Jefferson Davis, Fort Davis, Jeff Davis County... A Common Thread

Melissa Dowdy asks:

I found the link to your blog on Julia's page.  I have what I think is an interesting question and hope it is within the scope of the questions you answer on your blog. 

Yesterday I was driving in Kentucky and saw the Jefferson Davis Monument.  I have seen it many times but it never fails to amaze me that in the middle of the tobacco, corn and soybean fields that this giant monument to the president of the CSA just pops up.  It is in the middle of extremely rural western Kentucky (lots of Amish people still travel by horse and buggy in the area).

So... can you tell me how it compares in size to the Washington Monument?  Any random bits of trivia (about JD, his monument or the Washington Monument) would also be appreciated.

When I read your question, I initially wondered if Melissa knew something about my hometown, Fort Davis, Tx., because there are some interesting coincidences here.  The Jefferson Davis Monument is located in southern Kentucky near the town of Fairview and near the birthplace of Jefferson Davis.  Construction on this impressive obelisk was begun in 1917.  Work was halted in 1917 because of a shortage of construction materials during World War I.  Work resumed in 1922 and the monument was completed in 1924.  

Who was Jefferson Davis, and why would someone build a monument to honor him?  Good question, Steve.  Jefferson Davis was born in what is now Todd County, Kentucky in 1808.  He graduated from West Point, served valiantly under Zachery Taylor in the Mexican-American War, married Taylor's daughter, Sally Knox Taylor (who died of malaria three month's after their marriage), and was appointed Secretary of War by President Franklin Pierce.  And I'm just getting started here.  This guy's biography reads like a Tom Clancy novel.  Davis served in the United States Congress both as a representative and a senator.  In 1861, he resigned his seat as senator and was named President of the Confederate States of America.  It is this post for which he is most well known.  And it is probably also the post which he least desired.  I believe he was very conflicted about his role in the Civil War.

Nevertheless, regarding the monument's dimensions:

1)  The monument is the tallest un-reinforced concrete structure in the world. No steel was used to reinforce the concrete. As one pour was completed, large chunks of limestone were left projecting up to connect it to the next pour above.

2)  The monument is the tallest concrete obelisk in the world. (All of the taller obelisks are constructed with blocks of stone.)

3)  It is the third tallest obelisk in the world (behind the San Jacinto Monument and the Washington Monument). (Because its cross section is octagonal and doesn't have a pyramidal top, the San Jacinto Monument could be considered a column instead of an obelisk.)

4)  It is the fifth tallest monument in the United States (behind the Gateway Arch, San Jacinto Monument, Washington Monument, and Perry's Victory and International Peace Memorial). (The Crazy Horse Memoriall, with a planned height of 563 feet (172 m), will become the second tallest monument upon completion.)

The information above comes from Wikipedia.com.

And to top it all off, I live in Jeff Davis County Texas, in a small town called Fort Davis.  The town of Fort Davis is named after the pre Civil War era cavalry fort of the same name (founded in 1854) located about 400 yards from my home.  The fort and county were named after, guess who, the then Secretary of War, Jefferson Davis.  Like I said, interesting coincidences.

 

Comments

[Melissa in TN]

Thanks for answering my question. I had no idea of all your Jeff Davis connections when I asked it. He is an interesting fellow. I need to read up about him when I have a chance.

Another interesting coincidence--Abe Lincoln, President of the USA and Jeff Davis, President of the CSA were both born in Kentucky.

Thanks again. You have a very sweet family. I've been reading Julia's blog since before Hannah was born.

[reparo de para-brisas]

I must admit, you really blown me away on how you construct this kind of information.