Rev. Samuel Davis Letter
Mr. William Davis
Maryville, Missouri
My Dear Nephew, and Family:
Since writing to you last I have had a sad experience. On the 31st of
July, 1867, death took my wife, my lovely companion, your dear Aunt Pollie. In the triumph of her faith, she gently bade this word (world ?) adieu, for a better land, and I am left alone.
I have rented my farm to a man by the name of Phillips and will make my home at Samson’s. All of his family are well and send their love. His children are as follows:
Mollie, the eldest, 15;
Sue, the next, is 12;
Whittie, a boy, is 10;
and Hattie, the youngest, is 4. Mollie is teaching school three-fourths of a mile from home, and her brother and youngest sister are among her pupils. Samson has a fine farm and, in addition, he is a breeder of thoroughbred horses and raises big fine mules. His wife, Susan and her good mother are,
at the present moment, busily engaged in weaving a carpet.
Your cousin, Betsy, and her husband, Ananias Epperson, are living on the old Seaton Duffy place, which he is farming, as well as being engaged in general merchandising.
Lucinda, who married a brother of said Epperson, namely, Smith Epperson, now lives at Lancaster, [unable to make out the rest of page]. married Joseph Hawkin’s brother, Richard Hawkins, and they live on a farm near Hartsville. Matilda Catharine died as she was just budding into young womanhood. Malvina, the youngest, married William V. Dalton. They are wealthy and live in fine style on a beautiful old estate a short distance below Gallatin, on the Nashville turnpike. I presume you know that brother Wesley is dead. His widow and their children are well.
You may know that all of our Davis ancestors came from Wales. We descended from William Davis, the youngest of five brothers who came over from Wales together and located in North Carolina. The four older brothers were named Thomas, Benjamin, John and Daniel.
William Davis, my grandfather, married a McAnally. My father said all of the McAnallys moved to Louisiana, where they now live and are doing well. My great grandmother, on my father’s side, was born a Fittspatrick.
My mother’s maiden name was Abigail St. John. Her father’s name was Noah St. John. My mother was born in the state of New York. She married three times. Her first husband, James Adams Leach, was killed by Indians. My mother was left a widow at the age of 20, with a baby daughter, destined to become the mother of a great soldier, editor and statesman, Felix Kirk Zollicoffer. This half sister of mine was married to Zollicoffer’s father in North Carolina, but shortly after their marriage they moved to Tennessee, locating on a farm on Duck River, near Columbia. Young Zollicoffer first was editor of the Columbia Observer and afterwards became editor of the Nashville Banner, leading Whig organ of the South. William V. Dalton, who was well acquainted with General Zollicoffer in the army, often has remarked that he never knew two men who looked so much alike as the General and Uncle Wade Davis. Captain Trousdale also said the same thing to me.
My mother’s second husband was William Ward, who died within a year after their marriage. Again my mother was left with a baby daughter, Hannah, who is time became the wife of you uncle John McReynolds. They lived on Trammel, near where you were born.
The Wards had come from New York direct to North Carolina, of course bring with them the two little girls, half sisters. My mother, widowed the second time, but still only 23 years of age, married a third time - this last time to my father Samson Davis, who was three years younger than her. They became the parents of five children, namely:
From what you stated, I think I have answered all of you questions. I presume that by this time your father and mother are by this time living near you in Maryville. If so, I wish you would hand them this letter, and tell them that I, amidst all my trials and tribulations, an bowing resignedly to the will of Heaven, and that I am trying to live so that the spirit of the Lord shall abide with me and be my constant guide.
We have had some good religious meetings here lately. On June 4th I attended a District meeting at Scottsville. It lasted five days, Bishop Pierce presiding. I design starting a District meeting tomorrow at Fountain Head. Bishop McTeer will be there.
I have but little to say about politics. I think Davis and Lincoln were both extreme in their views and that their leadership brought ruin upon this country. One strong Union Democrat could have done more good than both of them working together.
My love to you all,
Samuel Davis.
P.S. I was born March 22nd, 1789. I will be 80 years old my next birthday.
S.D.