Davis and his mother, Annie, left a widow, struggled financially after the war, but he was able to attend the Virginia Military Institute on a scholarship.

In 1903, Davis purchased Morven Park, in the heart of Virginia's horse country.

He and his wife Marguerite were avid equestrians and he soon founded the Loudoun Hunt, becoming the Master of Foxhounds for the club.

Davis died on September 2, 1942,[4] in a Baltimore hospital after suffering a stroke and was buried at Morven Park.

[7] In 1917, Davis was elected Governor of Virginia with 71.47% of the vote, defeating Republican Thomas J. Muncy and Socialist Frank Smith.