Statewide County MsArchives News.....HISTORIC ROMANCE OF OLD BEAUVOIR IS NARRATED BY RAYMOND U.D.C. MEMBER Unknown ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/ms/msfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Pattie Snowball http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00017.html#0004072 October 14, 2007, 4:17 pm Jackosn Paper Unknown HISTORIC ROMANCE OF OLD BEAUVOIR IS NARRATED BY RAYMOND U.D.C. MEMBER ______________________________________________________ By Mrs. Hugh B. Gillespie So much has been written about Beauvoir, the last home of Jefferson Davis, that it is likely that an article on the subject might not prove interesting. Yet it is surprising how few know the real story of Beauvoir either as the home of the only president of the Southern Confederacy or as it is today, the Home for Confederate Veterans, their wives and widows. President Davis’ first connection with Beauvoir was in the fall of 1877. He had been visiting in Europe accompanied by wife and daughter, Winnie; but he was an old man now and the call of his beloved South grew stronger, so he decided to leave England and sail for home. Many southern friends had offered their homes to him but he had always been averse to accepting gifts from his friends. However, he did accept an invitation from Mrs. Dorsey, an old schoolmate of Mrs. Davis, to visit in her home. Here he found an ideal place to rest and collect the material for the history he was about to write. Later he decided to buy the place. He paid $5,600 for it. But before the estate had been fully paid for, Mrs. Dorsey died leaving the property to Mr. Davis, whom she refers to in her will as the man “who in my eyes, is one of the highest and noblest in existence”. Mr. Davis’ title to the Beauvoir property, however, is based on the deed and not on the will. The buildings consisted of the mansion now known as Beauvoir, two cottages, on either side of the main house, and a brick kitchen in the rear. The large house with its wide veranda facing the sea, its spacious hall, and high- ceilinged rooms offered a delightful retreat for one worn out from life’s conflicts and disappointments. In fact, any one loving a typical southern home might succumb to the charm of Beauvoir. As Mrs. Dunbar Rowland says: “The place had many attractions with its broad expanse of gulf waters and old historic setting” After the death of Mr. Davis and later that of Winnie Davis, Mrs. Davis became the owner of the estate. But her health was failing and her income was insufficient to keep up the property, so she decided to sell it. She refused as high as $90,000 at one time, which was said to have been offered by a northern hotel syndicate. She later sold it to the united Sons of Confederate Veterans for $10,000, with the understanding that the home should be kept as a memorial to her beloved husband. Thus Beauvoir became the property of that patriotic organization. Most of us are familiar with the history thus far related about this noted home, but we are sadly ignorant of many thing concerning it from the time it passed into the hands of the Sons and became known as the Jefferson Davis Beauvoir Soldiers Home. After the United Sons of Confederate Veterans bought Beauvoir and before the state assumed any responsibility for its maintenance and upkeep, Mississippi Division of the United Daughters of the Confederacy, through an advisory board of lady managers, with Mrs. Lizzie George Henderson of Greenwood as chairman of the home committee, maintained it as a home for all veterans who then applied for entrance. In May, 1904, Mrs. Helen D. Bell, president of the division, reported that the Mississippi division had expended $3,500 in the management of Beauvoir as a Confederate home. She stated also that during the time the Daughters had charge they had contributed every cent used for the conduct of the home. The first matron was Mrs. Mary Wallace. It is interesting to relate just here that Mississippi was the first state to make provision in the Soldiers’ Home for the wives of the veterans. The way this came about was the result of Mrs. Henderson’s effort to have a Confederate soldier transferred from the county poor house to Beauvoir. The old soldier refused to be transferred, since he would be forced to be separated from his wife. It is needless to add that provision was then made to care for both veterans and their wives. When the Sons of Veterans transferred to the state of Mississippi temporary control of Beauvoir, they retained ownership of it. The condition of temporary control was that Beauvoir be maintained by the state as a home for Confederate soldiers and their wives and widows as long as there was one living; and that, after their passing, it should be