St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1910-02-26
MRS. F. A. ". DAVIS.

Those VINO were intimately dc-
duainted with the late Mrs. F. A. w.
Davis, and who by opportunity of
close communion learned her many
noble traits of character, do not Won
der that there were episodes in her
life to cause many to hold her IN
grateful remembrance. The follow
ing letter, which appeared in the In
dianapolis' News of February IL, 1910,
was enclosed to the Farmer by very
dear friend of Mrs. Davis, with the
following comment: "She had two
brothers in the Northern Army, and
the hardships which they were un-
dergoing did not embitter her, but,
rather, softened her heart towards
the misfortune of those Southern men
whom the fortune of war had made
prisoners here. 1t seems to me par
ticuIarly fitting that her good friends
in the South should know of her ser
vices to their kindred during that
trying period"
MRS. DAVIS AND A CONFERATE WIDOW.
To the ditor of the News, cr
Sir-The recent death OF MRS. +. "A.
w. Davis recalls an incident which
NAV be of interest to the public as 1t
illustrates not only the kindly nature
~ Mrs. Davis but shows that deeds
If kindness are not always lost. Dur
mo the civil war many Confederate
soldiers were held as prisoners IN this
Cltv. The winters were severe Tor
them and there was much sickness at
times. The people Of the city turned
.. ,t - coo that the prisoners did not
.,trer and to afford them luxuries,
which. as soldiers, they were hardly
axnectinp. Among those who went
:" the sick camps was Betty ketcham,
H.. ~ w Young woman. She afterward
.arr;a3 Mr. Davis. She and others
ministered to the sick soldiers IN daily
visits. One poor fellow SO Appealed
to them by his feeble. conditlon that
Miss Ketcham took him q pillow from
Sa ,sS own he'd and made him comfort
ahle He had family in the far
so,,th And every day Miss Ketcham
.',r r to his wife telling her the pro-
oress of his sickness and finally warn
e. her that she might expect the
. ns 81 THESE letters were intrusted
M .ort to the mails and in part to
IIn;nn troops in the vicinity OF the
s u Of the Confederate. They all
, roacbed their destination, including a
letter which finally told OF the death
If the prisoner and conveying a last
message to his family,
About forty years afterward ! was
IN q little town in Texas where met
~ a;dow who had little millinery
shnn When she found was from In
.Ssa;avnanolis she became deeply interest
clan snd said something like this:
~. Lnew Of a woman in lndianapo-
,;s eho had my profound respect and
i've for manv years. | have never
los1 her There is no person IN this
sell erld 70 whom feel more grateful,
and if she is dead feel that | could
anu n,ors i IN on the ground where she hes
s,r;sd Her name was Betty ketch-
~. o and the reason | love her SO Is
s a, she was good to my husband
tnas s he was prisoner in Camp Nor
W WI during the great war.
'ol And then she told me Of the letters
10 had had and of the incident re,
sns aa above. l was glad afterward
iate en- Mrs. Davis that had met the
g % .e,, woman, and letter from In
i naAnanolis was speedily sent extending
ola OUTINGS to the Confederate widow.
ar;,u Mrs. Davis had her reward.
teri's' ~ NJ E. H.
rrd;anapolis, February 10, 1910.