Craft Masonry in Westchester and Putnam Counties, New York

Life Sketches of the State Officers, Senators, and Members of the Assembly of ...,” by Samuel R. Harlow, H. H. Boone, 1867. page
373.
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DAVID W. TRAVIS.
MR. TRAVIS was originally a "Whig. Though not very ambitious for office, in 1853 he was nominated for the office of Assemblyman,
but, in consequence of the running of a third candidate, his Democratic opponent was elected by a small majority. During the
session of the Legislature of 1854, an act was passed authorizing the election of a Police Justice for the village of Peekskill. Mr.
TRAVIS was nominated for that office by the Whigs, and indorsed by the Americans, who had not, as yet, assumed the shape of a
distinct party. The result was his election by a flattering majority. Sympathizing with the Americans to a certain extent, he acted with
them, until their more mature operations as an independent organization. He then gave them a parting "grip," and returned to the
Whigs.
In the year 1855, he was a delegate from his district to the Whig Convention held at Syracuse, and was present at the formation of
the Republican party. He acted with a majority of the Whigs in joining the Republicans, and he has continued true to the
organization, in its successes and its defeats. Although the nomination for office was, at various times, offered to him, yet he
declined to be a candidate, though his election seemed certain, in case he should consent to run. Last summer, Westchester county
was re-districted, inasmuch as the census had shown some changes in its population; and, though it was thought that there would
be some political changes in consequence thereof, yet Mr. TRAVIS, who ran as candidate for Member of Assembly, was elected by
over six hundred majority. He is on the Committee on Commerce and Navigation.
He is forty-two years old, and is a native of Cortlandt, Westchester county, New York. His father was a farmer by occupation, and
was of English descent, and his mother was of German ancestry. He was the youngest of a large family. His youth was spent in
working on a form, and attending the district school during the winter, until he was sixteen years old. But a farmer's life had no very
attractive features for him, and, therefore, he very wisely decided to abandon it. It requires a
peculiar kind of pluck to face the freezing sleet of early spring, the 110° of July and August,
and the nipping frosts of fall; and if one has ever so misty visions of a life more congenial, of
course, it is better to "fold the tent and quietly steal away;" for the true key to success in any
occupation, is to have the heart in every effort attempted.
At the age of sixteen, Mr. TRAVIS attended the Peekskill Academy, and continued there as a
student, for about four years. He then had an inclination to attend the Military Academy at
West Point, but, owing to the objections urged by his parents, he abandoned the idea, and
commenced the study of law in the office of WILLIAM & T. NELSON, Esq'rs, able practitioners,
at Peekskill. He was admitted to practice as an attorney, in 1846, and as Solicitor in
Chancery, under the old Constitution, the winter following. He commenced practice at
Peekskill, in April, 1847; and, by hard efforts among old established lawyers, he has gathered
to himself a fine business. Whatever he has accomplished, he has wrought by unflinching
industry, conscious that toil will meet with due compensation.
Mr. TRAVIS has always been a zealous worker in the field of politics. He is almost invariably
present at the conventions of his party, and has a measure of influence in them which is
never disregarded by his fellow citizens. In campaigns and at the polls, he determinedly
works for the success of the ticket, and in the Legislature he is known as a keen-sighted
member. Mr. TRAVIS is a man of a great deal of nervous vitality, and throws all of his powers
into the accomplishment of a measure.
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