Davis, Jefferson C
soldier, was born March 2, 1828, in Clark county, Ind.
In 1848 he was made second lieutenant for gallant conduct at Buena Vista; and in 1852 became first lieutenant, and had charge of the garrison in Fort Sumter, S. C., and was there during the bombardment of 1861.
At the battle of Pea Ridge he commanded as brigadier-general of volunteers one of the four divisions of General Curtis' army. On Sept. 23, 1862, he chanced to meet in Louisville, Gen. William Nelson, from whom he claimed to have received treatment unduly harsh and severe. An altercation ensued, and in a moment of resentment he shot Nelson, instantly killing him. He was arrested, and held for a time, but no trial was ordered, and he was released and assigned to duty at Covington, Ky. He died Nov. 30, 1879, in Chicago, Ill.