James Wilson Davidson
- Died: Dec. 4, 1893, aged 59 years
- Member of 49th Ohio Volunteer Infantry (Co. A)
- Enlisted as 2nd Lt. (age: 27) Aug. 22, 1861 for 3 years
- Promoted to 1st Lt. Jan. 9, 1862
- Wounded Jan. 31, 1862 at Battle of Stone River, Tennessee
- Discharged July 21, 1863
Findlay Daily Courier
Tuesday Dec. 12, 1893 (p.4)
WITHOUT WARNING,
J.W. Davidson Falls Dead In the Court Room.
STRUCK DOWN BY APOPLEXY.
While engaged in his duties in Court, he was struck down without a moment's warning.
James Wilson Davidson, Deputy Clerk of the Courts of Hancock county, fell over dead in his seat in the Circuit room at 10 minutes past 10 o'clock this morning. Death came in an instant, without any warning, from the bursting of a blood vessel in the brain, commonly known as acute apoplexy.
Mr. Davidson was at this desk in the Circuit Court room, where the trial of the case of Bright vs Bright was in progress before Judges Moore, Seney and Day. He had just a minute before sworn one of the witnesses, and was engaged in writing, when those near him heard a gasp, and saw him fall forward in his chair. Before he could fall, attorney O.A. Ballard jumped to his side and supported his body, but he never moved after that. Death had come in the twinkling of an eye, and without the drawing of another breath, the soul of Mr. Davidson had taken its flight from the earthly casket and gone to meet its maker in the great world above.
Court was at once adjourned until 1:30 p.m., and kindly hands bore the form of the stricken man to the constitution room of the Circuit Judges, where the body was laid on a couch. Dr. A. Hurd, who had been telephoned for, responded at once, but could do nothing beyond giving the cause of death. The undertakers were then summoned and took charge of the body, conveying it to the family home at 126 Howard street.
Mr. Davidson was about 59 years of age, and had been a resident of Findlay for over thirty years.
James W. Davidson enlisted August 22, 1861, in Company A, 49th regiment, O.V.I., which was mustered in at Camp Noble, at Tiffin, Ohio. He was elected 2nd Lieutenant of his company, and on July 9, 1862, was promoted to 1st Lieutenant for meritorious conduct. At the battle of Stone River, Tenn., December 31, 1862, he was severely wounded in the right leg, from which disability he was discharged on July 21, 1863.
After leaving the army he entered into business here for a time, and was later appointed railway mail clerk, but owing to his old arm wound was obliged to resign that position.
In 1887 he was appointed Deputy Clerk of the Courts under County Clerk Presley E. Hay, and had held that position ever since, having been re-appointed by Clerk Julien.
Wils. Davidson, as he was more generally known by his more familiar acquaintances, was a whole-souled, genial gentleman, well liked and respected by all who knew him. Generous, accommodating and kindly to all, everybody who knew him was his friend. He will be sadly missed around the court house and by a large circle of friends.
He leaves a wife and son and daughter, who have the sympathy of all in their sad affliction.
No time has as yet been decided upon for holding the funeral.
Findlay Weekly Jeffersonian
Thursday December 14, 1893
SUDDEN DEATH
OF JAMES WILSON DAVIDSON AT HIS DESK.
Without a moment's warning he was called from the court below to the court above.
James W. Davidson, Deputy County Clerk, and one of the best known officers in the Court House, died very suddenly in the Circuit Court room at 10:35 Tuesday forenoon.
He appeared to be as well and jolly as usual and was working at the right hand side of the Circuit Judge's bench and was busy making up his record and administering the oath to witnesses as they were called to testify before the court.
He administered the oath to a young lady witness who started for the witness stand. At that moment, Mr. Davidson raised up in his chair, threw up his arms and gasped for breath. He then sank back into his chair and the Judges, attorneys and others rushed across the room to him. He did not speak a word and to all appearances was dead. He was carried into the Judges' consultation room on a lounge and Dr. Hurd was hastily called by Court Constable Ewing. The Doctor made a hasty examination and then announced that death had been caused by apoplexy and that he had died suddenly and without pain.
Miss Cora Davidson, who works in the Clerks office had but a few moments before the fatal moment, consulted her father about some journal entries. He explained to her where to send the papers and how to put the record on the journal. She had just returned to her desk when she was called to her father's side. She was prostrated with grief and was at once taken to her home.