returned to the united Sons of Confederate Veterans, who would then decide what use should be made of it. However, the deed specifically states that it shall be used for a state military school or for such other charitable or educational purposes as the owners may establish or maintain. At present, under the control of the state, the law states that, “The home known as Beauvoir, its preservation, management and control and care of its inmates shall be vested in a board of six directors, two of whom shall be Daughters of the Confederacy, appointed by the governor, with the advice and consent of the senate and for a term of four years, and until successors are appointed; that the governor shall be ex-officio president of the board but the board may select a temporary president in his absence. The law further provides that no person other than members of the Mississippi Division of the United Confederate Veterans and Sons of Confederate Veterans and members of the United Daughters of the Confederacy shall be eligible for directors, and that directors may be removed by the governor for neglect of duty or other proper cause. The laws governing the institution were enacted by the state legislature. Under the legislative act, any Confederate veteran, soldier or sailor, his wife or widow, who is entitled to a state pension, is eligible to enter the Beauvoir Soldiers’ Home. The present members of the board, appointed by Governor Colner are Hon. Edgar Wilson of Jackson, president; Hon. W.C. McGehee, of Bude; Hon. T.H. Naylor, of Lauderdale; Hon. Allen Bridgeforth, of Yazoo City; Miss Annie Carter, of Hattiesburg, secretary; Mrs. H.B. Gillespie, of Raymond. The superintendent of the home is Mr. Joseph W. Havens and the assistant is Mrs. Jos. W. Havens. Dr. C.A. Walker is the physician in charge. The number of inmates on Oct.1st, 1933 was 143. Of these 34 were veterans and 109 were wives or widows of veterans. The average age is about 87 years. There is one veteran there, who celebrated his 102nd birthday on the 8th of October, 1933. These old folks live in perfect comfort amidst homelike surroundings. They are left to wander around the grounds as they wish, seeking the companionship of others and visiting now and then in the nearby towns. Heretofore they had been allowed a little spending money; but, as the last legislature neglected to appropriate the necessary fund for this they have been denied this pleasure. The new legislature, we feel sure, will see to it that this small appropriation is not overlooked. The appropriation was cut in 1932 from $183,500 to $89,100 bi-annum; neither was there any repair fund allowed, so it is almost impossible to make even the very necessary repair. The main house, which was built in 1857, is in rather deplorable condition due to falling plastering, deterioration of pain and woodwork. Very little had been done in the way of repairs since Beauvoir became a soldiers’ home. This does not mean that no improvements have been neglected but that while the essential improvements were made it wasn’t possible to make this a show place like The Heritage or Mt. Vernon. There is a hospital at Beauvoir under the supervision of a doctor and several nurses. While this hospital may not be kept as orderly as a city sanatorium, it is as clean and comfortable as a place of this sort could be. Since those in the Home have old age as their chief ailment they have to be treated very much like children, and the loving care given them by Mr. and Mrs. Haven, the superintendent and his assistant, satisfies both the soldiers and their wives as well as the trustees in charge. A spirit of peace and good will seems to pervade the home. Only an occasional note of dissent arises and this is to be expected in a place where there are so many aged and afflicted people of different temperaments. At a little chapel on the grounds services are held by ministers of different denominations from nearby towns. Those who die here are either sent to their people, if so requested, or buried in the beautiful little cemetery immediately behind the home. Small white markers are placed to show the final resting place of those noble sons and daughters of the Old South. Fifteen hundred of these markers were placed by the daughters of Beauvoir chapter, Biloxi, U.D.C., but are now furnished by the U.S. government. Occasional historical meetings are held by the coast chapters of the U.D.C. on the grounds of the home. This gives the old folks a great deal of pleasure and at the same time furnishes inspiration to the Daughters for their splendid work. Another pleasant and profitable occasion should be the convention of the Children on the Confederacy which is to be held at Beauvoir in the summer of 1934. What is to