The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1907-03-12
Jefferson Davis

An episode in the early life of JEFF
ferson Davis. which occurred when
ne was young second lieutenant in
the army and about which the friends
of the Taylor family We're as 10th to
speak as was he himself, was his
runaway match with Sarah Taylor.
daughter Of General Zachary Taylor,
afterward president Of the United
States. 1t occurred while General
Taylor, then a colonel in the United
States army, and Lieutenant Davis
were stationed at Fort Crawford.
Prairie du Chen, Wis, Colonel Taylor
being In command Of the garrison.
Lieutenant Davis was graduated
from West Point in 1928, and was
assigned to service in an infantry re-
giment then stationed at Fort Craw-
ford. Prairie du Chen, one of the
Oldest settlements in the United States
was at that time in the Territory Of
Michigan, but was afterward incor-
porated in the new state of Wiscon-
sin.
Colonel Taylor, when he went to
command at Fort Crawford, had al
ready earned for himself the nick
name of Old Rough and Ready, for
he had been engaged in frontier fight
ing almost from the time he joined
the army after leaving West Point.
Though noted throughout the country
as a soldier, he was a man of domes-
tic tastes, and was deeply attached
to his family. Because of the fact
that since his own marriage he had
had no permanent abiding place, he
was opposed to the idea Of his
daughters marrying army officers.
Mrs. Taylor was also averse to the
idea. A Maryland woman by birth,
she was also extremely domestic in
her tastes, with no liking for display
or social prominence, and she wanted
her daughters when they married to
have settled homes. Her idea of hap
piness was to be southern matron
at the head Of home, of which the
master should be a planter Or a
statesman.
General Taylor, too, had great
admiration for business men, and
thought it a great mistake for young
men to enter the army If they could
follow a business or professional
career. Therefore, when young Lieu
tenant Davis came wooing Miss Tay-
lor, he was given to understand that
her parents were unalterably opposed
to army officers as husbands.
The commandments home was the
center of social life at Prairie du
Chen, and both of the daughters of
the house were much admired. Sarah,
the second daughter, was still in her
teens when she fell in love with Lieu
tenant Davis. Her sister Ann was
afterward married to Maryland gen.
tleman named Wood.
Eloped, Davis in Command.
Lieutenant Davis and Miss Sarah
Taylor became engaged, and, as ira
dition affirms, they made runaway
marriage, Selling the opportunity for
so doing when Colonel Taylor was
absent from the post on military duty.
A man who afterward became wide
ly known in Wisconsin, Daniel r.
Burt, was pioneer of that state,
and at the time that Colonel Taylor
was the commandant at Fort Craw-
ford lived on the post road between
Fort Crawford and Helena, about
midway between the two places.
He often spoke of the runaway
match, for it was at his house that
the couple passed the night after their
departure from the fort. His story
was as follows.
II had just finished my chores one
winter night and was returning to
the house, when I heard the sound
of bells approaching from the direc-
ton of Fort Crawford. stopped,
with my foot on the doorstep, and in
a moment out of the woods came a
rude sleigh drawn by one horse, in
which were seated a gentleman and
lady.
"They pulled up before the house,
and the gentleman in quick, sharp
tones asked if they could stay all
night. The latchstring was always
out, and l invited them to walk right
in.
1.-The invitation was quickly accept
ed, while took the horse, which
showed signs Of having been driven
fast and far, to the stables. After
seeing that the animal was we'll cared
for returned to the house, where
Mrs. Burt had made the travellers at
home.
"A traveller at any time was a god
send, as but few people came out to
the backwoods in those days, and from
the bearing of this young traveller I
took him to be a gentleman, and soon
came to the conclusion that he was
an army officer. His companion was
a young and very pretty girl. Both
seemed somewhat nervous and con-
strained.
Contrary to usual custom, they
avoided conversation except to say
they were relatives en- route to Ga
lena. To any and all my questions
the young officer replied briefly and
in a noncommittal way.
"The couple retired early and were
up and off soon after daylight. From
a few remarks dropped in my hear
ing, arrived at the conclusion that
If it was not an elopement, it was
something very like it. knew there
were no army posts nearer than
Fort Crawford, and assumed that the
pair came from there.
They Got AWAY Safely.