The news of the sudden death of Mr. Davidson spread very rapidly and in a few minutes the Court House was crowded with anxious friends, many of whom did not believe that Mr. Davidson was dead until they gazed upon his face cold in death.
Undertaker Clark was called and took charge of the body. The remains were at once conveyed to the home of the deceased on Howard street.
Arrangements for the funeral have not been made up to this time of going to press.
James Wilson Davidson was born in Pennsylvania about 57 years ago, and but little is known how he spent his life up to about 1852 when he located in this city. After spending several years in this city he went to Kansas and engaged in the sawmill and lumber business. This was just at the start of the great civil war when Kansas was in an uproar on the slavery question. Mr. Davidson's mill was destroyed by fire by the gang who favored slavery because he was outspoken against slavery. After a year or two of the roughest kind of frontier life, a portion of which time he was a member of John Brown's Raiders, he returned to this city and enlisted in the three month's service.
As soon as his time expired he enlisted in the 49th O.V.I. for three years or during the war. He went through the war and was a model soldier.
At the close of the war he returned to this city and went into business. He was an industrious man and was always in business either for himself or clerking for someone. At one time he was financially embarrased by having to pay a large amount of bail money. He was a postal clerk for several years and gave good satisfaction. He was City Clerk in 1873-4, and was six times elected Trustee of Findlay township, by the Republicans. He entered the County Clerk's office eight years ago as a deputy for Presley E. Hay and remained there up to the time of his death. During the boom he managed to get on his feet financially and at once embarked in the glass business being the heaviest stock-holder of the Model glass works. He was also the heaviest stock-holder at the Model glass works at Albany, Ind.
Mr. Davidson was an honest man and was highly esteemed by all who knew him. He knew every detail of the work in the Clerks office and was a kind and efficient official and was well liked by the Attorneys, Judges, and all others who had business in court.
His sudden death has caused a deep gloom over the entire court house.
Mr. Davidson left a wife, one daughter and two sons to mourn his death. The two sons are now at Albany, Ind. The bereaved family have the sympathy of the entire community.
Findlay Daily Courier
Thur. March 2, 1899
MRS. DAVIDSON
Brief sketch of her life --- A useful member of society.
News of the death of Mrs. Mary W. Davidson, relict of the late J.W. Davidson, was reported on Wednesday just as the Courier was going to press, thus necessitating a somewhat brief notice of the death.
Mrs. Davidson was a lady who had friends all over this city and county. She was an untiring worker in every good and honorable cause in which Findlay ladies become interested, and her kindly presence was often seen where suffering and sorrow lingered. Her acts of charity were numerous, and her name has been blessed by scores who have felt the substantial benefits resulting from her unselfish devotion to the cause which always seemed uppermost in her mind. Many there are who will revere her memory through the years to come, and her good works will live in the minds of those who are now little children.
Deceased first saw the light of day in Carroll county, Ohio, in 1838, and moved with her parents to Mansfield a few years later, where she attended school and eventually became a teacher. At the age of twenty she came with her parents to Findlay, where she resided to the day of her death.
In 1861 she was married to James W. Davidson, who left the nuptial alter for the carnage of war, being a member of the gallant 49th Ohio--- Gen. Bill Gibson's famous regiment--- and served with that fighting band until the close of the war. After the war when husband and wife were reunited, real life began, and the foundation for a good and useful future was laid, a foundation from, which rose a beautiful and useful career.
Three children survive, two sons and a daughter, Arthur, of Evansville, Ind., Homer, of Albany, Ind., and Mrs. Robert Pentzer, of Findlay.
The funeral will be held from the late residence, 126 Howard street; on Saturday afternoon. At two o'clock. Burial in Maple Grove.
