San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1892-01-02
WHY DAVIS WAS BACHELOR.
Romantic Story Concerning the
Dead Millionaire and an Early

Love.
QUINCY, ILL.,, Dec 22-There are
few intelligent persons in this coun-
try who have not read or heard about
the famous Davis will contest in Mon
tana, of the millionaire bachelor A.
J. Davis, and the finding of what was
claimed to be his will, of the asser-
ton that the will was forged. OF the
efforts of Bob Ingersoll to prove this,
aud of the long trial with the disa.
greement OF the jury as the latest re.
suit. Heretofore Quincy citizens have
simply had the interest in the name
of Davis, naturally resulting from
| tue remarkable contest noted. Forty
| Fl We y ears ago Mary Cleves, then u
years of age, came here from Iowa to
| make her home with her uncle. Seth
| e. Sherman. Mr.. Sherman then lived
| near twenty fourth and Chestnut
streets. This was Mary's home and
in it she developed from n pretty
brown. haired girl into handsome
| woman. Naturally enough such
| girl had plenty of admirers. But for
| some reason the heart of the maiden
| was untouched.
One day there appeared In Quincy
q tall, good looking young man
named Davis, from Iowa. Young
DAVIS had very little TO say to any
one in Quincy except Mary Gloves.
1t TRANSFERRED that they were lovers
from childhood, and he had now
come to claim his bride. Now, while
| Mr.. Sherman was an excellent man,
he had a positive Will and was of
violent temper. Having decided that
Mary should we'd Mr.. Gilpin, the
uncle was exaggerated by her oppo-
sition. But when the arrival OF Da-
Wis told the true reason for, her re-
fusel to take the man of her un cle's
choice the latter grew furious. He
pointed out to his niece that whereas
Davis was poor and had no prospects,
Gilpin was we'll settled and had
means and excellent prospects.
| Exactly what effect the uncle's ar
| gument had on his niece is not
known. 1t is hardly probable that
her heart was changed. But her
uncle's home was her home, and in
| vIsw OF her uncle's violent temper
her home life must have become go
disagreeable rs TO necessitate a truce
of some kind. AS for Davis, stung
by the taunt of his poverty, he re
solved to cross the plans, and TO seek
his fortune In the far West. Whether
there was an unders landing between
the young man and his sweetheart
| that if the Iowan made enough money
| he Was to return and wed Mary, is
not known. Davis experience in
mining was discouraging, but at last
the tide turned in his favor, and
young Davis soon had money enough,
and started at once for Quincy. He
found Mary a wife. She mad married
young Gilpin. Davis, learning of
Marv's marriage, at once lett Quincy,
and returned to the far West. Twelve
years ago Joseph Gilpin died.
Shortly before Davis death 1t was
rumored in certain circles here that
he had proposed marriage to Mrs.
Gilpin. But they did not marry.
For some years past, and until recent
ly, Mrs. Gilpin has been living in
GAINESVILLE, Tex, with her married
daughter, Mrs. Anna Fletcher. But
not long ago Mrs. Gilpin went to Ok
lahoma to live with her son Charles
She has another son, Frank Mrs.
Gilpin Is known intimately by most
of the older residents of Quincy and
is highly esteemed by all who know
her. She was here on a visit few
weeks ago.