Jefferson Davis The Boy- From Kentucky Cabin to the Capitol”

By: Howard Edward Haller, Ph.D.

The public is well aware that Jefferson F. Davis was President
of the Confederate States of America. This article is one of a
series of articles about Jefferson Davis-A Memoir by his Great
Great Grandson and From Kentucky Cabin to the Capitol which will
share the rest of the story of who Jefferson Davis was and what
he stood for and his wide range of accomplishments. Jefferson
Davis was born in log cabin in Kentucky and his family settled
in Mississippi when he was a young boy.

This series of well-documented and informative articles will
explore an number of the facets of Jefferson Davis life as a
West Point graduate, a US Military career officer, an
industrious young man who carved out a plantation from a brier
covered swamp land, a Mississippi Militia Colonel (later Militia
Major General), served in US Congress (both as a multiple term
Senator and Congressman), as the outstanding US Secretary of War
for President Franklin Pierce, in addition to having been
President of the Confederate States of America. Jefferson Davis
was a truly renaissance man with deep values as a caring and
compassionate man. Jeff Davis had passionate opinions of the
strict interpretation of the US Constitution in which the
Founding Fathers of United States clearly limited the power of
the Federal Government. Jefferson Davis was named after Thomas
Jefferson, by his parents. Jefferson Davis father, Samuel, was a
hero in the American army during Revolutionary War.

Jefferson Finis Davis was literally born in 1808 in a log cabin
in Kentucky to son of a decorated veteran of the Revolutionary
War, Samuel Emory Davis and his wife Jane Cook Davis. Samuel
Davis was a native of the State of Georgia.

Samuel was just boy, but show remarkable courage and maturity
when he was sent to the help out his two older half-brothers by
his mother. Young Sam Davis joined the patriots fighting the
Revolutionary War at the age of sixteen. Sam was rewarded for
his courage, valor and leadership skills and he was quickly
promoted to the rank of Captain of the infantry, in spite still
only being a teenager.

Samuel's Georgia militia unit was part of the siege of Savannah
battle where the Patriots successful defeated the British troops
and loyalist. In the 1779, Revolutionary War battle of Kettle
Creek in Wilkes County Georgia, Samuel was wounded. While Samuel
Davis was serving in the Revolutionary War he met his future
wife, Jane Cook. Sam and Jane were married in July of 1783.

The returning veteran and Revolutionary War hero Samuel Davis,
his wife Jane and their family was not rich, but hard working.
Jefferson was the youngest of their ten children. Jane and
Samuel Davis were an unusual couple in the fact that they were
both literate and educated with a high level of appreciation for
the importance of education. The fact they both were educate was
rare, in light of the fact that the Davis family lived in
several areas of almost wilderness west of the Appalachian
Mountains. Jeff Davis mother declared Jeff to be their last
child and some say that she gave him the middle name Finis,which
means last, or end, in Latin. Jefferson Davis parents were both
literate, which was unusual for a family living in the western
frontier of the United States. His family moved several times
from Georgia to Kentucky to Louisiana and then to Mississippi.

Jefferson Davis was the youngest son and last child of Samuel
and Jane Cook Davis born in a log cabin, on June 4, 1808, in
what was then known as Christian County (now Todd County) in
Kentucky. Jefferson was sent off to boarding school by his aging
parents, Sam and Jane, to St. Thomas Aquinas College, Roman
Catholic school, near Springfield, Kentucky, at age seven, for
two years.

Sam and Jane made the travel arrangements to send Jefferson off
to school in Kentucky from their home in Southern Mississippi.
Young Jeff would have to travel to Kentucky on a pony off to
school, but was sent in the company of Major Thomas Hinds. Major
Hinds, a friend of Jeff's oldest brother Joseph, was a decorated
war hero of the Battle of New Orleans. Along the trip the pair
stopped for a visit Hinds former War of 1812 commander, none
other than Old Hickory himself, General Andrew Jackson.
Jefferson Davis said many years later, “that he [President
Andrew Jackson] inspired the reverence and affection that has
remained with me through my whole life. Young Jefferson Davis
was impressed with the kindness, courtesy, and the humility of
the General Jackson, who was larger than life, but said grace
before every meal. Old Hickory (who was still in his only in his
forties) and his wife Rachel, invited Jeff and Major Hinds party
to stay with them and they did stay with them for a fortnight.

After attending St. Thomas Aquinas College in Kentucky for two
years, Jeff returned back to Southern Mississippi. Jeff then
attended Jefferson College in Adams County and then he was
transferred to Wilkinson County Academy, both in Mississippi.
While at Wilkinson County Academy Jeff lived at home with his
parents in Woodville, Mississippi. After five years in school
back in Mississippi, Jeff entered as member of the junior class
at Transylvania University in Lexington, Kentucky. Transylvania
University has achieved national prominence and way hailed as
one of Americas leading institution of higher education, at that
time. In the year Jeff entered Transylvania University it had a
larger enrollment that year than either Harvard or Yale, in
spite of it being located on the western frontier.

Historical Note: The successful effort to restore Jefferson
Davis United States citizenship was led by United States
Senators Eastland, Thurmond, Hatfield and Hatch on the US Senate
Judiciary Committee to Jefferson Davis citizenship (the authors
Great Great Grandfather). Jefferson F. Davis was a West Point
graduate, a US Military career officer, created a successful
plantation from swamp land, was a Mississippi Militia Colonel
(later Major General), served in the US Congress (as Congressman
and Senator), as the US Secretary of War for President Franklin
Pierce, all this in addition to having been President of the
Confederate States of America. Dr. Haller actively lobbied on
both sides of the aisle of the US Congress, along with the
significant efforts by Senators Eastland, Thurmond, Hatfield and
Hatch, to successfully finally restore Jefferson Davis
citizenship. Haller worked with President Jimmy Carter and his
senior White House staff, including White House Chief of Staff.
President Carter signed the unanimously passed US Senate Joint
Resolution 16, on October 17, 1978.

Copyright 2008 (c) Dr Howard Edward Haller

Article Source: http://collectibles-articles.com

Dr. Howard Edward Haller is a well respected academic scholar, University Professor, University Trustee, former President of University Board of Trustees, award winning author, and professional speaker. He is an accomplished senior business executive. Dr. Haller is the Great Great Grandson of Jefferson Davis and respected scholar.

Print This Article

Post Comment

Add To Favorites

Email to Friends

Publisher Ready