My Dear Wife
As I was very much disapointed this morning when the ----------a letter from you--------received-----------that came the first of the week and this numbers the third one I have written----that----if I could but----week I would feel as------that---------The captain received a letter from his wife and so did Lieut Gray he received rather sorrowful news being the death of his wife's brother and she is very anxious for the Lieut to resign and come home he does not know what to do about as they will not accept of his resignation on that excuse they are very particular about what a man's reasons are for resigning before the[y] accept them as our Generals are a heartless set of men have nothing but millatary gizzards. We are going to have a change in our Major Generals General Sherman is going to be superceded by Genl Buel[l] and he is coming to review us tomorrow for the first time. The general suposition here in camp is that we will be ordered to move forward now in a few days by our new General. Which I hope will be so for the sooner we move forward the sooner we will get home if we get home at all and I am getting very anxious to get home again and the prospect is very slim if we stay here all winter. The paymaster has not come around but we still keep looking for him and have the promise that he will be here tomorrow but it seems to me that tomorrow never will come as that has been the cry for the last two weeks. As I am sitting here writing tonight the Capt sits on one side of me reading the Louisville Journal and biting his finger nails while Dan Grubb sits on the other side of the stove cursing the Rebles[Rebels] and our Genls for not letting us go right into them and cutting them to pieces and that appears to be the motto of all the boys in the company as they are getting tired of this life of inactivity and so am I but I would rather move towards old Eden now than any place I know of at this present time. And I do say that if we have to stay here this winter that I will go home and see you if I have to desert for I do not see any us of so many officers staying here when there is nothing to do. I told Col. Gibson as much the other day he laughed and said he guessed I would not desert but I told him if I could not get home any other way that I would if I could get a chance to as I will have to admit that a man's chances for deserting is mighty slim as everything in the millitary line is gaurded so very close but I will give it a trial if they do not let me go without.
James Foster received a letter from James Watt yesterday saying that they were all well and that he would not enlist again untill some of the broadcloth of Findlay enlisted he named Milt Taylor Marsh Thompson Ben Hyatt & several others that I think is very sensible I think. Have you heard from John since he left with the 21st as I hear there is considerable sickness in that Regt. I believe that I will write to him tomorrow and find out about it. Give my respects to all the friends in Eden, and all my love to Mary, Jane.
From your afft
J.W. Davidson
Camp Florence Alabama
June 14th, 1862
My Dear Wife
As this is the first opertunity[opportunity] I have had to write to you for a week I suppose you will begin to think that I have forgotten to write. But not so for I have wanted to write to you every day and did write one letter on the march with my pencil and sent to you from Iuka, where we stopped to rest for one day. We have been on the march ever since Corinth was evacuated and have at length arrived at the Tennessee river opposite the city of Florence Alabama one of the richest southern towns I was never as surprised in my life as I was at the difference there is between northern Miss. & Alabama Miss is nothing but a rough broken forest with a farm partly cleared up ever[y] ten miles while Alabama is all under cultivation and some of the largest and finest mansions I ever saw. The second day that we marched in this state I started in the morning before the Regt & followed the Rail Road in company with Sgt Major Green of our Regt and several boys out of Cotters Battery and when struck the wagon road I found that we were about five miles ahead of the troops and we stopped to rest and while resting we saw a large mansion about one half mile from the road (as the planters in this country never build there[their] houses near the road always having a nice graveled road and park in front of them) we thought we would go up and get some dinner. So we all went up and called at the door and asked if we could get some dinner. But our answer was no sir we have nothing to eat for ourselves and wont let you have anything to eat. I thought it very strange that a man living in as good style as he was, certainly had something to eat but said nothing more but started through his negro quarters which were pretty extensive as he had, so his overseer told me 200 slaves men women & children we went down to the bottom of the hill (as all there[their] planters build there mansions on elevated ground) and found a splendid spring fixed up in splendid style and fine shade trees all around we concluded that would be a nice place to wait untill the Regt came up we had not been there long before there was about forty soldiers & officers come to the same place to rest and then the little niggers began to come around as thick as fleas some of them perfectly naked others with nothing but there shirts on and commenced dancing and singing plantation songs all secesh but they would be union if they dare but there massas were all secesh and would flog them like the debbil[devil?] if they would sing union ones. After we had been there a few minutes the big niggers began to come around us as it was Saturday afternoon and they had there holiday and they are the blackest niggers that I ever saw regular full blood African and they brought down there fiddles banjos & bones and gave us some plantation sport we had all the sport we wanted with the niggers then I talked with some of them and they told us that there master had plenty of grubb but would not sell it to union soldiers but would give it to the secesh soldiers and that he had two sons in the secesh army but had not heard from them since the battle of Shiloh but said if they had fallen it was in a good cause that is the way they all talk through some parts of this state but where we are now they are pretty near all union. We passed through Tuscumbia a very fine town five miles here but it was pretty well vacated all we saw was niggers but it was last Sunday morning early and I suppose the white population were not up