The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-08-25

was prevailed upon by his friends 10 dlc-
tate n short statement OF his ancestry,
and though very feeble. he made a shor'
dictation. His first statement was
Three brothers came 10 America from
Wales. In the early part OF the e,sn,S 'a =,
century. They settled at thiiSue'ip ,nr,,o
Then he mcagerly traced ms nn .
back through Samuel Davis his fsther.
The life of jefferson Davis has pccr Any
written by his wife. Mrs. Narina ); DtNls.
The history of the Philadelphia DaN 49,
can be read by any one sufficiently inter-
ested The names OF David Davis, ana OF
the innumerahle lawyers, phy.ici;a.iis, anu ,,
literary men. are easily traceH. ihIot u
John Davis. II appears, william S' ~ 70
was ercst-grandfather OF Jenefs - -,
as well ss OF General Grant, tluS ""N""e
thcs, men direct second COUSINS 49,
John Davis crossed the Delaware Twice
with Warrington, took care " l.alayette
when he was wounded, ana LOT I'M
weeks entertaif.cd James Mohro"' "i'''r
Thoueb both the Grant ard the Davis
characters are sui gcneris' the blo'u =,
the Sim sons and Of many oth'I svvi
people coursed and courses II Ioush thc
veins Of each. There are more thah I'VE
h. ndred descendants I'm the United Stat -
at the present time. who are about eq1ai-
lv related 10 both General Grant anu J'A-
fersOn Davis. .,.- -. .,o,.o
exact relation Of these two great men, q
few observations On the similarily OF
their chs racters may not be out OF pace.
The writer Of this was too young even 70
see the last battle OF the civil war, ana
never met either Of the men personally,
but IL appears that he H. related 10 Doth'
hence. LAYING aside further grandlatner-
ism. a fair comparison Will be attempted.
The curtain has been drawn between
this generation and the times In Wnlch
-. AZ Jefferson Davis lived
end fought The one was s0lpltr-
statesman: the other a statesman-soldier
Both came from common Fdrehtdse
In Great Britain. For five generations
their mutual ancestors lived under Amer
team Influences almost in the same locall-
ties, progressing westward and south-
ward Their fore fathers were fellOw-co-
loniai subjects Of Great Britain, theh
close comrades In Washington's army
also in the war of 1872. and the sons in
tho MEXICAN War. While General Grant
was conquering the Spaniards in the an
cient Aztec country, jefferson Davis was
instituting successful plans for tne con-
duct of the War Department I'D the new
Territories, aftcrward becoming Secretary
OF War.
Roth came from obscurity. but for gene
rations the same stream OF genius IN ma
tional affairs flowed through the ances-
trail veins of both until. divided in twain
iy the political condition OF the coun-
try. the two branches formed mighty cat
aracts which dashed against each other
until the stain Of slavery was washed
out.
Those Intimately acquainted with them,
pronounced them gentle and good in their
home life. and personal department. II IS
a matter Of record that the army oiilcefs
who guarded Davis while ne was impfls-
oned at Fortress Monroe Were entirely
surprised at his personality lnelr pre-
conceived notions Of his disposition were
completely reversed. Instead OF the ire
eater. they found a calm, gentle man or
the greatest fortltude in the face OF me
cloatest calamity that eyer Detsu an
American citizen. This staten MT IS Wei