Daily Kennebec journal., 1906-10-17
Widow Of the Confederate ll!! y
President Passes Away.
End Comes at Her Apartments
in Hotel Majestic, Hex Ylah
Dies at 1925 TUESDAY Nigh, After 1hres
Hours Of Uscsn'dsusaess::h : sa''

New York. Oct. 16.-Mrs. Jefferson Da-
Nis. widow Of the president Of the Con-
fedc-acy. who had been Ill for a week at
the Hotel Majestic in this city. died at
1922 o'clock tonight Death was due to
pneumonia. caused by a severe cold
which Mrs. Davis contracted upon her
return here from the Adirondacks. where
she had spent the summer months.
Although grave fears were felt from
the first. Mrs. Davis wonderful vitality.
which safely brought her through a SINH
lar attack a year ago. gave hope of ul-
innate recovery until last night when a
decided change for the worse was evi-
dent ana the attending physicians an
ncunccd that the end was near. 1t was
then believed that Mrs. Davis could not
survive the night, but she rallied slightly
during the early hours of today.
Sh~rtly after O'Clock this morning
she had u sinking spell and Rev. Nathan
A. S"agle, rector of st. Ptephsns Pro-
t.Stant Episcopal church, was hurT1edly
summoned to give comfort to the pa-
ticnt in her last moments of conscious
ness. The Clergyman remained some time
and an hour later IT was ANNOUNCED that
Mrs. Davis had lapSed into a state. Of
coma The period Of unconsc BUSINESS con-
tinued To the end.
At the bedside when death came were
Mrs. ]. Addison Hayes Of Newark, N. j..
the only surviving daughter Of Mrs. Da-
Wis: jefferson Davis Hayes, a grandson,
who is a student at Princeton Cniversi-
ty: Mrs Charles F.. Bateson. 4 niece: Or.
and Mrs. Gustav Webb. the latter
granddaughter: and DR.. Robert H. Wyhe.
who with Mr. Webb had cared for Mrs
Davis through her illness.
j. Addison Hayes, husband Of Mrs. Da-
Wis only living child. had been summon
ed from Colorado Sprangs and was hur-
rying across the continent when mes
sage announcing Mrs. Davis death in
tercepted him. Mrs. Davis has for some
years made her home In this city. where
she had wide circle of friends. Through
out her illness solicitous inquiries regard
ing her condition were continually made
at her apartments irl
Mrs. Varina Howell Davis was born
in Eatchez. Miss. May I. 1926. Her
father was William Burr Howell and
her grandfather Governor Richard
Howell of New Jersey. She wassedu-
Gated at a private school in Philadel-
phia and by private tutors" ~
In 1S45 she was married to Jefferson
Davis of Warren county. Miss. and
went to live at the Jefferson home on
the Brie-feld plantation.
When Mr.. Davis was elected United
States senator Mrs Davis accompanied
him to Washington. where she took
prominent position in society at the
National Capital from 1S47 to 1861.
When Jefferson Davis became
President of the Southern Confederacy,
Mrs. Davis took up her resid ,nee at
the residence at the executive mansion
at Richmond. Va. where she remained
until the close of the war .e
During the second year Of her hus-
bands Imprisonment at Fortress
Monroe Mrs. Davis obtained permission
to be with him and upon his release
accompanied him abroad. She acted
as her husbands secretary in compil-
ing his memories. Mrs. Davis per-
formed other literary work. and was
frequent contributor to magazines.
After their return from abroad, Mr.
and Mrs. Davis took up their residence
at Beauvoir House. Harrison county,
Miss. where they lived for many years.
After Mr. Davis death at New Or
leans Dec. 6. 1889. Mrs. Davis moved to
New York. where she had since re-
sided.
One daughter, Mrs. j. Addison HAYES
Of Colorado Springs. who was at her
bedside when she died. survives.