yet. We arrived here Sunday afternoon and our Regt and the 26th Regt were ordered to build a couple of flat boats to ferry the troops across the river on and I was detailed to take charge of the men and build the boats, that is the reason that I did not get time to write to you before and I have just got the boats finished and started down the river to what is called the lower landing where the most of the troops are lying and we expect to move forwarded tomorrow so you must not be uneasy if you do not get letters regular from me as when we are on the wing we have no chance to write or mail letters but I will try and send you a letter once a week and oftener if I can and when we get into camp I will write every other day as usual. The Capt has been over in the city of Florence and says they are all very fine people living there and they sent us over some very nice bread apples plums potatoes horseradish and other vegetables so that we are living very well now. But I am going to come home to you just as soon as I can after we get through marching again as there is no chance to get away while on the wing. Give my regards to all the folks and all my love to you and Arthur. I would write more but I have not time as we have to get ready to march just as soon as we can. Kiss our dear little baby for me every day his dear papa and your affectionate husband.
J.W. Davidson
Camp Near Stevenson Ala
July 13th, 1862
[sideways along top margin] Direct to McCooks Division 49th Regt via Nashville
Being out of stamps and there being no chance of getting any here I have to send all my letters through without --- J.W.D.
Friend Bill
I again take my old pen to write you a few lines to jog your old memory in regard to the couple of letters I wrote to you while we were lying before Corinth and after the evacuation that I have never received an answer from but as our mails have been so iregular[irregular] the last two months you might have written and they have never come through to me. I am well with the exception of a slight touch of home sickness. We have been doing some very hard marching since we left Corinth Miss we left there on the 10th of June and the first 24 hours after leaving Corinth we marched twenty miles through the hardest country that you or any person else ever traveled through ----- --- you have been through wood co. it is a flower[?] to it that is Northern Miss from Corinth to Iuka Springs which is a very nice little southern town near the line of Alabama, and there is some very fine springs and fine buildings which were calculated for a summer resort for Southern gentry & ladies. But the roads we had to travel through from Corinth to that place were through swamp and pine forest and dusty roads as it has not rained in this country for six weeks and the dust is so thick that you can hardly see your hand before you. We laid over at Iuka one day to gather in our men as they could not stand such hard marching after lying still so long especially when so hot as it is here. It is just as much warmer than in Ohio as it is between there and Lake Superior. We then marched 28 miles to Florence Ala where we had to stop seven days and build boats to cross the Tenn. River. I did not get any rest -------------------- to take charge of the carpenters------------ boats after they were built -------------------- over and went on our wagons----------- knowing when we were going ----------------------- to stop was ------ where -------------------- and they have saved[?] time ---------------- nothing to --------and good quarters[?] -------------------- three miles from town to--------------- we were not allowed to leave ------------------ and see the ----- but they ------------------ see us. They were up to our camp ------------------- Capt Gray got permission of --------------------- to go with the teams after-------------- staid all night but the next ---------------------- he had got done eating his breakfast and was sent for and put under arrest. But such is the fate of war. Capt Langworthy resigned at Florence and left us at Athens I suppose you have seen him and heard all. We then marched to Huntsville where we stopped a week to wait for further orders we generally get our orders about 10 o'clock at night to be ready to march the next morning at three and in the Army orders are orders & must be obeyed. We spent our fourth of July in that camp it was seven miles on the other side of Huntsville and a heavy gaurd[guard] around camp no one was allowed to leave it was very pleasant you know we did not see any difference between the fourth of July and any other day our duties were just the same. We left that camp on the sixth and arrived here on the eleventh and here we are waiting for more orders not knowing where we will go next but expect to pitch into the mountains as we are right among them. We are seventeen miles from Battle Creek where Joe is stationed. I sent him word by one that I ----- in Stevenson the next day after we camp ------------------------------------ was down here and could not get leave of absence long enough to go and see him so yesterday he came riding into our quarters in a fine captured charger and you better believe I was glad to see him and he me We just sat and talked old times over untill long in the afternoon when he said he must get back as he only got excused for that day but I told him he could not go so he put my cook on his horse and sent him to town with a message to the General ------------------------------ with me and just left a couple of the------------------------ and the same old Joe he let me read a ---------------------------and from you a few days ago. I was very-------------------------- that you was all right and forked end ------------------------------------------- hear from you soon. Joe and I just ------------------------------only had old Dun and Yeassy with us we ---------------------- would not care for anything else in the army --------------------------------- you to bind yourself to any Regt for three years for I tell you it is a long time to live out of civilization and travel all over creation just where ever these Brigadiers are allowed to march you for I tell you it is hard business and I am going to get out of it as soon as I can. Joe says he is going to write to you pretty soon some of these times Tell Yeassy I would like to get a scratch from him if he has time to scratch a few words to an old Brother soldier give my respects to all the boys and tell them to go in and fight for there[their] country now while it is called for fear that it may be everlastingly to[too] late.
