Abbeville progress. (Abbeville, Vermilion Parish, La.) 1913-1944, 1913-05-03
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whom he bound by the dearest ties of afec-
ton, and arrangements were speedily mace oy
which the younger brother and his bride shou'h
come into possession of a thousand acres adloln-
ing his own estate. where house was built ana
land cleared for the coming cotton season the
husband and wife began life together resolutey.
Mr. Davis worked with his own hands, and di-
rected personally and through his trusty foreman,
James Pemberton, the labor of the fields.
promising harvest was approaching. when, as Is
usual, the malaral season came on. Not being
acclimated and to escape the added dangers or
living on freshly-ceared land he left the respon-
sibiity of the estate to his beloved brother, 10
seph Davis. and moved down the river win MS
wife TO the home of a sister. Mrs Luther Smlth,
near Bayou Sara. in southeastern LOUISIANA. u
was not long before both fell seriously i'll, and IN
September 1896. Mrs Davis died. In the shadow
of his sorrow Mr. Davis slowly recovered from
his severe Illness and returned in mid-October to
the lonely plantat on only to leave it again in
search of health and oblivion of afiiction. 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 1S43 MIR Davis became the candidate Of the
Democratic marty for seat in the Legislature of
the state of Mississippi In February lSi5 Mr.
Davis married Miss Varina Howell of Natchez
the granddaughter of Governor Howell OF Ne"
Jersey and daughter of William b. Howell In
the course or the same year no was ef''t'' -
congress ias a representative from the state at
Iarge"l and took his seat in the house soon after
the opening of the first session Of the Twenty
ninth congress In December, fS45.
Mr. Davis was a devoted disciple or John C.
Calhoun and statesman after the same order
When the president, not congress. settled me
Texas embroglio by causing the American army
under Cen Zachary Taylor to threaten the Mex
fcar nosition on the Rio Grande and hostilitias
followed as a matter Of course, from the White
House the word came to congress early IN Aprh
that war already existed, and called for troops
Calhoun arose in his place in the senate and de-
rarded IN know the authority or the executive
IN ueurning the rightful powers OF congress NV
Davis made a similar protest at the same time. In
tho bouse The South Caroinan continued TO
arraiqn the presidents policy, but Mr. Davis
doenita his admiration for Mr.. Calhoun. yielded
his sunport to war and deprecated all criticism OF
CoIoreI TAYLOR and his men for their unnecessary
advance II would appear that war was neces-
sarv for the annexation OF Texas, ana having
favored the war Mr. Davis was selected to COM
r,and the first regiment enlisted in the state OF
NtississinDi called the Mississippi Rifles Before
roo,,ipg his seat in congress. Mr.. Davis had IN
ststod that his regiment should be armed with
.;eo Iatsr when secretary Of war, he intro
drood into the regular army the improved guns
no now used on the Mexican war. He set out TOT
~, Orleans the rendezvous OF his regiment,
oartv IN Tune 1916 After short stay at Brlar
soId whore he procured his trustworthy servant
and horses. he continued his journey. embarking