Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1866-10-15
THE FAMILY OF MR.. DAVIS

A Canada correspondent of the Chi
cago Tribune (RadicaD thus describes
the domestic habitudes Of Mr.. Davis's
family:
OTTAWA, c. W., Sept 27.-After the
late war the Davis family, excepting
Mrs. Davis, went to live in Canada, and
they still live there. At the head of this
family is Mrs Howell, the mother of
Mrs. Davis, and with her is younger
sister of the latter, who is unmarried.
The Davis family consists of two boys
and one girl, all young, the eldest a
boy) not being over fourteen years OF
age. With Mrs. Davis there is young
child not included in the above list.
Mrs. Howell is tall, stately old lady,
of about sixty years of age. She has
brilliant black eyes, good features, and
looks little sallow, from age. Her
hair is gray and still thick, and she
wears nothing on her head. This gives
her an air of dignity and simplicity. In
manner she is very affable and plain.
Miss Howell, whose first name is Mar
garet, is a tall young lady Of about
twenty years of age She has dark eyes,
good features, and clear olive com
plexion, with dark brown hair. In
manner she is pleasing, and there Is a
strong resemblance between her and
her mother. The looks of both ladies'
are quite Southern,
Master Jefferson Davis is fine boy OF
about fourteen years of age He is tall
for his age, and well made, with dark
hair, dark eyes and good features. His
skin is a rich brown, like that OF all his
family He is now at college IN Len
knoxville, Canada East.
Miss Margaret Davis is a girl of about
eight years of age, with eyes black as
sloes. and brown hair and good features
Her skin is rich olive, like that of
Miss Howell, her aunt She is now at
school in the convent of The Sacred
Heart" near Montreal.
The last of the family to notice is
Master William Davis, who goes by the
name of willy" He is boy of four
years of age, with gray eyes and light
hair. and features promising to aquline,
like those of his father. He is deaf, so
that one has to shout 10 him in speak
ing
The first place in Canada that the
family went to was Chambly, small
town and military post on Richelieu
river. about twelve miles from Montreal.
At that place they lived for some time,
in quiet way, almost incognito. They
next went to live in Montreal, and
thew are now in that city, in
which they may see good deal OF life
if they are so disposed
The two ladies spend their time IN
reading and sewing Miss Howell would
read aloud while the old lady sewed,
and sometimes the young lady sewed.
They both read very well, the old lady
slowly and distinctly, and the younger
faster and in a more pleasing tone OF
voice. A good deal of what they read
was poetry All the news they cared to
hear was from the South, and so they
took the Telegraph, an evening paper,
very much in favor of the late Confed-
eracy, and very hostile to the United
States. This sheet they read often.
Miss Howell can sing very well, and
beguiled the time on Richmond Square
by singing passages from operas. She
is good pianist, and used piano that
was in the house occasionally.
A few visitors came to see the family.
| They were late officers of the rebel army,
one named Col johnson, second Col.
Sutherland, and third Capt. Richard
son. All are men of the class Of gentle
men in the South, and deported them
selves as such in their visits to the family
of the fallen chief.
The feeling of all the family was bit
terly against the United States Govern
ment
One day Miss Howell was found in
tears. and her mother told the lady with
whom they were living that they had
received some bad news They had
learned that they were $4,000 less in
funds than they had looked for, and
this had rendered their pecuniary affairs
very strait. Miss Howell had felt this
change very much, and for some time
did not get over it, Like all women of
high spirit, she could not brook the idea
of living in indigence-she who had
been reared in the lap of luxury. 1t
was certainly sad misfortune for any
lady.
A short time after this the family left
the house they were living in, in which
the charge for living was small, TO 90 to
one where it was still smaller alleging
the moor state of their finances as the
cause of the change They also said
they would have 10 discharge Mary,
their servant, in order to ecOnomiZe as
much as lay in their power
The next place to which the family
went was house on Mansfield street, in
the upper part of the city; but they did
not long stay there, and then went to
| live in the east end of the city, in
house on the north side of Viger Square,
formed by Dubord street Here they
live at the present time. The house IS
new stone one, and kept in good, neat
style, though there is no luxury about it.
The family GO to the Church of Eng
land. At first they went to the Cathe-
dral, and next to Trinity Church, which
| is on the northwest corner of Niger
| Square, and therefore quite close to the
bouse in which they now dwell A very
good man oiiciates there-the Rev. Mr..
! Bancroft-who is native Of one of the
Northern States.
In December last, Mrs Howell was
daily on the lookout for her son, Jefier-
son Howell, who was Lieutenant on
board the privateer Shenandoah; and
when the telegram came telling of his
arrest at Portland, the old lady felt very
sorrowful He was coming on to Mon
treal to join the family circle, and they
looked forward to happy reunion, with
him in their midst, to tell Of his adven-
lures; but ex-Lieutenant Howell, in
stead Of coming to a new home, was
taken 20 a comfortleSs prison, there to
await the fat of the law.