Yours truly
J.W. Davidson
Head Quarters U.S. Military Prison
Camp Morton
Indianapolis, Ind.
April 8th 1865
My Dear Wife,
I arrived in Indianapolis last night at half past ten o'clock being one hour later than the regular time occasioned by the breaking of some machinery. I did not get to bed until about 12 oclock. I found the horse and buggy there to bring me out ------I then-------------- until the theatre was out before I could go home as Wagner had brought it down for me and he put him in the stable and went to the theatre. When I arrived at Camp I found the house locked up and all the windows fastened so that I could not make an entrance without a key. I went to Converse and got his key but it would not unlock the door. I then went down in to Camp and found Henry and behold he had the key to the house. You know you thought you had it at the Spencer house but you was mistaken for you gave it to Henry. I was all right then and went to bed but it was very lonesome and I wished that you had came with me. I found the Camp all right but everything appears gloomy and all that is talked about is the assisunation of the President there was seven men in the 43rd Regt that exulted over it and the old soldiers took them and hung them up by the neck and would have killed them if the officers had not have interfered just in time. They have since been put in irons in the little prison by order of Bvt. Brig. Gen. Stevens to await Court Martial since then everything is quiet and every one appears sad. This is a beautiful day here and all the trees are putting forth their green coats and the grass is growing fine. Converse had our house whitewashed all around while I was gone and it looks beautiful. I am going to get some mourning and hang over the door as Gen. Stevens has order that all the quarters shall be draped in mourning. Bell Shurtleff took the measles the next day after we left and has recovered and Mrs Shurtleff is going home with her this evening. Sister went away the day she said she would. I am going to board with Nat. Frank Place has the measles now very bad but they have come out on her very nice and the Doctor says by proper care she will get along without any trouble. The talk is now that we are going to leave here but no one knows where we are going there is one Regt to leave but I think it will be the 43d. I will find out before I write again what the Genls opinion is. Give my respects to all. And all my love to you and Arthur kiss him for his papa and tell him that Camp Morton is all right yet.
J.W.D.
