Beauvoir
FREELY TRANSLATED “BEAUTIFUL VIEW”
JEFFERSON DAVIS SHRINE
BEAUVOIR HOUSE—LAST HOME OF JEFFERSON DAVIS
ON UNITED STATES HIGHWAY 90
MIDWAY BETWEEN BILOXI AND GULFPORT, MISSISSIPPI
Mr. and Mrs. Jefferson Davis
BEAUVOIR
Jefferson Davis Shrine
Beauvoir, freely translated “beautiful view,” is located on U. S. Highway 90 about halfway between Gulfport and Biloxi on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. It was originally part of a tract of land that James Brown, a prosperous planter of Madison County, Mississippi bought September 2, 1848, by Contract and Agreement from John Henderson of Pass Christian, with the right to build a family residence on it before the title was cleared. Acting upon this legal agreement, Brown paid Henderson $900.00 in cash toward the purchase price of $2,000.00, and gave him a note for the additional $1,100.00, which was to be paid on receipt of a deed proving his title to the land had been cleared.
Although the residence and outlying buildings were completed by 1852, James Brown did not obtain a deed to the property until July 16, 1855, when he bid it in for $3,000.00 at a Harrison County Court Auction. To this tract of land he had added, in the meantime, a small piece bought from the Tegardens for $250.00.
James Brown was said to have been his own architect and building superintendent for both the Mansion and the cottages he built on his new home site. He brought slaves from his plantation in Madison County to do much of the building; but, for the higher grade of work needed, he employed carpenters and decorators from New Orleans. The cypress used was from the Back Bay swamp section, with most of the timber cut at Handsboro and on the place. The slate for the roof was imported from England. The buildings thus planned and constructed were the Mansion, a Louisiana plantation type house known as Beauvoir House since the time of its occupancy by the Davis family, one cottage to the east of this main building and one to the west. A four room cottage in the rear, which was on the property when purchased, was used by the owner and his family while the other buildings were being constructed, and later became the kitchen and servants’ quarters for the families of both James Brown and Jefferson Davis.
Information from Mrs. Hobart D. (Olive Brown) Shaw of Gulfport, Mississippi, granddaughter of James Brown and the daughter of Joseph W. Brown who was born in this, the family home on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, explains the practical use her grandfather made of the two cottages on the grounds, formerly identical in structure—the one on the east, the plantation office, used also as a school room for the younger children who were taught by a governess; the one on the west, the Guest Cottage, often called the Circuit Rider’s House from the frequent use made of it by the traveling Methodist minister in that section.
From September 2, 1848 until May 1873, James Brown was the owner of the Mansion and its surrounding eighty-eight acres more or less, either by Contract and Agreement or by a deed. In May of 1873, after the death of James Brown, it was sold under a decree of the United States Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, and was conveyed by deed of special commissioners to Frank Johnston of Jackson, Mississippi. Through a special warranty deed given by Frank Johnston July 7, 1873, Beauvoir became the property of Mrs. Sarah A. Dorsey, wife of Samuel W. Dorsey.
When Mrs. Sarah A. Dorsey (Sarah Ellis Dorsey) of Tensas Parish, Louisiana bought the Brown property, she gave it its picturesque name, “Beauvoir”. Her ownership of this beautiful coast property was brief, ending Feb. 19, 1879; but her use of it, for the most part, during the years she did own it and her final disposition of it by both will and deed caused Beauvoir to become historic Beauvoir, and made her worthy of outstanding recognition for the splendid contribution she thus made to the welfare of Jefferson Davis.
It was the spring of 1877 that Jefferson Davis, then 69 years old, came back to his beloved Mississippi, seeking rest and a place to write an authentic account of the Confederate government that he had administered for four years as the President of the Confederate States of America. It was fortunate for him that just at that time Mrs. Dorsey, an old schoolmate of Mrs. Davis and one deeply appreciative of his great service to the South, invited him for a visit to Beauvoir; for there he found the place and the congenial atmosphere ideal for the rest he so badly needed and for the work he had in mind. He rented the east cottage, now called the Library Cottage, and fitted the front room with book shelves and furniture at his own expense. He used the second room for his bedroom and prepared the third for his son, Jefferson Davis, Jr. His son made little use of this room, however, occupying it only a few months in 1877, since he died of yellow fever soon afterwards in Memphis. It was later used as a study by Varina Anne (Winnie), youngest child of Mr. and Mrs. Davis.
