The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-02-25
COURTSHIP OFS JEFFERSON DAVIS.
To Be Comm e mOrated by Inscription
on the stone Where He Proposed.
From the New York Tribl


From the New York Tribune
Indianapolis, Feb. 17.-Mrs. j. H Rabb
wealthy widow and an old resident of
Vincennes, is preparing to commemorate
in unique manner the courtship of JEFF
ferson Davis, then a Lieutenant in the
United States army, but afterward Presi
dent of the Confederate States. and Miss
Mary Knox Taylor, second daughter of
Col. Zachary Taylor. afterward President
of the United States. According to local
tradition Taylor was in command of the
fort near Vincennes at the opening of the
Black Hawk War I'm 1892 and Davis was
a lieutenant under his command. Near
the fort and on what is now a farm be-
longing to James Wyatt, was a large
stone, which lay partly above and partly
buried in the ground. The young neu-
tenant and Miss Taylor formed a deep at
tachmeut for each other, and often walked
out on the prairie surrounding the fort,
and frequently seated themselves on this
stone.
on one of these occasions, while seated
on the stone, Davis proposed to Miss Tay
lor and was accepted. 1t IS said that Co.
Taylor said to a friend at the fort, when
the engagement became known, that he
had no objection to his daughters sutton
except l0dl ne WAS Il otluiGi SHu tnhl 'ic
himself knew the privations of a soldiers
family aud would save his daughter from
such a fate When Davis asked the hand
of his daughter, however, this objection
was waived and consent was given.
Among their acquaintance az Nincen-
nes both Davis and Miss Taylor spoke of
the pleasant hours they had passed seate
on the old stone, and in one of these ref
orences to their evening walks Davis told
of proposing to Miss Taylor while seated
on II. 1t was shortly after this that Tay
lor and his prospective son-in-law found
themselves of opposing opinions in re-
spect TO the appearance or an officer at
a court martial without his uniform, the
young lieutenant voting with an officer
named Smith, between whom and Taylor
there was a bitter enmity Following this
episode Col. Taylor withdrew his consent
TO the marriage. but Davis and Miss Tay-
Tor continued their association, which was
now confined to walks upon the prairie,
where the old stone became their favor
ite trysting place, and which resulted in
a determination to marry without the con-
sent of her father. Davis soon after re-
signed from the army and he and Miss
Taylor were married at the home of an
aunt of the bride in Kentucky.
II is this series Of events that Mrs.
rabbi proposes to commemorate, and the
stone has been brought from the Wyatt
farm and is now lying near the front door
of her home. She is engaged in securing
the exact dates Of Lieut.. Daviss stay at
the fort and of his first meeting with Miss
Taylor. and. IL possible OF the day en-
which he proposed 10 her As soon az the
data can be secured, the stone will be
smoothed and polished and the events will
be recorded upon H. in the order IN which
they occurred. The local historical society
of Vincennes Is interested in the work
also. and when the record is complete and
placed on the stone IL will be turned over
to the city with appropriate ceremonies.