Burnside Barracks
Indianapolis Ind
November 14th 1865
My Dear Wife
Received your long letter of the 12th today and I was somewhat surprised to[too] for it is the first one that I have received of more than four pages since I came back but I hope that it will not be the last for there is nothing that does me so much good as to receive a good long letter from you telling me all about how you and Arthur are getting along I never get tired reading about Arthurs little cute tricks and sayings, but I think he is beginning to dream rather young and I guess that it would puzzle him some to remember what he dreamed about but if he does I would like to know what the little darling's thoughts were while sleeping. I will go down to the city tomorrow and see if I can find an overcoat for him and send it either by express or by Sam for I think that Sam will go home the last of this week of[or] the first of next unless something happens that I am not aware of at present. I am very glad that you have had his picture taken and will look for some of them in every letter until they come. I am very glad you have not five or six children and I hope that you never will have that many for then I would not know what to do to provide for them and I would not expect a letter once a month from you for I know that you would not get time to write more than often. It does not alarm me because he does not learn fast for I know that if he lives and keeps his health he will have plenty of time to learn. And then when he gets older he will take more interest than he would if he should get disgusted while so young. I saw by the paper last week that Uncle Ben had went into partnership with his sons in the drug business but I did not think that he would go in as a salesman himself. I am of your opinion that he will not make a very good one for I think he will be to[too] honest and give away to much of the profits, in trying to make every one go away satisfied but then perhaps he will soon learn the ropes as his son Sam is a very good hand to learn with. I wish that he would buy John Mays property if he has any notion of buying over in town for I never would want better neighbors than they are. And we ought to know for we have tried them when we needed good neighbors and now that we are in better circumstances I am very sure we could appreciate them. I should think that William Watt would know better than to mind what his old whimsical mother says about his wife being extravagant for I think she is as good a wife as he could get anyplace but that is the way when a man comes behind in pecuniary affairs he is ready to jump at anything to throw the blame on some person besides himself even his wife. If it had not been for her unneccessary extravagance he could have paid everything but I hope that I will not be so. I know that I done and said some very mean things on this very subject, but I never meant half as bad as I said and hereafter I will try to guard against such actions for I know very well how disagreeable they make persons feel and how very bad it looks. I was very much surprised to hear that Phillips wife was crazy for I always thought so much of him and I hope that he will get her where she will be taken care of before anything serious happens. I think that James is rushing things if Mass is on the road again for it has not been very long since she lost her other one. I think that Esthers head is about level on that matter but then as I do not expect to have to take care of them it is none of my business how many they have, but I suppose you will refer me to my own affairs well I will have to admit that I do not want more than one more for I think that is about all that I can take care of. I think myself that if I had been at home you would not have been setting around on Sunday until four oclock with a dirty Calico on for I do think that is one of first signs of laziness and slovenness, but as I did not see it I will say nothing more about it. Sam received your letter about one week ago and said that he would not answer it right away for the reason that he had just wrote to mother a day or two before, he is well and as I said before expects to go home before long as our men have all been mustered out except eight and all the officers remain except Captains Guthridge and Hicks they have both been mustered out and Capt Guthridge has gone home to Lafayette and Capt Hicks is going to start for Illinois tomorrow to hunt a place to settle his brigade one he will leave the brigade here until he finds a place. Mrs Hicks says that she knows the Captain will make more money out of the service than he can in if he only gets a good start once and she says that when he gets settled down in that western country and the people get acquainted with the Captain that he will be elected to some office that will pay better than this does. Success to him but I think he will find the western people to[too] smart for him or at least as smart as the people in Philadelphia, but he is gone and we are all glad of it. We were all examined by the surgeon of the ninth regiment Hancock Corps yesterday in regard to our disability in pursuance to orders from the War Department. I do not know what it was for but I suppose we will know before long. As the mail boy is waiting I will close by sending all my love to my darling wife and baby.
Your True Husband,
JW Davidson
Bureau of Refugees Freedman and Abandoned Lands,
Office of Superintendent St. Francis County,
Madison Arkansas
Oct 11th 1866
My Dear Wife,
