The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-03-26
Butte Department.

Williams and. with the two children.
they, in 1852, also went to California
and located at Fort Talon. near Fresno.
Naturally, coming into the immediate
vicinity of the place where her first
husband was supposed to have been
killed. Mrs. Williams made many in
quiries of those living there regarding
the life and death of the father of her
children. AS a result, the anxiety man
Tested by her came to the knowledge
of her lawful husband, Davis, who at
that time was living at and had great
interests in mining properties near
Fresno. In September, 1852, so the
woman,s story goes. in order to satisfy
his mind in regard to the rumors that
were coming to him, Davis went to
Stockton and from there started on
mule back for Tehachapi. At that time
Williams was in the employ of the
United States government as team
ster and mail carrier between Tehach-
api and Los Angeles. When Davis ar
rived Williams was away. The miner
met his wife and children and spent the
day with them. He gave the children
native gold and told them to have
bracelets made of 1t. He demonstrated
with his wife for marrying again with
out definite knowledge of his death and
seeing that the woman showed actual
bitterness against him he left her and
his children with the words: You
will not see me again unless you send
for me-"
Davis then returned to his work on
the Tuolumne, made money and went
again to the scenes of his early life in
the East only to leave a year later for
Montana, where he accumulated his
colossal wealth. 1t is stated that until
within the last two years the existence
of the widow and children was known
to but few. In 1887, Williams being
dead the woman was married again.
this time to George Smell of Tehachapi.
When the knowledge of the death of
Davis. in 1890. came to Mrs. Smell, and
when she spoke of 1t. her friends urged
aher to lay claim to the estate of Davis.
Thisys howeyer, her. husband, Smell.
would mot permit her TO- do: but his
death, which occurred two years ago,
gave her the opportunity of which her
friends had urged her to avail herself.
Mrs Smell is still living in Teha-
chapi, and although in her declining
years, still hopes to enjoy the fortune
which she claims has been kept from
her so long. One of her daughters, Mrs.
Calhoun, is the mother of Eleanor Cal
houn, the actress, at present in Eu-
rope, and her husband is alleged TO be
a nephew or grand nephew or some
thing of the great John c. Calhoun.
A San Francisco paper recently said
that the widows cause, despite her fr-
Irregularities, has been firmly estab-
lished, her identity proved beyond
question and that negotiations with
A. ]. Davis, jr, had resulted in an
agreement for a division of the prop
erty. This. however, is probably news
to young Mr.. Davis, and was evidently
a mistake, or the woman would hardly
have commenced her contest Yesterday.
There are very few people In Butte
xr-lan 1nfn ant xr ffaff 1Un NxrfNh
Judge Davis to be able to account for
every action Of his life. 1t is we'll
known, however, that he had spent
some years in California prior to COM
ing to Montana. 1t is not known, how
ever. that he was ever in Arkansas,
though he may have been, according
TO a story of his life furnished for
Mlller's history OF Montana by some
one who evidently was quite familiar
with the judges career. That account
relates that he was born in Wilbraham,
Mass. April rs, 1919. and at the age of
13 started out to take care of himself
He went to Boston and after a few
years to Indiana, and then he went
trading up and down the Ohio and Mis-
sissippi rivers, and in 1889 he was found
i'm Iowa with headquarters at Fairfield
The history then skips a period of time
until 1852, when he turned up in Cali
fornia and from there he went to his
old home in the East and subsequently
made his second trip TO California and
in 1868 came to Montana. The history
also says he had never been married
If the case ever comes to trial II will
probably prove interesting. but there
are many probabilities that II may
never go that far.
Another contest was also filed in be-
half of Diana Davis of Somers, Mass,
a sister of Judge A j. Davis. Her petit
ton is identical with that of Mrs. Bow
doin, and asks that the probate of the
will be set aside on the ground of for
gerry and that she be given a share in
the estate. Esselstyn. Ketcham & SAT-
ford Of Wall street and c. u. brennan
OF Butte are her attorneys. 1t is likely
that several more contests will be in
sth.uted to-day or tomorrow. Thomas
jefferson Davis was employed all day
at the court house making copies of
some of the papers in the old case
and ]. Howard Smith also called for a