Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1889-12-10
JEFF. DAVIS DEAD,
DEMISE OF THE FORMER
PRESIDENT OF the
CONFEDERACy.
The Funeral at New Orleans To-
morrow.

ton of which had been made in the
papers for several days, resulted
fatally at 70 AS O'Clock Friday morn
ing, Dec. 6.
A little before G o'clock Thursday
evening he was seized with severe
congestive chill, followed by a high
fever The attack was very sudden,
and before II The sick man had APP
peared as well as he had been for
several weeks. 1t was but short
while until the fever brought on un-
consciousness, and in this condition
he died at II As O'CLOCK.
Mrs. Davis, who watched over him
with tender solicitude during his last
moments, thought at one time that
she detected returning conscious
ness but he never rallied, and his life
went cut quietly, peacefully aud
without a struggle.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
Jefferson Davis was born in that
part of Christian county, Ky, which
now forms Todd county, June 3, 1903.
His father Samuel Davis, had served
in the Georgia cavalry during the
Revolution, and, when jefferson was
an infant, removed with his family
to place near Woodville, Wilkinson
county, Miss. Young Davis entered
Pennsylvania College, Kentucky, but
left in 1924, on his appointment by
President Monroe to the United
States Military Academy. GA his
graduation, in 1928, be was assigned
to the First infantry, aud served on
the frontier, taking part in the Blsck
Hawk war in 1872 He was pro-
NOTED to First Lieutenant of Dra-
goons on March 4, 1888, but after
mora service against the Indians.
abruptly resigned on June 30, 1880,
and having married, after romantic
elopement, the daughter OF Zachary
Taylor, then a Colonel in the army,
settled near Vicksburg, Miss, and
became q cotton planter. Here he
pur sued life of study ard retire.
M ent till 1913, when he entered poll
tics in the midst of an exciting gu
bernatorial canvass. He was chosen
an elector on the Polk aud Dallas
ticket in 1874, made reputation as a
popular speaker, and in 1S45 was sent
to Co ngress, taking his seat in De-
Gem Der of that year. He at once
took an active part in debate, speak
ing on the tariff, the Oregon question
and military matters, especially with
reference to the preparations for war
with Mex co. On Feb. G, 1S46,ssin a
speech on the Oregon question. he
poke of the Glove Of union in our
hearts" and, speaking of the battles
of the Revolution, said: "They form
a monument to the common coun'
try"
In june 1876, he resigned his seat
in tie House to become Colonel of
tho First Mississippi Volunteer Rifles,
which had unanimously elected him
to that Office. Having joiped his
regiment at New Orleans, no led it
TO re-enforce Gen. Taylor on the Rio
Grande. At Monterey he charged
on Fort Leoneria without bayonets,
led his command through the streets
nearly 10 the Grand Plaza through a
sto rm of shot, and afterward served
ON the commission for arranging
the surrender of the place. AT Buens
Vista his regiment was charged by a
Mexican brigade of lapcers, greatly
its superior in numbers, in last des-
perate effort to break the American
lines. Cob Davis formed his men in
the shape of letter V, open toward
the enemy, aud thus, by exposing his
foes, TO covering FIRE, utterly routed
them, though he was unsupported.
H. was severely wounded, hut re-
NAMED in the saddle til the close Of
the fight, and was complimenled for
GOODNESS and gallantry in the Com
mander-in-C Chiefs dispatch of March
6, 1S47. His regiment was ordered
home on the expiration of his term OF
enlistment, and on May II, lS47, Col.
Davis was appointed by President
Polk Brigadier General, but declin-
ed the commission on the ground
that military appointment by the
Federal Executive was unconstitu-
tional. lie was appointed by the
Governor of Mississippi 10 Ill va
cancy In the United States Senate in
August, 1S47, and in January,
lS4S, the Legislature unanimously
elected him Senator, and re-
elected him in 1850 for full term.
He was made Chairman of the Sen
ate Committee on Militsry Affairs
and here, as in the House, was active
i'm the discussions on the various
phases of the slavery question ard
the important work of the session, in
Guiding the fugitive slave law, and
the other compromise measures Of
1850. Mr.. Davis proposed the extern
sion of the Missouri compromise line
to the Pacific al d continued zeal
GUS advocate of State rights or Gre
sistance" candidate for Governor of
his State in 1851, though by his per-
sonal popularity no reduced the
Union majority from 1900 to 500.
He had resigned his seat In the Sem
ate to take part in the canvass, and,
after year of retirement actively
supported franklin Pierce In the