The boat has again made a landing at our little town, and with it came your ever welcome letters of Sept 25th 29th and Oct 3d all of which I have run over and hasten to answer before the boat leaves for down the river again. As I have written to you once before this week I have been having the chills somewhat this last week and do not feel any the best yet but I think I have them pretty thoroughly broken up and I will get along without having any more now. I was very glad to read in yours of the 25th that you had received so many of my letters. I was very glad to hear that Homer kept so well and was growing so fast and that he was such a good baby all good qualities and I think must take them from his father but I suppose his dear mama will not agree to that all together you say that he has learned to say papa so sweet, how I would like to hear the little darling it seems to me that I could almost eat him up. But when I read about poor Arthurs affliction it changed my feelings some, and I soon broke open the other two letters and glanced over them to see if he was getting better. I read in the one of the 29th where it was getting better but that it almost disfigured him was not very encouraging but then when I looked over the one of Oct 3d you speak of him being almost himself again that was quite encouraging and I do hope that he will keep clear of all sores forever for he always was so clear of anything of that kind when he was a baby. And you speak of Homer being such a sweet baby, I do not think he can be much sweeter than Arthur was. I hope that the time will not be long till I can have the privilege of judging for myself. I am somewhat surprised to hear of your having so much rain and such floods up in that country, for we have had such dry weather except a few days about a two weeks ago, and today it is as warm as a summers day and I am sweating freely while I sit here writing this letter and the planters are hauling their cotton in by the six mule loads to ship on the boat to market, and Mr Heussey and the collector are just as busy as they can be seeing the cotton weighed and marked and collecting the taxes, it is bringing a big revenue to the Govt. and just from the ones that ought to pay it, but I tell you it comes like drawing teeth for them to pay it, but they have to come down and they know it. Mr Huessey has weighed and assessed about one hundred bales of cotton which returned a revenue of fifteen hundred and thirty dollars, and that is not near as much as will go out the next time if the weather keeps clear. They expect to ship from this county five thousand bales which will bring in a revenue of seventy five thousand dollars, pretty good for one little county in Dixie but I wish they had put on the (5)five cents per pound and made the revenue one hundred and twenty five thousand dollars for this county, but I suppose you do not care anything about the taxes that have to be paid by the Johnies but it does us good here to see how they pull their pocket books around and how mad they look, but it is all no use it has to come. I received a letter from Sister Maggie to day it contains about the same that the one you received did. I do not think that her marrying improved her writing any, but perhaps it has improved her otherwise at least I hope so. She speaks of visiting Ohio in a year or two. I suppose she wants to wait until after she has been to Boston and back before she visits Ohio. I wish that you could have had some of their fruit to have canned. I think that perhaps I can go down there and get some from them but I do not think that I will. I will write this evening and to Maggie and Gramps. I will have an opportunity of sending it the overland route before the boat comes again. I think that my last letter I wrote you was a pretty ---- one for I had the chills some that same day that I wrote it and I was nervous and peevish. ----- could not give a man a civil answer ------ came to my office to see me, but did [not] care much for th[eir?] work[?] more than[?] ------------------------- that deserves a civil answer from --------------- I heard something the other night [that I never][?] heard before: that was a large pack of wolves howling and several panthers screaming. I am told that it is very common ---------- this time of year so you can judge about what kind of a country I am living in, why I would not go out a mile from this place after night for anything now, for I would be sure to be eat up with wolves or panthers, but the natives think nothing of it.
Give my kindest regards to all my friends and all my love for you and those darling little children and tell Arthur that papa is very sorry to hear that he told his mama a story and hopes that he will not do so any more.
Your true and affectionate Husband
J.W. Davidson
Helena Arkansas
February 24th 1867
My Dear Wife
Another Sabbath day has come and with it should have come a mail from the north bringing a good long letter from you but for some cause or other not known by us no boat has come and consequently no mail. This is not as pleasant a day as last Sabbath was and the consequence is that everyone does not feel as pleasant, yet I shall attempt to put in a good share of the day in my room writing to you, as that is the greatest pleasure I have away off in this healthenish country. Everyone is asking me what I get to write about I write to you so often. Well I hardly know myself, but I think if I was at home with you and the children I could find something to talk to you about every day even if it was a repetition of words as I suppose my letters are sometimes, but the situation is good, for my thoughts are with you and the children all the time. This last week has been a busy week with us in the office and I wrote you some hurried notes during the week on that account. My duty in the office here now is to examine all contracts read them over to the freedpersons signing them and to explain to them all the legal points so that they may sign them understandingly and not be cheated or defrauded by signing worthless contracts as a great many did last year and the consequence was they were cheated out of their years labor but this year we propose to prevent that by seeing all the hands and explaining to them as I stated. I read explained and approved during this last week one hundred and five contracts. So you can imagine how busy I was kept for some of these covered a full sheet of cap paper [foolscap] and very poorly written and then there would be twenty or thirty persons to sign it. I would have all those names to write and they would make their marks which I have to witness, all of which takes up time. In addition to this duty I have to make all settlements that have not been made for last years work, which is the worst part of the business, on account of the extreme ignorance of both the whites and blacks, for instance I had a case like this yesterday, a black man came in and complained that a planter out in the country who had his wife employed last year would not pay her. I sent for the planter to come in and bring his accounts