# Cushman K. Davis *American politician; seventh governor of Minnesota and U.S. senator from Minnesota* Cushman Kellogg Davis (June 16, 1838 – November 27, 1900), a Republican, was the seventh [[Governor of Minnesota]] and later represented [[Minnesota]] in the [[United States Senate]].[^1] Born in New York and raised in Wisconsin Territory, he served as a Union officer in the American Civil War before moving to St. Paul.[^1] He was governor for one term, from 1874 to 1876, and declined to seek a second.[^1] He entered the Senate in 1887 and held the seat until he died in office on November 27, 1900. From 1897 he chaired the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.[^1] ## Early life and American Civil War His parents were Horatio N. Davis and Clarissa Cushman, and he was born in Henderson, New York. Before his first birthday the family had settled in Wisconsin Territory, where his father later served several times in the Wisconsin State Senate.[^1] He studied at Carroll College and then at the University of Michigan, from which he graduated in 1857. He was admitted to the bar in 1860.[^1] In the Civil War he served with the 28th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiment, first as a lieutenant commanding Company B. After action in the western campaigns, he became an aide to General [[Willis A. Gorman]] in 1864.[^1] ## Political career Poor health brought Davis home in 1864. He then moved to St. Paul, Minnesota, a city known as a health resort, and took up law and politics there.[^1] He sat in the Minnesota State House of Representatives from 1867 to 1868. From 1868 to 1873 he held an appointment as United States District Attorney, and he resigned it to run for governor as the Republican candidate.[^1] According to the Wikipedia account, the contest for his party's nomination was among its most contentious, and he secured the nomination by three votes.[^1] ### As Governor Davis held the governorship for a single term, 1874 to 1876, and did not accept renomination.[^1] The Wikipedia account credits his term with three measures. A state board of railway commissioners was created. The state constitution was revised so that women could vote on school matters and hold elected office. Farmers hit by a locust plague received assistance.[^1] He carried forward the efforts of his predecessor, [[Horace Austin]], to limit corporate power in Minnesota, a subject he termed "Modern Feudalism".[^1] ## Return to legal career and second political career After leaving the governorship, Davis returned to law. He served as defense counsel for Judge Sherman Page at Page's 1878 impeachment trial, and he went into partnership with Frank B. Kellogg and Cordenio Severance.[^1] Elected to the U.S. Senate in 1887, he sat through seven Congresses, the 50th through the 56th, until 1900.[^1] His legislative work there concerned pensions and the construction of the Soo Locks.[^1] He became chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in 1897. In that role he was closely involved in the events that led to the Spanish–American War, and he attended the talks for the Treaty of Paris that ended the war.[^1] ## Personal life His first marriage, in 1862, was to Laura Bowman. Sometime in the 1880s he married Anna Malcom Agnew Fox.[^1] ## Honors The American Antiquarian Society elected him a member in 1894. In 1895 the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution elected him a vice-president general.[^1] The [[Minnesota State Capitol]] displays a quotation from Davis next to one from Alexander Hamilton. The Davis quotation begins "Liberty consists in the right of each individual to exercise the greatest freedom of action".[^1] The Capitol also displays his official portrait, and a bust of Davis stands in the chamber of the [[Minnesota Senate]].[^1] ## Death Davis was still serving in the Senate when he died in St. Paul on November 27, 1900. His grave is at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia.[^1] ## In the Minnesota record ### Who - Cushman Kellogg Davis, Republican, seventh governor of Minnesota and U.S. senator from Minnesota.[^1] ### What - Chaired the Senate Foreign Relations Committee from 1897.[^1] ### When - Governor, 1874–1876.[^1] - Elected to the U.S. Senate in 1887. He served until his death on November 27, 1900.[^1] ### Where - Born in Henderson, New York. After returning home in 1864, he moved to St. Paul, Minnesota.[^1] ### Why - He chose St. Paul for its reputation as a health resort, having returned home in 1864 because of poor health.[^1] ### How many - Served in seven Congresses (50th–56th).[^1] - Won the Republican nomination for governor by three votes.[^1] ## Notes [^1]: Wikipedia contributors, *Cushman K. Davis* (revision 1378908481, retrieved 2026-10-25) — biographical summary of Davis's life, offices, honors and death. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cushman_K._Davis