first in 1898 and reelected in 1902; as ex-officio state insurance commissioner; and as chair of Publicity and Industrial Commission of Nevada, 1907-1911. He was among the most respected and influential citizens of Nevada. He married Nellie Verrill Mighels, an editor and journalist, in 1880, and became the stepfather of her four children. The couple had two daughters.
He worked first for the Evening Chronicle and afterwards for the Morning Appeal. Much of his writing during this time focused on Nevada. His writings, as well as his political activities, were focused on social change and reform of the railroads, agriculture and the silver industry. Davis loved pranks. Some of his newspaper reports were hoaxes, as when he once sent back a dispatch about a (nonexistent) earthquake in San Francisco. He published one poem, “Binley and ’46” under the name of Bret Harte, “in order to prove that he could write poetry as well as Harte.”
Davis became friends with Ambrose Bierce, Mark Twain, and other literary and political figures of the period. His papers include correspondence with Theodore Roosevelt. His one published book of fiction, misleadingly titled Short Stories (1886), contains nineteen stories, six humorous essays, and nine poems, including “Binley and ’46.’” Containing some of his best stories, Short Stories received many strongly favorable reviews in which Davis was compared to authors such as Twain and Harte.
Although he was best known in his own time for his journalism and humor, his fiction is now considered his more substantial achievement. Also important are his writings as a historian and memoirist of the period of the Nevada gold rush, the Comstock Era, from the early 1850’s through the mid 1870’s. Samuel Post Davis died on March 17, 1918.