Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1890-05-13
WINNIE DAVIS WON.
THE ROMANCE THAT UNITES THE DAUGHTER OF
TIE CONFEDERACY
To the Grandson Of Noted AbOlitlOnlst-MiSs DAVIS
Net Her Lover at the Home Of Her
Fathers Old Friend in
Syracuse.

of the courtship and engagement OF
Miss Winnie Davis, 1.-The daughter OF
the Confederacy," to Mr.. Albert VIII
kinson, of this city, reads like a fairy
tale. The wooing covers a period OF
three or four years. but TO fully under
stand the circumstances connected with
the coming OF Miss Winnie to Syracuse,
and her introduction to Mr.. Wilkinson,
IL is necessary to go back TO
the year 1926, when Jefferson Davis
was cadet at West Point. Among
Davis classmates and chums at the Mil
itary Academy was William II. Emory,
afterwards General Emory, Of the
Nineteenth Army Corps, that
did such brave fighting under
Sheridan. Young Emory and Davis
were fast friends, and this friendship
was still further cemented by their cam
paign in Mexico in 1864. When peace
WIS declared Emory was ordered to
Washington, where he continued in the
service of the Government. Curlously
enough, JEFF Davis soon came there, too,
as the representative OF his State IN the
United States Senate, and both took up
their residence within a stones throw
from each other, so that they could be
together as much as possible. When
the rebellion broke ont the two friends
found themselves facing each other on
the tented field, although for some time
II was feared that Gen. Emory would
FOLLOW HIS OLD CHUM
into the Confederate ranks. Indeed,
Emory's sympathy with the South mill
tated at first against his promotion In
the Union ranks. The General, how
ever, was loyal to the Stars and Stripes.
One of his sons, Thomas was then "A stu
dent at the University OF Virginia, ana
when the war broke out he decided to
fight under the stars and bars. He there
fore enlisted in the Confederate naval
service. and through the influence OF
JEFF Davis was appointed surgeon on
board the gunboat Florida. AT one
time during the war he lived at Mr..
Davis's house i'm Richmond for some six
months. The Florida was captured near
Brazil, and young Emory was taken as
prisoner to Boston, which ended his
naval career. The other brother, Camp
bell. entered the Union ranks and dis
tinguiShed himself by bravery.
When the great rebellion closed twas
the most natural thing in the world that
jefferson Davis should renew the friend
ship of other days. He could not come
himself. but he decided TO send his
daughter Winnie to visit the people he
loved so well. DR.. Thomas Emory came
to Syracuse and engaged in the dry
goods business with the big firm of ID.
Mccarthy Il Co. His father and broth
er. Campbell, were both dead at the
time of Miss Wlnnie'S first visit here.
This visit occurred some four or
five years ago. 1t was at Dr.
Emory's house that Winnie first
met young Wilkinson, who was ON
intimate terms with the Emory family.
There was certainly no affinity, but
rather a divinity. that shaped their
ends and brought them together.
Neither had anything in common. One
was the grandson of the most pro-
nounced of the abOlitionlsts; the other
the daughter of as pronounced pro-
slavery man. One came from the North,
from people that had been trained in
the hardship and yigor Of a northern
cline; the other came from the South,
from a people whose traditions and tenn
perament were largely due to the intlu-
cncc Of the southern cline.
\ GALLANT YOUNG CHAMPION.
Young Wilkinson had not yet gradu-
ated from Harvard, while Miss Winnie
had become a repository OF facts in his
tory and philosophy, and had earned no
mean reputation as a writer. Indeed.
one of the things that gave her so fas-
hold upon Syracuse society
was her education, mainly secured while
acting as amanuensis for her father. In
one or two northern cities, previous to
her advent here, IL was rumored that
she had been received with GOODNESS.
This news only served 10 Increase young
WilkinSon's attention 20 Miss Winnie.
and he boldly champlOncd her cause in
Syracuse. 4 second visit tO DR.. I'm
ory's a year or two later brought Miss
Winnie and Mr. Wilkinson again to-
gethcr. Their friendship had never
wancd during the separation, and they
soon came 10 hold each other In high re-
gard. When she returned TO her South
ern home she was no longer heart
whole aud fancy free" Her father
never dreamed Of. much less desired,
such a consummation, but the secret OF
the lovers was crefully guarded, and the
chieftaln passed away with
ont receiving any lntimation of his
choice.
The present match is one entirely OF
love. Miss Winnie has no fortune
whatever, and Mr., Wilkinson has onlya
moderate income, Some six years ago
his father failed in the banking business,
and only a few thousand dollars was
saved from.the wreck. The young man
is now bright and promising lawyer,
but is said to inherit some Of his fathers
eccentricitieS. He is In partnership
with two other lawyers here in the
Snow building, and makes a specially of
patent law. He has not yet 'won his
in any great legal fight, but his
friends predict that he will "get there"
one of these days, The curious oapers
Of Cupid are all the more remarka-
BILE when the full import and historical
Of the marriage are con-
sidered,