The Washington herald., 1906-10-28
Mr.. DAVIS FIRST WIFE.
Denial OF story that His Marriage
Was n Runaway Match.

EAH n runaway MabEh.
Il has often been stated that tie first
marriage Of jefferson Davis 10 sarah Tay-
Tor. daughter OF Gen. Zachary Taylor.
was a runaway. match. a correspondent
Of the New York Times writing from
Winchester, denies it on the authority o.
Mrs. Philip Pendleton Daudridge. of WIN
chester. sister of Sarah Taylor and tie
Oldest surviving Lady Of the White
House"
The story given by the correspondent
follows:
When Gen. Taylor was colonel Of TIE
First Infantry. stationed at Fort Craw-
ford (now Prairie du Chem. in 1872. hIs
family vas with him, and his second
daughter. Sarah Knox. net Lieut.. Jener-
son Davis. who was serving under Cen
Taylor. They soon became lovers. Tie
relatives 10 this day speak Of them as
Ideal lovers Gen. Taylor for some time
objected 10 Mr.. Davis suit. He did not
wish his daughters 10 marry army men,
he had seen his wife calmly and cheer
fully meeting hardship and discomfort;
had seen the effect on her health. and
dreaded such o life Tor his girls. Also
there had once been some little friction
between him and Lieut.. Davis. which left
slight prejudice IN his mind His
daughter told him q am told this by
Mrs. cambridge that she would never dis
obey him. never marry without his con-
sent, but she would never marry anyone
but Lieut.. Davis. and she said. The time
viii come when you viii see. as I do. all
his rare qualities
For time Mr.. Davis was not allowed
to go 20 the house, but Miss Taylor, with
her mothers consent and her fathers
knowledge met him occasionally She
would take the tvs little children. Betty
and Dick. who were nearest in age. al
ways together. out 10 walk. Mr. Davis
would soon join them. and the children
would be told by their sister that they
might play a little while as the lovers
talked Mrs. cambridge recalls it all
After an engagement Of two years
Gen. Taylor entirely withdrew his opp0-
sition. There was never any estrangemeut
/ between Gen. Taylor and his daughter
He was then at the Falls Of 1t. Anthony
on an expedition against Indians, and
could not return. as il worid have in
fvolved q journey OF weeks. inc mode 0f
( travel being IN MaCkh4W boats. rowed 10y
soldiers. But his daughter was married
at Beechland, near Louisville Ky. the
/ home OF her aunt Elizabeth. Gen. T1ylOTs
eldest sister. who had married her second
cousin. John Gibson Taylor, in tHC pres
/ enCe Of Surgeon and Mrs Wood Mrs
Wood being the brides sister; another
aunt, and a large assenlbiage OF members
I Of the Taylor family.
THE young couple went 10 visit Lieut..
/ Davis brother. Joseph E Davis. on his
/ plantation, The Hurricane i'm Mississippi.
and il was arranged that Lieut. Davis
(who had resigned from the aTmy) should
take 'Brierfeld.' part of The Hurricane
tract, as his interest in his fathers es-
tate. They settled at Brierfieid
Later in the summer. rs the Sticky
/ season approached. they went 90 visit
/ Lieut.. Davis sister Mrs. Luther Smith.
at her Locust Grove plantation. near
\ Bayou Sara, Louisiana. Soon after their
| arrival. MIR. Davis was taken very Ill with
malarial fever. and the day after Mrs.
/ Davis became ilF also. They were nursed
| in separate rooms. He was too in 20 Toe
/ told of her peril. and deiirium saved her
| from anxiety about him. Soon after the
/ fever set in, she succumbed TO it, and.
/ hearing her voice singing loud and clear
/ favOrite song, Fairy Bells he struggled
UP and reached her bedside 10 find her dy-
1 ing. She died ON September H. 1S35. and
was buried in his sisters family burying
ground.
Mrs cambridge says Mrs Davis was
/ extremely pretty. small, with dark eyes.
/ had great vivacity and charm or manner,
winning every one who knew her.
MIR. Davis life was despaired Of for
month. After he rallied he was sent for
better recovery 10 Havana for the winter
He came back 10 BrierheId in the follow
! ing spring. and for eight years led a life
of seclusiOn, seeing no visitors. his lie en-
tirely changed by his great sorrow.
| Through these years he was close stu
dent-his only resource the cultivation OF
| his mind.
His girl wife was right; Der father
learned TO value and admire him thor
oughly. a close friendship ever after ex-
listed between him and III the Taylor fam
iIy. and his second wife. married 20 1Sf5
was kindly welcomed by them Mrs Dan
bridge reveres his memory, and spoke
lately Of his remarkable dignity of Charac-
/ ter and bearing. IN the Mexican war
when Mr.. Davis served with such bTiliau-
cy under Gen. Taylor, they became warm
friends