Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1889-12-14

was born in Christian county, Kentucky,
June 3, ~ :. His father removed 10 the
state Of Mississippi during HIS childhood.
He graduated from the West Point mill
tary academy when he arrived at the age
of 20 years, and served with distinction
against the Indians until 1885, when be re
signed his commission. returned TO Missis-
sippi, and married the daughter of General
Taylor, afterwards president Of the United
States.
He then became a cotton planter. contin-
uing Ia the business for nearly eight years.
when he interested himself in politics as a
democrat, and took a prominent part in
the election of Polk. He was sent TO the
house in lc45, and took "A prominent part in
the debates on the tariff. the Oregon ques-
ton, the preparation for the Mexican war.
etc. Upon the breaking out OF the Mexican
war he was elected colonel of the Missis-
sippi regiment of volunteers, and, resigning
his seat in congress, he joined the army of
General Taylor on the Rio Grande and
was engaged in the storming of Monterey
and the battle of Busna Vista. At the
close of the war he was offered by Presi-
dent Polk the rank of brigadier general Of
volunteers, but IL was declined.
Two years later he was elected senator
for Mississippi; in 1880 he became chair
man Of the committee on military Affairs
and was distinguished by the energy with
which he defeaded slavery, and by his real
Gus advocacy OF state rights.
a year later be resigned his seat in the
seante, to enter upon IA canvass for the
election Of Franklin Pierce, who, on being
elected president, appointed Mr.. Davis
secretary Of war. He was again elected
senator in ISIS. but the election Of Lincoln
two years later, ana the subsequent seces-
sion movement, caused him to withdraw.
When the secession movement received
shape and form he wa chosen provisional
president of the confederate states, and in
1862 was elected president for six years.
After the fall of Richmond, President
Davis, while endeayoring to make his es
cape, was captured at Irwinville, Ga. May
10, lS65, and remained a prisoner az Fort
reSs Monroe for two years awaiting trial
He was then released on bail. and all pro
ceedings against him discontinued. He
then visited Europe, became president o.
the Carolina Life Insurance company, ant
n few years ago wrote The Rise aud Fal
\ of the Confederacy.N
The two sons of Jefferson Davis are dead
but his two daughters are still living; th'
younger, Winnie, being her fathers favor
lite child, because, perhaps. she most re
sembles him in disposition and intellectual
qualities. She il "a natural artstocrat, anS
like her father, will at heart never hav,
anything in common with the masses. Sh'
has grc wn 70 be "A beautiful woman. rich ii
physical and mental charms, and is know
by her admirers as the Daughter of th'
Confederacy."
To show the esteem with which the sub
| ject of this sketch IS still held in the south
in 1857 a movement was set on foot a
Macon, Ga, 10 raise by popular sHbscrip
ton a JEFF Davis fund. The project wa
heartily approved by the press and the PEG
pie, and bid fair To be n grea. success; bu
1t was abandoned. because OF a letter iron
Mrs. Davis deprecating the project.