and reared.

The war was over. The boy over whom mother and father had
prayed had changed from a chattel, a thing of barter, to a
free child, belonging only to mother and father. What a
change!

Entering the public schools of Richmond, step by step, grade
by grade was passed with honor and public commendation,
until June, 1878, when D. Webster Davis graduated from the
Richmond High and Normal School, receiving at the same time
the Essayist Medal.

In 1880 the subject of our sketch commenced to teach in the
public schools of Richmond and has taught therein
continuously ever since, and is to-day rated as one of the
best and most progressive in the system.

September 8, 1893, Mr. Davis married Miss Lizzie Smith, a
teacher in the Richmond public schools. From this happy
union three children have been born.

In October, 1895, feeling that the time had come for him to
be about his Father's business he was ordained to the
ministry.

From a child he babbled in verse, and the poetic muse
brought in 1896, "Idle Moments" and in 1898, "Weh Down
Souf." These two books established the name of Rev. Mr.
Davis as a poet and have given him front rank with his