DUANE
Duane's take
Here's how the official marker tells it, and I'll give it to you straight. Edmund Jackson Davis — born in Florida on October 2, 1827, died February 7, 1883 — was the kind of man who walked into history sideways and left it arguing. He came to Texas, studied law, took up the bench as a judge, and by all appearances was building a quiet, respectable career.
Then the Civil War arrived, and Davis made a choice that put him at odds with just about everyone around him. He commanded a regiment of Texas Unionists during the war — 1861 to 1865 — and rose all the way to Brigadier General. In Texas.
Fighting for the Union side. That is not a resume you hand to a roomful of former Confederates and expect a warm reception. But Davis wasn't done.
After the war, he planted himself at the head of the Radical wing of the Texas Republican Party and set his sights on the governorship. In November of 1869, he ran against moderate Republican A.J. Hamilton in an election the marker is careful to describe as marred by charges of fraud — and Davis won.
Narrowly. He took office in January of 1870, and that March, Texas was readmitted to the Union. His four years in office drew controversy over a state police force and allegations of financial corruption.
His administration did earn praise for supporting free public education — that much the record acknowledges. But December of 1873 brought a reckoning. Democrat Richard Coke defeated Davis at the polls, and here is where the story takes a turn that sounds like something somebody made up for effect — except it happened.
Davis refused to leave office. From January 13 to January 17 of 1874, Edmund Jackson Davis occupied the first floor of the State Capitol in Austin while Richard Coke and the members of the 14th Legislature held the second floor. Two governments.
One building. The tension in that staircase must have been something to feel. Armed conflict was prevented — and here's the pivot — when President U.S.
Grant declined to intervene. Without that backing, Davis walked out peacefully. He had married Anne Elizabeth Britton, born in 1838, and the two had sons.
When it was all over, when the political wars had run their course, Edmund Jackson Davis was laid to rest in the State Cemetery right there in Austin — the same city where, for four tense days in January, history held its breath on a staircase and exhaled.
What the marker says
(October 2, 1827 - February 7, 1883) Born in Florida, E.J. Davis became a lawyer and judge after moving to Texas. During the Civil War (1861-65), he commanded a regiment of Texas Unionists and rose to the rank of Brigadier General. During the Reconstruction era, Davis led the Radical wing of the Texas Republican Party. In Nov. 1869 he narrowly defeated moderate Republican A.J. Hamilton for the governorship in an election marred by charges of fraud. Davis took office in Jan. 1870, and Texas was readmitted to the Union the following March. Davis' four-year term was marked by controversy over the formation of a state police force and alleged financial corruption. His administration drew praise, however, for its support of free public education. Davis was defeated for re-election in Dec. 1873 by Democrat Richard Coke, but he refused to leave office. From Jan. 13 to Jan. 17, 1874, Davis occupied the first floor of the State Capitol, while Coke and members of the 14th Legislature held the second floor. Armed conflict was prevented when President U.S. Grant declined to intervene in the dispute, and Davis left the building peacefully. Davis married Anne Elizabeth Britton (b. 1838) and had two sons. His grave is in the State Cemetery in Austin. (1976)