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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 from a forthcoming book "Jefferson Davis-a Memoir" and the article series "From a Kentucky Log Cabin to the Capitol" which will share "the rest of the story" of who Jefferson Davis was, what he stood for, and includes his wide range of accomplishments. This extensive series of well-documented and informative articles will explore a number of the facts of Jefferson Davis' life not just as a military or political leader, but as a man, husband and father. Jefferson Davis was truly a renaissance man with deep values and was a compassionate man. This article will focus on the first love of his life, Sarah Knox Taylor Davis, and their life journey together and marriage cut short by tragedy.
After their marriage in Kentucky, the couple then proceeded down to "Hurricane," Jeff's brother's successful cotton plantation in Southern Mississippi. As the oldest son Joseph Emory Davis handled his father Samuel's estate after Samuel died; Jeff was only sixteen. Joseph Davis was instrumental in helping youngest brother Jeff to acquire the 1800 acres of what was uncleared swamp land, in an area know as "Brierfield". The name Brierfield was an appropriate description of the just uncleared overgrown brier and cane covered swamp land. Actually the land that Jefferson Davis now owned would have been more accurately been called "Swampy Brier Field." "Brierfield," was near his father's former home in Woodville, Mississippi. Then Joseph sold, on credit, to Jeff the slaves that Jeff would need to do the extremely hard work of clearing the Mississippi bottomland. Clearing the swamp land consisted of removing and burning the almost virtual wall of wild cane and thick briers, as well as digging ditches.
Jeff and his new bride, Sarah, and Jeff's faithful servant, James Pemberton, worked together in the fields clearing the extensive briers and brambles from the swampland. It was common in the summer in this part of Mississippi for swamps to give off steam which provided a perfect environment for mosquitoes and "the fever" to thrive. Working in the fields under these conditions was very hard on both Jeff and Sarah.
In that part of the South, this portion of the summer is called "the chill and fever season." Jeff was still somewhat weak from the illness he suffered while in military service in the bitterly cold Northwest Territories. When she was young, Sarah had had a previous battle with malaria, which killed two of her sisters. After weeks of clearing the field in these unpleasant and even dangerous conditions, the newly wed's, Jeff and Sarah, were both not feeling well, and in fact were very sick. Jeff had contracted malaria, becoming so ill and he literally fell off his horse and had to be carried back to the house. The following day Sarah was so ill she could not work.
After the couple would not respond to his treatment, the local doctor recommended that the couple needed to go to a better climate and better living conditions. So Jeff, Sarah, and James Pemberton, Jeff's personal servant, left Brierfield by boat to go to Bayou Sara. The young married couple seriously needed to recuperate from their illnesses and fatigue from their labors in clearing the swamp (what would later become "Brierfield.") Jeff's older sister, Mrs. Luther Smith, made her home available as a more suitable environment in which the newlyweds could recover. She lived in nearby Locust Grove, which is near the small town of St. Francisville in Louisiana about 40 or so miles south west from Brierfield in Mississippi.
Promptly after the couple arrived at his sister's home, Jeff began to show all the classic signs of having contracted malaria. Jeff was moved to another room from Sarah, as he had become quite delirious with a very high fever. The following day Sarah also became to show symptoms of having the deadly malaria.
Jeff was quite delirious and he was initially not expected to live. And while Jeff was still very ill, Sarah made a serious turn for the worst. The family did not plan to tell Jefferson that she was dying. The doctor forbad Jefferson from leaving his bed fearing he would learn of his bride's eminent death. However, on September 15, 1835 after hearing Sarah Knox singing in an unusually way the song "Fairy Bells", Jefferson, who was still very ill quite fever ridden got up out of bed and went to Sarah's room. "Knox", as Jefferson fondly referred to Sarah, was so far gone she did not even recognize Jeff and he knew at that point that she was dying. Overcome with emotion, he was able to do nothing for her except to hold Sarah in his arms until she died.
