The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1886-09-25
MONROE LOUISIANA SATURDAY. SEPTEMBER 25. 1885,

20, 1885.
"Reminiscences II Jefferson Davis.
.O.d Fogy No. ~. writing f.om
Woodvtlle, Miss, to the. Coarier.J Jour-
nal says:
Speaking OF Jefferson Davis as Franld
lin Pierce's Secretary Of War, "Ok.
Fogy" says he ssWas born In Christian
county, KY, June 5, 1S0S," and ssthat
he graduated at West Point Military
Academy In 1928 !" thence there is .
space In the childhood and youth OF
this after eventful life Of about 70 years
that Il can but interest and Instruct
your readers to all. From the time OF
his entering the political arena Jefier.
son Davis career has been SO adeu.
titled with Mississippi, the fact. known
to comparatively few at best, that he
was born In Kentucky, Is lost eight Of.
He was not only born, but partially
educated there. In filling the void
spoken OF, his patriotic descent and
blood will show for itself, for his faith.
or, Samuel Davis, native Georgian,
was soldier In the American Rev0lu>
tion at seventeen years OF age, aud two
OF his elder brothers, Sam'l and Isaac,
when mere youths, like Cincinuatus
and Israel Putnam, left their plOWs
aud their farm work to engage In the
second struggle of Uncle Sam with
England. Jefferson Davis WIS then q
child here. When he was about four
years OF age, his father went from
Christian county, KY, 10 Attakapas,
La, with his family, where his exps-
rience of summers sickness In that
humid atmosphere caused him TO seek
q home In the hills, which he found In
Wilkinson county, Miss, = short dis>
tance from Woodville. Az soon AZ he
was old enough to 60 to school, his son
Jefferson became hay scholar at
what was called the Academy, not far
south Of Woodville, and about two
and one-half miles from his residence.
He walked to and from school, and at
times, when his younger nephew,
Hugh Davis, would become tired by
the wayside and fret, as tired children
will he would pack him on his back.
All! these were happy schonlboy days.
In new, Wild and romantic land,
where Indians were slill to be seen,
and bears, panthers, wolves, foxes and
squirrels In plenty. "Of all the friends
who were schoolmaies them" John b.
Sherrel, OF Woodvllle, may say, as Ben
Bolts friend said to him In the song,
"there remain (Je6O but you aud. +"
for I cannot recall another living man
that have heard was his schoolmaae.
AT every visit Jefferson Davis has
made to Wilkinson county he has
inquired for John Brown, as he was
called al schuol-his full baptismal
being John Brown Sherrel--and they
have always met and talked over
schooiboy days. Jefferson Davis re-
tu,orship of Mr.. Shaw, until that
worthy teacher pronounced him .
graduate, so far as his course Of instruc.
ton reached, when he was sent 10 the
Transyivanta College, Lexington, KY,
where he graduated and then was
admitted to the West Point Academy,
where "Old Fogy" has him graduated
In 1928.
In my boyhood 1 saw the noted
InGian captives Black Hawk, Keokuk
and the Prophet on board the steam.
boat Warrior at the wharf ii st. Louis,
where I aud the other schoolbOys,
hearing of the "big Injuns," ran down
to the river for sight. Jefferson
Davis was on board with other army
officers, but did not know and had
| never heard Ut him then. The first
time I ever met him TO know him
was in 1s45, in Woodville and vicinity
when he was canvassing for Congress
was then acclimating for residence
In Mississippi or Louisiana. Then II
was l made his acquaintance. HI
spoke in the courthouse at Woodville
spoke Of his boyho0d's home, Of hi
alma mater, Shaw's Academy, of his
beloved old country, passing on to ths
political topics Of the time. l was i'm
pressed with the soundncss of his De-
mocracy, his strict construction views
in connection with which he related
the anecdote Of the French King who
wished to know of the commandan
of the harEor why he did not fire 9
salute when he and his suite approach.
ed tho town, who answered: "Pardor
me, sire, for 200 reasons first, hat
not the powder"
/ "Ah!" replied the King, "that vii
do you need not state the other 199.'
So said Mr.. Davis: "When sa,
there is no power in the constitution
for tariff for protection, or for tn
chartering Of Q national bank, I d.
not see that am called upon to Civ
the other 199 reasons aRains! thes
measures" At that time / thought
Yk~s Iutn tnr