Ohio Governor Gravesites: #49 Harry L. Davis

Harry L. Davis

Born: January 25, 1878
Died: May 21, 1950
Political Party: Republican
Term of Office: January 10, 1921 - January 8, 1923
Buried: Lake View Cemetery Cleveland, Ohio
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Harry L. Davis was born in Cleveland in 1878 to a steelworker father. His Dad also served a few terms in the Ohio State Legislature. He became a steel worker as a young adult. He eventually started the Harry L. Davis Co. in which he sold insurance. For most of his adult life he would balance between politics and insurance.

   In 1909, Davis was elected treasurer of Cleveland. Then in 1915 he was elected Mayor of Cleveland. As Mayor, Davis had to deal with the May Day Riots of 1919, in which Communist and Socialist groups violently protested the imprisonment of renowned Socialist Eugene Debs. Davis's own home was bombed by Communist agitators.

    Davis ran for Governor in 1920 and won, beating the Democratic challenger A. Victor Donahey. As Governor, Davis spearheaded the Administrative Reorganization Code of 1921. This Code was meant to have the state government run more efficiently by cutting 37 different agencies, boards, ects... and replace them with 8 administrative departments, that the Governor would appoint directors of, with advice from the State Senate. The Departments were finance, commerce, highways and public works, agriculture, health, industrial relations, education and public welfare. Davis did not seek reelection in 1922.

   In 1924, Davis received the Republican nomination for Governor, but lost to A. Victor Donahey, who had won the 1922 election. Davis stayed out of politics until 1933 when he was elected to become Mayor of Cleveland again. After leaving the Mayor's office in 1935, he retired from politics and passed away in 1950.


      Davis was the 2nd and last Governor Gravesite that I visited when we visited Lake View Cemetery in September 2010. On my March 2017 revisit to Lake View Cemetery I revisited the grave of Governors Davis and Herbert, and this time was able to find Governor Myron T. Herrick which I wasn't able to find before.

Davis's gravesite is very unassuming and would of been very difficult to find if not for this sign that gives you a rough idea of the location of the gravesite.