Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1906-10-17
DEATH OF MRS. DAVIS.

jestic, IN New York, died at l0:2o last
night. Death was due 20 pneumonia,
induced by severe cold which Mrs.
Davis contracted upon her return from
the Adirondack, where she had spent
the summer months.
Mrs. Jefferson Davis was born in Mis-
sissippi, in Adams county, in 1926. her
maiden name was Varins Howell. she
was descendant of the Virgins Howell
family, of whom the most distinguished
in modern times was Howell Cobb. her
father, William Burr Howell, won high
distinction in the revolutionary war snd
in the war of 1912. He served under
McDonough, on Lake Champlain, on
the Saratoga.
Varina Howell beca me the wife OF
Jefferson Davis before she completed
her eighteenth year, being his second
wife. His first wife, who was daugh-
ter of General Taylor, died sshort time
after their marriage.
Mrs. Davis was known for her clear
Judgment, and she decided the first time
that she saw her future husband that he
was the right man. che was then IL
wears old, and was invited at that time
to come over to the Hurricane, the Davis
place, to meet Jefferson. who had been
way from home for long time. She
never had seen him before, but he had
been making a great reputation for him
self at that time, and his fame had spread
everywhere throughout the State.
Mr.. Davis was then about Sc years Of
age, tall, of commanding presence, and
counted the most graceful horseman in
the State.
Miss Howell WAS married to Jeffsr-
son Davis the following year. She
went on an extended tour through the
South, aud was the center Of attraction
for New Orleans society OF tina! time DUR
ing her stay at st. Charles. Later in
Washington she was with her husband
all the time, helping him with his
speeches and doing everything 10 her
power to advance him. Shortly before
the war broke out she went first to Mont
gomery, Ala, aud later to Richmond,
where she remained until it became IN
safe for her to stay in the city. She re-
NAMED in the South during her husbands
imprisonment. After Mr.. Davis's release
from imprisonment at Fort Monroe they
went 10 England, returning afterwsrd
to live 10 Memphis, Tenn. Lister they
removed to Beauvoir station, on the Miss
issippi coast, where Mrs Davis acted as
her husbands amanueDsis when he wrote
his "Decline and Fall of the Confederate
Government"
From time to time offers of financial
assistance we're made to Mrs. Davis after
her husbands death from societies
through heSolth. She declined all these
and has preferred to remain independent.
Except for occasional articles written for
newspapers and magazines, she has re-
NAMED quiet for the last few years.
Mrs. Davis bad four children, of whom
only one servives. That is Mrs. j Addi
son Hayes, of Colorado Springs, whose
husband is a member of an old family
in Nashville. OF Mrs Davis's other
children one fell of a gallery in Richmond
during the civil war and was killed. An
other son, Jefferson, died in Memphis of
yellow fever, in 1878. Her daughter, Miss
Winnie Davis, who was born 10 Rich
mond in June, 1864, became famous as
the daughter of the Confederacy."
She died at the Rockingham Hotel,
Narragansett Pier, r. | September IL,
1898, and was buried in Hollywood
Cemetery, Richmond, where the body of
her father also rests.
Miss Winnie Davis Was beautiful
girl, of lovely disposition, and for
years before her Death was her mothers
constant companion. Che two spent
much OF their time 10 New York in win
ter, aud at Narragausett Pier and other
northern resorts 10 the summer
As Jefferson Davis left no male de-
sceudsnt Mrs. Hayes son is expected to
perpetuate his name. When the boy
was born, the State of Mississippi, by
act of the Legislature, changed his name
to Davis, so the boy Is known as Jefier-
son Hayes Davis.
Mrs. Davis wrote a book entitled
Jefferson Davis, ex.Presideut of the
Confederate States; Memoir by His
Wife.
After the death of her husband Mrs.
Davis had repeated and fattering offers
from publishers all over the country to
write history of the inner life OF the
Confederacy, End especially of the family
and her husband. Only year before
bis death Jefferson Davis began to write
his own autobiography. He was so
weak from Illness that ne was compelled
to dictate the matter TO friend. But
even then he was unable to get through
with more than an Introductory chapter
From this point his wife took up the
thread Of the story, and the result was
two large volumes containing ever 700
pages.
In her memoir of her husband Mrs
Davis now and then gives interesting
glimpses into her own personality. From
the beginning of her married life her
days we're full Of interesting happenings,
and she touches upon many OF them in
particularly entertaining fashion.
Miss Winnie Davis also wrote book.
1t was novel called 1.-THE Yelled Doc
tor" story of antebelium days in
Southern colonial town.
The remains Of Mrs. Davis will be
inferred beside those of her husband in
Hollywood Cemetery, Richmond.
New York, Oct. LITTLE remains OF
Mrs. Jefferson Davis widow Of the Presi.
dent of the Southern Donfederacy, will