Cephas L. Davis

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Cephas L. Davis (November 1839 – May 26, 1907) was a pastor, teacher and state legislature who served in the Virginia Senate after the Reconstruction era, from 1879 - 1880.[1]

Cephas L. Davis
Member of the Virginia Senate
In office
1879–1880
Personal details
BornNovember 1839[1]
DiedMay 26, 1907(1907-05-26) (aged 67) [1]
Williamsburg
Political partyRepublican

He was born a slave to Cephas Davis and Annie "Frances" Davis around November 1839 in Christiansville Mecklenburg County, Virginia (now Chase City).[1] He became a free man sometime before the end of the American Civil War and attended an educational institution before going on to teach former slaves in Maryland from 1869 to 1870.[1]

Reverend Cephas Davis was the pastor of the Colored Baptist Church in Chase City.[2]

He ran as a Radical for the Senate in 1879 against the Conservative nomination John W. Eggleston and W. H. Jones a Readjuster.[3] The Richmond Dispatch declared Eggleston the favorite and described Davis as a "jet-black Radical" that the other blacks would not solidly support.[3]

Senator Davis was refused service in a Richmond restaurant in January 1880 along with two friends as the owner said he kept his business "for white persons only".[4]

In August 1883 he attempted with others to free black festival goers that had been arrested by the town sergeant Mr A. J. White.[5] Mr White was knocked down twice and Davis attacked him the following day and them went on to assault the mayor Joseph Prichard.[5] Davis was badly beaten, arrested and later found guilty by grand jury for the three instances.[5]

Later life and death

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He moved to Philadelphia from Virginia sometime before 1902 and became the president of a social organization.[1] He had dementia in his final years and died of arteriosclerosis in hospital on May 26, 1907.[1] He was buried in Merion Memorial Park in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania[1]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h "Cephas L. Davis (ca. 1839–1907) – Encyclopedia Virginia". Retrieved 18 June 2022.
  2. ^ "The Colored People of Chase City - A Unanimous Vote in Favor of State Solvency". Richmond Dispatch. 8 April 1875. p. 3. Retrieved 16 July 2022. 
  3. ^ a b "Candidates for the House and Senate". Richmond Dispatch. 25 October 1879. p. 2. Retrieved 19 June 2022. 
  4. ^ "Cephas Davis refused service". The Valley Virginian. 15 January 1880. p. 2. Retrieved 19 June 2022. 
  5. ^ a b c "Cephas Davis in trouble". Richmond Dispatch. 1 September 1883. p. 3. Retrieved 19 June 2022.