Memorial Arch—Entrance to Beauvoir
After arrangements were made for board for himself and family, when they could be with him, Davis began work on the history of the Confederate government, which he felt impelled to write. Mrs. Dorsey’s recognition of the value of such a book to the South caused her to donate her services for the clerical help Davis had in writing a part of the first volume of this great two volume history. By this time (April 1878) Mrs. Davis had returned from abroad, leaving Winnie to continue her studies in Carlsruhe, Germany. From the time of her arrival at Beauvoir, Mrs. Davis gave her services lovingly and untiringly as her husband’s secretary, until he finally completed the two volumes, composing “The Rise and Fall of the Confederate Government”, and wrote also a “Short History of the Confederate States”.
When Jefferson Davis came to Beauvoir he was, as has been said, “A citizen of no land under the sun, proscribed, misrepresented, and derided”; yet he kept his heart free from bitterness and used the higher mental powers that were still his in his old age, in writing his invaluable elucidation of the government of the Confederate States of America from 1861 to 1865.
Twelve years Jefferson Davis lived at Beauvoir. It was in his second year of residence there, Feb. 19, 1879, that he contracted with Mrs. Dorsey, widow of Samuel Dorsey, to buy for $5,500.00 the Beauvoir property, that she had owned for approximately six years. This deed of sale is found in Book 16, Harrison County, Mississippi Record of Deeds, pages 328-329. But, less than six months after the first payment was made for the purchase of this property, Mrs. Dorsey died leaving a will dated the previous year, January 4, 1878, which made Jefferson Davis heir to all she died possessed of—Beauvoir and five plantations. But regardless of his inheritance of Beauvoir through the terms of Mrs. Dorsey’s will, Davis based his claim to Beauvoir on the deed, recording his purchase of it February 19, 1879. One explanation found for this claim is that the notes still due on the purchase price of Beauvoir were paid in liquidating the debts against Mrs. Dorsey’s estate.
Among the Harrison County court records is a Contract and Agreement entered into by the two parties, Mrs. Sarah A. Dorsey and Jefferson Davis, signed March 20, 1879, which provided for their joint interest in the Beauvoir vineyard and orange grove during their natural lives—same to be cultivated and gathered on joint account.
The following clause of Mrs. Dorsey’s will expresses her great admiration and reverence for the ex-President of the Confederate States of America: “If Davis should not survive me, I give all that I have bequeathed to him to his youngest daughter Varina. I do not intend to share in the ingratitude of my country toward the man who is in my eyes the highest and noblest in existence”.
This last will and testament of Mrs. Sarah Anne Dorsey was probated July 15, 1879 in the office of the Second District Court for the Parish of Orleans, the home State of the testatrix. It is interesting to note that there was no record made of this will in the office of the Chancery Clerk of Harrison County, Mississippi, until Judge A. McC. Kimbrough, acting for Mrs. Davis in the sale of Beauvoir in 1902, had the Louisiana records of the probation of the Dorsey will made a part of Harrison County records of wills.
Due, no doubt, to the provision in Mrs. Dorsey’s will for his youngest daughter’s inheritance of Beauvoir if he (Davis) did not survive her, Jefferson Davis willed this particular piece of property to his daughter Varina Anne (Winnie). However, there is no question as to its being in accord with his own heart’s desire to have Beauvoir pass to Winnie who as a child had been, as he said, “His only gleam of light in that long night” while imprisoned at Fortress Monroe; and who as a young lady had been, as Mrs. Davis said, “The harp of their lonely hearts”.