After Sarah died at age 21, Jefferson was inconsolable and completely brokenhearted. He had to be helped back to his room and then helped into bed. Young Jefferson had lost the true love of his life. Jeff's seriously critical condition was complicated by his intense grief over the loss of "Knox" after less than three months of marriage, and this was in addition to his personal torment over his insistence in marrying Sarah in spite of her father's objections. The entire family and his Doctor were seriously concerned that Jefferson would now also die from malaria. Even though he was critically ill, Jefferson Davis was resolute that his wife Knox's funeral service be held in his sickroom so he could be present for the services. Sarah Knox Taylor was buried in the southwest corner of the Smith's family cemetery. The family and his doctor were guarded about Jeff's condition as his life literal hung in the balance for several days after Knox's funeral. Thanks to the tender loving care from Jeff's oldest sister, Mrs. Luther Smith, he was able to recover over the next month.
Jefferson Davis did recover, but he was still very weak, so James Pemberton, his personal servant, had to carry Jeff back to his home, about 40 miles to Mississippi from his Sister's home just over the state border in Louisiana. It was the same servant James Pemberton that had previously carried Jefferson from the bed to the window as if he was a small child, when he was seriously ill with pneumonia while stationed was in the Army in the Northwest Territories.
Colonel Zach Taylor's worst nightmare became a vivid and painful reality! Malaria did finally take his daughter Sarah's life. In spite of the great loss of "Knox" to both Jeff and her father, this would not be last chapter in the relationship between Jefferson Davis and Zachary Taylor.
It was truly tragic for Jeff and Sarah to be so in love, having been engaged for two years, having waited for the reticent Colonel Taylor to finally agree to their marriage and then to lose her in less than 90 days. It is not surprising that a grief struck Jeff was in morning and mostly secluded from the world for the better part of the next eight years, from 1835 to 1843.
Historical Note: The successful effort to restore Jefferson Davis's United States citizenship was led by United States Senator's Eastland, Thurmond, Hatfield, and Hatch on the US Senate Judiciary Committee to Jefferson Davis's citizenship (the author's Great Great Grandfather). Jefferson F. Davis was a West Point graduate, a US Military career officer, and was a Mississippi Militia Colonel (later Major General). He served in the US Congress (as Congressman and Senator), and as the US Secretary of War for President Franklin Pierce; this was 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 Senator's Eastland, Thurmond, Hatfield, and Hatch, to successfully restore Jefferson Davis' citizenship. Haller worked with President Jimmy Carter and his senior White House staff, including the White House Chief of Staff. President Carter signed the unanimously passed US Senate Joint Resolution 16, on October 17, 1978.
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. Dr. Haller is also an accomplished senior business executive. For over 25 years, Dr. Haller has served as Senior Vice President, Managing Director, Executive Vice President & COO, or President of major companies such as IFC Capital, Anaconda-Ericsson, and United Artists. Dr. Howard Edward Haller is also the Great Great Grandson of Jefferson Davis and LifeMember of the Davis Family Association, the Military Order of Stars and Bars, and a respected scholar on the life of Jefferson F. Davis. Dr. Haller actively lobbied the US Congress, along with the significant efforts by Senator's Eastland, Thurmond, Hatfield, and Hatch, to successfully restore Jefferson Davis's citizenship. Howard worked with President Jimmy Carter and his senior White House staff, including the White House Chief of Staff. President Carter signed the unanimously passed US Senate Joint Resolution 16, on October 17, 1978.
Howard Haller earned his Bachelors Degree in Political Science with Honors from California State University Northridge. He was elected into Pi Kappa Sigma, the National Political Science Honor Society. He did graduate work in both Political Science and Business at CSUN. Dr. Haller earned a Master's Degree in Management from the University of Redlands and his Ph.D. in Leadership Studies from Gonzaga University.
Howard Edward Haller, Ph.D. was elected as the youngest Trustee of California State University Northridge Trust at the age of 34. Dr. Haller was elected and reelected as President of the California State University Northridge Board of Trustees, initially at the age of 39. He has served as a CSUN Foundation Trustee for over 28 years (and is now Trustee Emeritus).
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