become of the home after it is returned by the state to the Sons of the Confederacy is still conjectural, but many hope that it will be preserved as a confederate museum. Naturally those who know little, or nothing, about the upkeep of Beauvoir are greatly disappointed at what the find there. Many visitors, both from the north and south, have been heard to make such remarks, as: The house needs repairs dreadfully; What awful curtains; Where is the Davis furniture; and other such remarks have been addressed to those in attendance, or casually to other visitors as they pass through on a tour of inspection. At present the mansion, or Beauvoir house, is being used by the superintendent of the home and his family. The superintendent and his wife are in no way responsible for the way the home is furnished, or how many or how few of the Davis relics are there. Of course they watch over these to see that no are removed or damaged. Their first duty is to look after the home and inmates and see that they have all the care and comforts the state appropriation affords. It is the plan of the present management to allow the superintendent and his family to move into the cottage to the left of the mansion, as the deed specifies that Beauvoir House be unoccupied. The superintendent’s wife, who is his assistant, is always agreeable and glad to greet visitors and show them over the home. Besides the rooms occupied by the superintendent and his family are several which have been furnished by loyal friends of Jefferson Davis and the South. One room, known as the “Winnie Davis Room, contains a replica of a suite of furniture used by her. A few of the pieces are original. A beautiful oil painting of Winnie Davis, the “Daughter of the Confederacy” which hangs on the wall of this room, was loaned the home by Mrs. A. Mc Kimbrough. Later this is to be presented to the Beauvoir museum. Another room contains an entire suite of furniture used by the Davis family during their residence at Beauvoir. This was presented by Gulfport chapter of the U.D.C. in 1907. In the parlor, to the left on entering the hall, will be found the visitors’ register. The piano, in this room, belonged to Winnie Davis. A painting of Jefferson Davis, which was presented by Mrs. Darling, of New York is on the wall of this room. All other articles in the room were given by the Jefferson Davis chapter U.D.C. of San Francisco. This room comes in for much criticism by the public, as the walls are in dreadful condition and the shades and rugs are badly worn. The hall is almost bare except for the circular lounges, said to have been designed by Mrs. Davis, and a case where a few books and souvenirs are kept. The only historic piece is the leather trunk of Mr. Davis used by him in the Mexican war. An old phaeton used by Mrs. Davis and an old row boat are two other relics which have been loaned to Beauvoir. The little cottage to the right of the main house which has for years been used as a nurses home, is now empty but for a few pieces of old furniture, books and ornaments once used by the Davis family. These have been in possession of Mrs. Kimbrough, a loyal and devoted friend of the family, and have been loaned to the Beauvoir museum as this small cottage is now being called, unofficially. There are certain other features of interest, beside the original house and cottages, already mentioned. A memorial Arch was erected by the Mississippi Division of the United Daughters of the Confederacy, in 1917. A gigantic boulder, on the Jefferson Davis Highway, which passes the home, marks the last place of residence of President Davis. It was erected in 1929. The flag pole was erected during the General Convention of the U.D.C. in 1929. The money for this was obtained from the sale of the song ”Dixie” which was given to the Mississippi division by the author, Hon. Ben Humphries. Jefferson Davis Beauvoir Soldiers’ Home is yours and mine—visit our loved heroes and their wives there. It is to be hoped that some day this place will be known as “Jefferson Davis Museum,” or “Beauvoir Confederate Museum,”. What spot on earth would be more appropriate for such a memorial to the only president of the Confederacy? There is no more beautiful setting on the face of the earth, with the wide expanse of sea and beach in front, and in the background the luxuriant beauty of southern woodland. Let us all work to the end that when this property is again in the hands of the United Sons of Veterans, if it is their desire, they, with the help of the General Division of the united Daughters of the Confederacy and the state of Mississippi, make out of Beauvoir a veritable memorial to that great and honorable man. Jefferson Davis. 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