against the woman in order that a settlement might be made, he came and I asked him to let me see his charges against the woman he said he had none on paper but had them all in his head. I asked him why he did not sett it down in black and white so that we might be able to read it to the parties and get their acknowledgement to the account, he said because he had no book larnin and did not see any use in keeping books for niggers for they could not tell anything about them. I told him that was just what the Bureau was for, to read and write for the negroes, well then says he I think they ought to get a Bureau for whites to[too] for there is not one half of them that knows anything about keeping books. I thought so to[too] and came very near telling him that congress was about passing a bill for that purpose, but to the settlement. I asked him how much he owed the woman, he said seventeen dollars. I asked the black man what he thought this man owed his wife he said one hundred and twenty dollars, quite a discrepency. The white man then began to give out his claims from his head. I took them down carefully added them together and then subtracted that from the amount he was to pay her for her years work and it left a balance due the woman of eighty seven dollars, but he could not see it and the darkie could not see it he stuck to $120 and the white man to $17 and I could not beat it into their heads any other way. They both acknowledged the accounts that were paid, but they differed in their addition over one hundred dollars, so much for Southern ignorance. I sent the case to a lawyer who tells me that he will make the planter pay the whole bill as accounts kept in the head is worth nothing in law. This is one case out of hundreds similar that come up in this country but generally we can settle them without sending them to a lawyer, for when they go to a lawyer it costs the freedman more than the difference between them and their employer so that any case settled before this is free of cost. I think I will make a good justice of the peace when I get through with the Bureau for it is nothing more or less than the duties of a justice of the peace. I was disturbed in my writing by several young men coming in with Mr Clark my room mate, but they are gone and I am alone again and resume my writing.
The military reconstruction bill that has just been passed in Congress is the topic of conversation here now and I have been listening to the discussion of its merits for the last two hours. And we northern men have come to the conclusion that it is a pretty good thing and hope that if the President does vetoe it, it will be passed over his head and put into force for we are satisfied from our own observation that nothing but military ------ --- will------ of------- country for union men cannot live here in peace unless under the protection of a military garrison. It makes the Rebs howl some and they ---- in hopes that if it is passed over the Presidents vetoe, the Supreme Court will pronounce it unconstitutional. Then they think they will be safe, but it will keep them in hot water until that is done if it is done at all. I am very much amused at one old Reb who comes into our office pretty often and discusses the affairs of the nation as friendly terms with Major Sweeney and since this bill has been talked of. He has not been here until yesterday evening he came in and ---- first thing he said was that is a rough [one?] they have given us to sort low now. Heretofore he and the Major had had considerable talk about the constitutional amendment and he was always opposed to it and said the legislature of this state did right to reject it, and the Major always told him that that was the easiest terms that would ever be offered them, but this old fellow could not see it, but he sees it now, and he came in yesterday and denied ever being opposed to the constitutional amendment and condemns the Legislature for not accepting it, and that he was afraid of something of this kind, and was perfectly thunderstruck to think that Congress would [place?] them under military su[bserviance?] again. We had to laugh right out [at?] the old fellows face just to see what a change had taken place [in?] his case within a few days, but I am told that the whole cry is why did the Legislature reject the constitutional amendment, but I hope that it is to[too] late and that Military Governors will be put over them and kept over them until they are thoroughly reconstructed which in my opinion will be several years. The l-----social gathering of Yankees here last evening and there is quite a number here and they all get together ---- more than I had any idea of, and seemed real good to get into a crowd where you could talk as you felt about matters and things generally without guarding every word you said if you and the children had been here I should have felt perfectly at home and would have enjoyed myself first rate, the male portion of us got into one room and the female portion in another, we discussed the present affairs of the country pretty thoroughly ----- suppose you will see by the tone of my letters I am getting to be quite a politician or at least take more interest in politics than I used to, the reason for it is that in living among Rebels for nearly one year and seeing and hearing their villianous schemes to destroy the government, it behooves the supporters of the government to hang together and work with all their might to undermine these schemes, and if it were possible exterminate the whole Rebel race. You will think perhaps that I use pretty strong language, but you people living up in Gods country know nothing about how union men have to live in this country and I say from the bottom of my heart, God forbid that any of my darling little family ever should. And I hope that before many more weeks I may be relieved from living in such a country among such a community as there is here now.
I will not tire you longer with this conversation but will write more when I hear from you again. I hope that ere this you have received the money sent from Little Rock and that you and the children have all the necessaries of life to make you comfortable, for that is all that I care to work for. Hoping to be with you soon I remain yours as ever
J.W. Davidson
