Jefferson Davis BicentennialThis year is the 200th anniversary of the birth of Jefferson Davis, who was born in Fairview, Ky., on June 3, 1808, and at the age of 2 moved with his parents to Rosemont Plantation near Woodville, Miss. In 1835, Davis moved to Warren County where he spent the most productive years of his life. This is the third of a series of 11 articles about Davis as a local citizen.He was twice her age, but when Jefferson Davis met Varina Ann Howell in 1843 it was the beginning of one of the most beautiful love stories in American history.

It was a December day in l843 when Jefferson Davis met Varina, a 17-year-old Natchez belle – a tall, pretty girl with dark eyes and olive complexion. What he thought of her on that first meeting isn’t known, but he certainly made an impression on her.

That night she wrote her mother that she had met Jefferson Davis and that she had not known he existed until then. Varina was on an extended visit during the Christmas season to the Joseph Davis family at Hurricane. Her father, William Burr Howell, and Joe Davis were good friends. She first went 10 miles upriver from Hurricane to Diamond Place, home of Joe’s, daughter, Florida Davis McCaleb.

Jefferson Davis was on his way to Vicksburg to a political caucus concerning the upcoming presidential election when he met Varina. He had reined in his horse at the McCaleb home to deliver a message that his brother was expecting the young guest.

That night she wrote her mother that she did not know if Jefferson Davis was “young or old. He looks both at times; but I believe he is old, for from what I hear he is only two years younger than you are” – not a very diplomatic comment. Varina felt him remarkable but of uncertain temper and was offended that he had a way of taking it for granted that everyone agreed with him when he expressed an opinion, “Yet he is most agreeable and has a peculiarly sweet voice and a winning manner of asserting himself.” She thought that he was the kind of man who if she were being attacked by a mad dog would rescue her at any risk, but would be stoically indifferent afterward.

“I do not think I shall ever like him as I do his brother Joe,” she wrote, then concluded, “Would you believe he is refined and cultivated, and yet he is a Democrat?”

Varina Howell DavisVarina was descended from some of the finest aristocracy in Virginia, and in New Jersey her grandfather Howell had been elected governor eight consecutive times. A distant cousin was Vice President Aaron Burr. Her ancestry and her family were decidedly Whigs and Episcopalians.

The Davises, on the other hand, made no claim to high-bred lineage. The first of the family in America had come from Wales around 1700 and was a founding member of Welsh Tract Old School Baptist Church in what is now Delaware. The family moved a lot – to Georgia and Kentucky and then in 1810 to Wilkinson County, Miss,, where Jefferson Davis said his memory began. His father was a veteran of the American Revolution, and others in the family served in the War of 1812.

One thing Varina noted: When Jefferson Davis arrived at Diamond Place, his mere presence brought joy to both family and servants. The next day Mary Bradford, Davis’ niece, told Varina some of her Uncle Jeff’s background.

Varina’s visit to Hurricane was not for just a few days, but lasted for six weeks or more. Often she would slip away from the other young people at Hurricane and go into the library where the Davis brothers discussed many topics. Varina’s quick mind and independent thought as well as her ability to translate Latin at sight with no obvious effort intrigued Jefferson Davis. She was also well-grounded in the classics and was interested in learning about government.

After a week or so, the couple was often alone, seated before the fireplace in the music room. At first he seemed most impressed with her intellect, but one could not ignore her physical charms.

Dr. Hudson Strode, one of the foremost Davis scholars, described her: “Varina gave the impression of beauty, though she did not have clear-cut features. A decided brunette, she had a rich, healthy coloring. Her knowing dark eyes were enormous and the full lips bespoke her delight in laughter. Her lustrous black hair, which she wore parted in the middle according to the fashion, was brought down low to conceal the ears and gathered in a widespread bun high on the back of her head. At 17, Varina’s figure was willowy, and her carriage had grace as well as poise.”

Varina was flattered that Davis, a 35-year-old man, paid such marked attention to her. Away from the comforts of the house, they often went riding together, and Jeff showed her the house he had built and introduced her to his manager and friend, James Pemberton.

Near the end of January, only six weeks after they met, Jefferson Davis proposed. Of course, he would have to ask her father for permission, so after Varina’s return to Natchez he made plans to visit the Howells. Approval was won, but because of a series of Davis family problems, and because Varina became ill, the wedding did not take place until Feb. 26, 1844. It was a small gathering of family and friends at the Howell’s home, The Briars, overlooking the Mississippi River.

By coincidence, on board the steamboat headed to Natchez, Jefferson Davis found his former in-laws, Gen. and Mrs. Zachary Taylor. He had not seen them since before his marriage to their daughter almost 10 years earlier. He knew they had been to Locust Grove to visit the grave of Sarah Knox. Now, the two men who shared a common grief forgave one another and vowed their friendship.

NEXT: Back in public service

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Gordon Cotton is an author and historian who lives in Vicksburg.