Jefferson Davis ---- The early years
Jefferson Davis was born June 3rd, 1808 in Christian County, Kentucky. His father farmed 600 acres of land in Kentucky. He was blessed with ten sons which he named from names out of the Bible—Joseph, Samuel, Benjamin, and Isaac – until the tenth child was born, whom he named for the red-headed President then in office, and gave him the middle name Finis in the belief,or perhaps the hope,that he was the last: which he was.
Shortly after Jefferson was born the Davis family moved south one thousand miles to
Bayou Teche, Louisiana. They found the climate unhealthy there and moved again.
This time they moved three hundred miles northeast to Wilkinson County, Mississippi,
Mississippi Territory, southeast of Natchez and forty miles from the Mississippi river.
This is where Little Jeff spent his early childhood. He started his education at the age of six in a log schoolhouse within walking distance of his home. One hot fall day he rebelled and would not go to school. His father said very well, but you can’t be idle and sent him to the fields with the work gang. Two days latter Jeff was back at his desk. He had decided that school was the less of two evils and that he would earn his living with his head and not his hands.
Just before his fourteenth birthday he entered Transylvania University. Under competent professors he continued his studies in Latin, Greek and mathematics, including trigonometry, chemistry, and physics.
Before his death, Samuel Davis had secured an appointment for Jeff to West Point,signed by the Secretary of War, John C Calhoun. He was never too serious in his studies and had a mischievous disposition, enjoyed a practical joke, and sought the admiration of his fellow students rather than the esteem of his professors.
At the academy he also learned something of the tavern life and was brought for court martial for out-of-bounds drinking of “spirituous liquors”. He made his defense on the fact that (1) “visiting Benny Havens” was not officially prohibited in the regulations, and (2) malt liquors were not “spirituous” in the first place. His defense was successful and he was not dismissed . He graduated in 1828, twenty third in a class of thirty four and still a private .
As a second lieutenant, U. S. Army, he now began a seven year adventure. He served in
Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri where he learned to fight Indians, build forts, scout
and lead a simple social existence. He was promoted to First Lieutenant within four
years, and when Black Hawk was captured in 1832, Davis was appointed by Zachary
Taylor to escort the prisoner to Jefferson barracks.
Colonel Taylor, called “Old Rough and Ready”, showed his approval of Davis as a Soldier, but as a son-in-law he wanted no part of it. Jefferson had met the sixteen year old Knox Taylor and fell in love with her. Without the blessing of the Colonel, Jefferson resigned his commission and married his lover in Louisville. The wedding was help in the home of an aunt.
The newly weds took a steamboat south to Davis Bend, Mississippi where Joseph Davis, the older guardian brother, and presented them a 800 acre place and fourteen slaves, all on credit. Jefferson put in a cotton crop but before the harvest, he and his wife were both taken with Fever. They were confined to separate rooms, each too sick to be told of the other’s condition. Davis did manage to make it to the door of his wife’s room in time to see her die. He was too sick to attend the funeral of his beloved wife. He never lost the drawn gaunt look of a fever convalescent.
Davis returned to the plantation but the memories were too strong for him. He went to Cuba, which was supposed to be good place for renewing health, and to bend broken hearts. The climate did he good and he returned to Mississippi by way of New York and< Washington.
After returning to Mississippi he found a tutor waiting for him, Joseph Davis. Joseph had received his law degree in Kentucky, set up shop in Natchez and bought land and was the wealthiest planter in the state. He was the leading philosopher, had the finest library, and was well respected in the community. Jefferson soon had learned the Constitution by heart as well as works by John Locke and Adam Smith and Thomas Jefferson.
Through the friendship of Joseph and his lawyer friend, W. B. Howell of Natchez Jefferson was introduced to Varina Howell. Varina was to become his second wife even though they had different views on the political affairs at the time. They were married in February 1845. Davis was thirty-six and she was half that. They went to New Orleans On their wedding trip and returned a few weeks later to Brierfield.