Levi Washington Davis

The old Western story is that Springville Marshal Jesse Steele had a warrant for Jack Cole, a convicted horse thief who had escaped from a federal prison in California. Cole had come to Utah and was staying at his father's house, continuing to steal horses and mules. Knowing he needed help to round up the dangerous convict, Steele asked for a handful of deputies and 24-year-old Davis volunteered. When the posse got to Cole's father's home, they found Cole still in bed. Cole was allowed to get dressed, but despite promises to surrender his guns, he quickly strapped them on and shot Davis. The posse shot back and Cole was also mortally wounded. Davis was the first Springville officer killed in the line of duty. Levi never married and never had any children. He left behind his widowed mother.

Officer Levi W. Davis is also honored at the website for [http://www.utahsfallen.org/archives/514" target="_blank Utah's Fallen Officers].

• Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Jul 27 2017, 15:25:48 UTC