Obituary - Dr. E. Davies, DeSoto Parish, Louisiana
Submitted by: Greggory Ellis Davies 
Source: May 31, 1928 Mansfield Enterprise

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Dr. E. Davies Died Saturday

Was The Oldest Confederate Veteran In The Parish

Dr. E. Davies, of Mansfield, died at his home on Railroad Street last Saturday 
evening, and the interment was held at the Mansfield Cemetery at 3 p.m. Sunday.
The funeral services were held at the family residence, jointly by Rev. W. C. 
Childress of the Methodist Church and Rev. R. M. McGehee of the Presbyterian 
Church. After the services, the burial was under the auspices of the Mansfield 
Lodge, F. & A. M., and a large attendance followed the body to its last resting place.

Dr. Davies came to DeSoto Parish in 1899, and located at Mineral Springs, in the 
Seventh Ward, where he operated a sanitarium with success, but afterwards moved to 
Mansfield, where he was recognized as a good citizen and a useful man.

The deceased was in the 92nd year of his age, and was active in the practice of 
his profession until about a year ago, and since then he has been in failing health, 
and his death has been anticipated for several months.

Dr. Davies was the oldest Confederate veteran in DeSoto Parish, and his record as a 
soldier was a brilliant one, for when the Civil War broke out he volunteered as a 
private in the 2nd Battallion Kentucky Cavalry, and rode with Morgan, in his first 
raid through Indiana and Illinois. Young Davies was also with Gen. Morgan on his 
second raid, and he belonged to a squadron that escaped by hard fighting and hard 
riding, when General Morgan was captured while trying to force a crossing over the 
Ohio River. The capture and confinement of General Morgan and his confinement in the 
Ohio penitentiary, his wonderful escape, and subsequent thrilling career, were familiar 
subjects with Doctor Davies, and some of his experiences were thrilling indeed.  After 
the death of Gen. Morgan, Dr. Davies was under Gen. Forrest, wher he served faithfully 
and well, to the end of the conflict.

The decedent leaves a widow and 5 children: Mrs. J. B. Hamilton of Cedar Grove; and four 
sons, Lloyd of Beaumont, Texas; Lex, of El Dorado, Ark., Ernest, of Monroe, and E. E. of 
Omaha, Neb.

(The above is my great grandfather, born Edward Davie Garrison, probably in Tenn. During 
the so-called period of "Reconstruction" (family stories vary) he killed, or thought he 
had killed at least one man, maybe more, during a feud, and fled the Obion-Gibson County, 
Tn. area, and went first to Christian or Fulton Co., KY, where his wife Arabella Adrienne 
Cowsert was from, then to East Texas. He was a school teacher and eventually taught and 
served as principal at Ft. Jessup, Sabine Parish, LA., and at Winnfield and Gansville, 
both in Winn Parish, prior to becoming a medical doctor. He served as a physician in Bear 
Creek, Bienville Parish, La., before moving to DeSoto Parish.  While a fugitive from justice, 
he changed his name by dropping "Garrison" and added an "s" to his middle name of Davie, 
which was his mother's maiden name. After seven years and one day, when the statute of 
limitations expired, he sent to Tenn. for his family and they joined him.)