The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1906-10-17

New York. Oct I6.-surToUnded by the
members Of her immediate family. Mrs.
Jefferson Davis, widow Of the former
head Of the Confederacy. died IN her New
York apartments IN the Hotel Majestic
ct l0:l5 tonight. The end was not unex-
pected. as Vitality had been kept In her
body toT moro than twenty-f0ur hours
only by the use OF the most heroic neth-
uds known 10 medical science, and the
family knew that there was no hope.
with dread disease which had taken its
hold.
But the aged woman-she was eighty
years old last May-foJght hard for life
and responded so strongly to the medl-
cine used that for a time il seemed that
she might have chance, and hope
sprung up in the hearts Of her friends.
only to be crushed By the statements
from the doctors that the seeming i'm
provement was not genuine.
At the bedside when the end came were
Dr. Robert Wylle. the family physician;
Dr. Gustave Webb. grandson of Mrs. Da-
Wis; Mrs. J. Addison Hayes, her only
surviving daughter; Mrs. Charles Z,
BatesOn. and Mrs. Gustave Webb. Mrs
Davis had been unconscious since last
midnight and the end came 50 quietly
that it required the word OF the doctor
- confirm The fears Of the friends gath
cred at the bedside.
40 arrangements for the funeral have
~ yet been made. but It is expected that
the services viii be held here Thursday
and thc body tEcu taken to Mississippi
for burial
Mrs. Davis had made New York City
her homo for several years. but spent the
summer in the country. returning 10 the
city in the autumn to live usually in i
hotel.
Taken III at Hotel.
Last winter, while stopping at a hotel
she was taken seriously ST as the result
of cold, and. owing 10 her age, II was
feared that she would not recover. After
n few weeks illness, however. her health
was restored.
On October c Mrs. Davis again caught
q severe cold, and her condition soon be
came serious She was attended at her
apartments in the Hotel Majestic by Dr
Robert II. Wylie, and her daughter, Mrs.
J. Addison Hayes. was hurrIedly sum
moned from Colorado Springs.
With her ability TO resist disease great
i lesssned because Of her age. Mrs
Davis grew worse. until pneumonia de-
veloped.
Mrs. Jefferson Davis was eighty years
old on May last. Il has probably passed
the minds of many persons that Mrs.
Davis was Cf Northern stock. Her grand
father was Richard Howell who COM
manded the New Jersey troops IN put
ling down the first rebellion against the
American government. He was a plain
man Of the people, descended from Welsh
parents. who settled In Delaware iu I7ga
His father raised q family of eleven chill
dren He himself became governor Of
New jersey. to which State his parents
had removed when he was a lad of If
teen.
Gov Howell was a Federalist of the
stanchest kind. and when Washington
passed through Trenton on his way TO
New York 10 be iuaugurated Gov. Howell
received him officially with a cOnsiderable
display Of loyalty to his personal and po-
litical cause. Gov Howell led the New
Jersey troops during the sO-Cailed
whisky rebellion" and led them we'll
the daughter Of William Burr and Mar
garet Howell. She was educated at a
boarding school in Philadelphia and by
private teachers At home. Her marriage
TO Jefferson Davis. then resident Of
Warren County. Miss, took place on
February -. 1915.
Lived in Washington.
Jefferson Davis was elected to Congress
in November Of the same year. but re-
signed the following June 10 go to tho
Mexican war, from which he returned
severely wounded. The couple spent
most Of their time in Washington from
1917 10 1851. during which time Mr. Davis
served two terms as United States Sena-
tor and one as Secretary Of War. Dur
ing the four years Mr.. Davis was Pres
ident of the Coufederacy Mrs. Davis
lived in Richmond.
The anxious mistress for fou- long
years Of the chief home In a heleaguered
capital, the fan Of Richmond parted her
from her husband. whom she was %
meet again in her wauderings through
the Southern forests. only to be parted
from him after a few days; he to bo
sent To prison and she to shift for herself
and her children. as best she could
EEiEGdhtg 10 kitE limitations set u0CU
Ter every movement by the conquerinr
troops.
With Husband in Prison.
During the first year OF Mr.. Davis i'm
prIsonmeut his wife was not permitted 10
he with him. but was permitted to remain
with him during the second year at Fort
Monroe.
When this period Of trouble was over
the couple went 20 England. where they
remained several years. Returning 10 this
country, thev took up their residence at
Memphis where they continued 10 live
until lS'S. when they removed TO Beauvoir
station. Miss, which place Mrs. Davis
Continued ever afterward TO cell her
home.
Mrs. Davis acted as her husbands
aiuanuensis when he wrcte HIS Decline
aEd Fall OF the Confederate Government. q"
After her husbands death. which occur
led IN 1889. Mrs. Davis wrote numerous
criticisms AMI articles FOR newspapers and
magazines.
Mrs. Davis. for reasons Of health.
lived in the North most Of the time
after the death or her husband. Her
winters were passed in New York and
her summers Ia New England or in
Western New York State. but she pe~-
mitted no one to assume that her heart
was not still in the Southland. although
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