Winnie’s ownership of Beauvoir was from her father’s death, Dec. 6, 1889 until her death, Sept. 18, 1898, when it then through her will became the property of her mother. During the years that Winnie owned Beauvoir, both she and her mother spent much of their time in New York, where she used her talent as an artist and writer, and her mother, hers as a writer, as an added source of income. The years they spent in the North were made more interesting and enjoyable through their acquaintance and, in some cases, friendships with certain men and women of like culture and talents from that section.
When about to leave on a trip to Egypt, Feb. 11, 1898, Winnie wrote her will naming her mother as heir to Beauvoir. This will was recorded in Louisiana, Oct. 27, 1898, but was not put on record in Mississippi until April 20, 1902.
When Mrs. Davis became the owner of Beauvoir, her failing health and her lack of sufficient income for the upkeep of the property, and her own needs as well, made it necessary that she sell this property, which she and Winnie had always valued more for their treasured memories associated with it than for its material worth. Proof of the depth of feeling Mrs. Davis had for Beauvoir as the last and greatly loved home of her beloved husband, the only President of the Confederate States of America, is found in her refusal of the offer of $90,000.00 from those planning to purchase it for hotel purposes, and her acceptance of $10,000.00 from the Mississippi Division Sons of Confederate Veterans, whose plans for its use were in accord with the provisions upon which she conditioned the sale.
Regardless of how the plan originated for the conversion of Beauvoir into a home for Confederate veterans, and their wives and widows, great credit is due Mrs. A. McC. Kimbrough for leaving no stone unturned in her efforts to induce the Mississippi Division Sons of Confederate Veterans to make the offer that Mrs. Davis so readily accepted. However, other UDC members throughout the state had a part also in influencing the purchase of Beauvoir for a Confederate Soldiers home and in helping raise the money for the purchase.
Reception Hall—Extends the Length of the House
The Mississippi Division Sons of Confederate Veterans took title to Beauvoir on October 10, 1902, and in so doing accepted the obligation to carry out the conditions imposed by Mrs. Davis, the most important of which were the requirements that Beauvoir be used as a Jefferson Davis Soldiers’ Home for ex-Confederate soldiers and sailors, their wives and widows, orphans and slaves, as long as there was need for such a home; and that Beauvoir House be set apart as a memorial solely to Jefferson Davis and his family and be maintained as it was during its occupancy by them.
As soon as the Mississippi Division Sons of Confederate Veterans purchased Beauvoir, their organization together with the Daughters of the Confederacy influenced the passage by the Mississippi Legislature of Bill 179—Chapter 25 of the Laws of Mississippi of 1904, which accepted for the State temporary control of the entire Beauvoir property, and obligated the support and maintenance of it as a Jefferson Davis Soldiers’ Home for Confederate veterans, their wives and widows, without accepting Mrs. Davis’ provision for the care also of orphans and slaves.
From 1904 to July 1940 the State continued its control of Beauvoir in accordance with the provisions set forth in the Legislative Act passed. But during the months that intervened between the purchase of Beauvoir by the Mississippi Division Sons of Confederate Veterans and the State’s acceptance of control of it as a Jefferson Davis Soldiers’ Home, the Mississippi Division United Daughters of the Confederacy was granted permission to take over the property, furnish and manage it as a Jefferson Davis Soldiers’ Home for those ex-Confederate soldiers, sailors, and their wives and widows in need of immediate care. Mississippi Division records show that $3,000.00 was expended by the organization for this purpose, in addition to the necessary furniture and linens donated for the most part by the Daughters on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
In 1903 there was a great need for the Jefferson Davis Soldiers’ Home for Confederate veterans, their wives and widows. In 1940 that need had so lessened that the Mississippi Division Sons of Confederate Veterans had a bill passed by the Legislature, authorizing the conversion of Beauvoir into a Jefferson Davis Shrine, but setting aside the southeast grounds of the property for use by the State in its continuation of the maintenance of the Jefferson Davis Soldiers’ Home, as long as there was need for such an institution.
