Bryan daily eagle and pilot. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1909-1918, 1913-05-09

whom he was bound by the dearest ties Of affec-
tion and arrangements speedily made by
which the younger brother and his bride should
come into possession of thousand acres adjoin-
ing his own estate, where house was built and
land cleared for the coming cotton season. The
husband and wife began life together resolutely
Mr. Davis worked with his hands, and d.
rected personally and through his trusty foreman.
James Pemberton, the labor of the fields. A
promising harvest approaching, when as is
usual, the malarial Not being
acclimated and to escape the added dangers OF
living freshly-ceared land he left the respon-
sibty of the estate to his beloved brother. Jo-
seph Davis, and moved down the river with his
wife to the home Of sister Mrs Luther Smith,
near Bayou Sara in southeastern Louisiana. It
was not long before both fell seriously ILL., and in
September, 1886, Mrs Davis died. In the shadow
OF his sorrow Mr.. Davis slowly recovered from
his severe illness and returned in midOctober to
the lonely plantation, only to leave it again in
search of health and oblivion of af1iction He
visited New Orleans in the early winter. whence
he sailed to Havana and the island of Cuba-the
resort of the invalid and grief-stricken of that
day.
In 1843 Mr.. Davis became the candidate of the
Democratic party for seat in the legislature Of
the state of Mississippi. In February, 1S45. Mr..
Davis married Miss Varina Howell of Natchez,
the granddaughter of Governor Howell of New
Jersey and daughter Of William B. Howell In
the of the same year he was elected to
congress (as a representative from the state "at
large0 and took his seat in the house soon after
the opening of the first session of the Twenty
ninth congress- in December, 1S45,
Mr.. Davis was devoted disciple Of John c.
Calhoun. and statesman after the same order
When the president, not congress, settled the
Texas embroglio by causing the American army
under Cen Zachary Taylor to threaten the Mex
lean position on the Rio Grande and hostilities
followed as matter Of course, from the White
House the word came to congress early in April
that already existed, and called for troops
Calhoun arose in his place in the senate and de-
manded to know the authority Of the executive
in usurping the rghtful powers of congress. Mr.
Davis made a similar protest at the same time in
arraign the presidents policy but Mr. Davis
despite his admiration for Mr. Calhoun yielded
his support to war and deprecated all criticism Of
Colonel Taylor and his men for their unnecessary
advance. 1t would appear that war was neces-
sary for the annexation Of Texas and having
favored the war Mr.. Davis was selected to com.
mand the first regiment enlisted in the state OF
Mississippi, called the Mississippi Rifles. Before
leaving his seat in congress- Mr.. Davis had in
sisted that his regiment should be armed with
rifles. Later, when secretary Of war he intro.
duced into the regular army the improved guns
he now used on the Mexican war. He set out for
New Orleans, the rendezvous of his regiment
early In June, 1916. After a short stay at "Briar.
field" where he procured his Trustworthy servant
and horses. he continued his journey embarkng