Orcemas Orvil Davis (1875-1940)

From the Salt Lake City Tribune, February 9, 1940.

  As 2020 slowly winds to a close we make our first stop in Wyoming this year to highlight the life of Orcemas Orvil Davis, a transplant to that state from Illinois. A journalist and newspaper editor in the town of Green River, Davis would be a candidate for the Wyoming state senate and Wyoming Secretary of State prior to his appointment as U.S. Postmaster at Green River, serving in that capacity until his death. Born in Biggsville, Henderson County, Illinois on May 24, 1875, Orcemas Orvil "O.O." Davis was the son of Alphonso Milton and Hulda Ann (Smith) Davis.

  The son of a decorator and painter, Davis's early education was obtained in schools "in the various places where the family resided." As a youth Davis met both President Benjamin Harrison and boxing champion John L. Sullivan and is remarked as having shined the shoes of both men. After attaining the seventh grade Davis elected to strike out on his own, taking employment as a printer's devil in Glenwood Springs, Colorado. Working on the staff of the Daily Avalanche Echo, he remained there two years and having learned the printing trade relocated to Utah, where he became head of the Brighton Record.

  Davis's stay in Utah later saw him take charge of the Mercur Record in the town of Mercury, and at age 20 bought the Lehi Hustler, which he edited for one year. This post was followed by a four-year stint as foreman of the Rock Springs Miner in Wyoming, and in the mid-1890s had charge of the Rock Springs Independent. In 1899 he removed to Green River, where he became editor of the Green River Star, which he purchased the following year. He continued as its head until 1906, whereafter he sold his interest and removed to Nyassa, Oregon.

  In February 1899 O.O. Davis married Anna P. Dykes (1880-1959), to who he was wed until his death, The couple had four children, Gladys Fern (1902-1951), Hulda Viola (died 1911), Raymond Milton (1906-1973), John Ross (born 1910). O.O. Davis's residency in Oregon last only briefly, and during his time there established the Nyassa News. The climate interfering with his health, he and his family soon removed to Denver, Colorado, where he built up two advertising papers, the Five Point Star and the West Point Advertiser. In addition to those papers, Davis also operated a "job printing shop" in the city. 

  In 1908 the Davis family removed back to Green River, where Davis re-purchased the Green River Advertiser, with which he was connected for the next twenty-eight years. Under Davis's stewardship, the Advertiser's plant was outfitted with then up-to-date machinery and:

"He issues a fine eight page paper published in the interests of the democratic party and devoted to the upbuilding of his city, county, and state. He has made the Star the champion of all progressive movements for public benefit and his paper has become both the molder and the mirror of public opinion."

  Although a leading Democratic figure in Sweetwater County, O.O. Davis refrained from political candidacy until 1928, when he won the Democratic nomination for state senator. In November of that year, Davis was defeated by Republican candidate Thomas Gibson, who polled 3,274 votes to his own 1,758.

From the Wyoming Blue Book.

From the Casper Star-Tribune, June 22, 1930.

  Two years after his state senate run Davis was induced to reenter the political field, announcing his candidacy for Wyoming Secretary of State in June 1930. After filing his petition, Davis noted that he had served as a water superintendent for Wyoming's fourth division, calling it the only public office he had held. One of four candidates vying for the nomination in that year's primary election, Davis won out in June, polling 9,061 votes. In the general election, Davis opposed Republican candidate Alonzo M. Clark, and on November 4, 1930, was dealt a loss to Clark, polling 27,258 votes to 41,653.

  Davis returned to his newspaper after his defeat and in 1932 saw his son Raymond win the first of two terms as a Wyoming state representative, being remarked as the youngest legislator to serve in the 1933-35 session. In 1936 Davis was appointed by President Franklin Roosevelt as U.S. Postmaster at Green River and turned over operation of the Star to his wife and son Raymond. Davis served until his death on February 7, 1940, aged 64, having been ill for a few days prior. He was interred at the Riverview Cemetery in Green River.

From the Salt Lake Tribune, February 9, 1940.