 His elective political years over, except for stints at the Democratic National Conventions and as a Presidential elector for Grover Cleveland, Davis resumed his legal practice in Clarksburg, which came in second in the 1877 contest to become West Virginia's state capitol.However, the Republican Party grew stronger in the area, led by Nathan Goff, Jr., who defeated Wilson in 1883.Eventually, Davis practiced with his son, John W. Davis, who began his personal political career by winning election to the West Virginia House of Delegates in 1899.