According to the decision of the State of Mississippi, the need for this Confederate Soldiers’ Home ended June 30, 1956; so the State returned these southeast grounds to the Mississippi Division Sons of Confederate Veterans, and it became thereafter a part of the Jefferson Davis Shrine.
The act of the Mississippi Legislature authorizing the conversion of Beauvoir into a Jefferson Davis Shrine, provided for the management of the Shrine by a Board of Trustees composed of six members—two from the Mississippi Division Sons of Confederate Veterans, two from the Mississippi Division United Daughters of the Confederacy, and two appointed by the Governor of the State.
In July 1940 the first Board of Trustees of the Jefferson Davis Shrine began the work of converting Beauvoir into a shrine. In six months time, February 8, 1941, the restoration program had progressed so rapidly the doors were open to visitors. Five months later, June 3, 1941, the restoration plans were completed; and Beauvoir was formally dedicated as the Jefferson Davis Shrine.
To accomplish so much so soon and so successfully took the whole hearted backing of the members of this first Board of Trustees and the splendid cooperation given by others from whom information and assistance were sought. But it must never be forgotten that the real credit for planning and carrying to completion the program for the restoration of Beauvoir is due the late Dr. W. A. Evans of Aberdeen, Mississippi, who was the first Chairman of the Board of Trustees and Resident Director of the actual work done.
A leading part in both the initial and the follow-up work necessary to bring about this conversion of Beauvoir into a Jefferson Davis Shrine was taken by Mr. W. K. Herrin, at that time Commander of the Mississippi Division Sons of Confederate Veterans and Mrs. J. P. Pentecost, at the same time President of Mississippi Division United Daughters of the Confederacy. Honorable Maxwell Bramlett, State Senator from Wilkinson County, was in charge of the bill which authorized the establishment of the Shrine. He also worked untiringly with the other Sons for the passage of the Bill, appropriating $20,000.00 for the restoration of Beauvoir as a Jefferson Davis Shrine.
Through a per capita assessment, the general organization of the United Daughters of the Confederacy contributed $5,482.66 toward the restoration. However, the Mississippi Division accepted a much larger per capita assessment, and by raising the $55,000.00 thus obligated, paid heartfelt tribute to Mississippi’s greatest citizen, the embodiment of Confederate ideals—the first and only President of the Confederate States of America.
Around 1954 the Mississippi Division Sons of Confederate Veterans changed the management of Beauvoir by placing Beauvoir property under the over-all control of their Board of Directors, and the Shrine proper under a Board of Trustees, appointed by and from their organization except one member chosen by them from the Mississippi Division United Daughters of the Confederacy.
BEAUVOIR MARKERS
The granite boulder on the Jefferson Davis Highway, marking the last home of Jefferson Davis, was erected in June 1929. It was obtained through the efforts of Mrs. A. McC. Kimbrough and the generosity of T. A. McGahey of the Columbus Marble Works.
The marble Jefferson Davis Memorial Highway marker on Highway 90 was erected in 1944 by the Mississippi Highway Department. It was dedicated June 3, 1945.
The marker in front of Beauvoir House on Highway 90 was dedicated by the Mississippi Historical Marker Commission on November 7, 1953.
MEMORIAL ARCH
The imposing marble Memorial Arch, serving as a gateway for the main entrance to Beauvoir, was erected in 1917 by the Mississippi Division United Daughters of the Confederacy.
THE APPROACH TO BEAUVOIR HOUSE
Some of the attractive features of the approach to Beauvoir House are the huge live oak trees, festooned with gray moss; the few remaining ancient cedars, marking the dim outline of the once circular driveway; the flowers and shrubs, planted to simulate the use made of them in the old days; the broad brick walk, replacing the old shell walk, leading direct to the fan shaped steps of hand dressed cypress with hand turned spindle bannisters; the inviting broad galleries, extending far around on either side of the house; and the large double doors, with the upper portion small panes of choice etched glass, serving as an artistic entrance doorway.
Front Parlor
Winnie Davis’ Rosewood Knabe Piano in Front Parlor