Jacob G. Davies (1795-1857)
MSA SC 3520-12473
Source: Wilbur F. Colye, The Mayors of Baltimore (Reprinted from The Baltimore Municipal Journal, 1919), pp. 73-75.
Jacob O. Davies was Mayor of Baltimore from November 4th, 1844, to November, 1846; November, 1846, to November 18, 1848. He was elected October 21st, 1844, and reelected October 14th, 1846.
During these administrations the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company’s Locust Point extension was constructed. The Cross Street and Richmond Market houses were completed and two similar structures at Belair Market and one at Fells Point, or Broadway, Market were begun and finished. Iron bridges were placed over Harford Run (Central Avenue) at Canton Avenue (Fleet Street) and over Jones Falls at Fayette and Madison Streets. This Run and Jones Falls now flow through sewers or conduits. The Eastern District watchhouse, Bank Street near Broadway, was completed and one in the Southern District was erected. Two schoolhouses were built—a Western Female High School at the southwest corner of Fayette and Greene Streets and a grammar school. A smallpox hospital was constructed on the south shore of the Patapseo River. The site of Franklin Square was purchased, graded and improved. Plans for the City to carry its own insurance were discussed.
Ordinances for opening Eager Street from Canal (Central Avenue) to North Street (Guilford Avenue) and Charles Street from Eager to North Avenue; also for widening Broadway, between Baltimore and Monument Streets, were approved. Authority to acquire a site for the House of Refuge (now, 1919, Maryland School for Boys) and to accept the site of Union Square; also to place bridges over Schroeder’s Run at Fayette Street near Schroeder and across the same stream at Pratt Street near Arlington Avenue were passed. Schroeder’s Run is now completely enclosed. An Act of Assembly of 1845 provided for dividing Baltimore City into twenty wards. This necessitated increasing the number of members of the School Board by the appointment of a member from each ward. In March, 1845, the law was changed so that elections were held the second Wednesday in October and the date of beginning of Mayor’s term was the second Monday in November.
* * * * * *
Mr. Davies, as Mayor of Baltimore, accepted the Flag of the Baltimore Battalion, which banner was the first planted on the walls of Monterey, in Mexico. He was later Postmaster of Baltimore City. Historians state that he died in 1857, aged 62 years. His widow, Sarah Glen, married Chancellor Theodoric Bland, who was Consul to Brazil.
Return to Jacob G. Davies' Introductory Page
|| Search the Archives || Education & Outreach || Archives of Maryland Online ] Governor General Assembly Judiciary Maryland.Gov