Nathaniel Hart Davis Museum & Law Office-
#10
The museum is the clue you gave us
The man who lived there was named Davis
He rendered service and logs he was paid
From, that payment this house was made
Two babies are buried near this homestead
Search for the resting places of these young
dead.
Answer: Nathaniel
Hart Davis Museum & Law Office
Beside Memory Park, Peter and
Matthew stare at the pond with thoughtfulness and confusion. “Where do we go
next?” Peter questioned, “We need to know about Kirk & Marcus Sebastian. I
think that if we go to the Nathaniel Hart Davis Museum, we can find the information
we need.”
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Matthew agreed immediately and they
hopped on the car, rode off, and began the journey to the museum and the law
office. As the automobile turned passed
the intersection and neared the museum, Peter made a quick comment. “What does
Nathaniel H. Davis even do? What made him such a significant figure to have a
museum?” Peter questioned, “On the other hand, what was the law office for?”
While the car took a tight squeeze
beside the museum in a minuscule parking space, Matthew began to answer Peter’s
earlier questions. “By what Kirk wrote, my previous knowledge, and the plaque
on the building, I believe that Mr. Davis was once a county attorney, chief
justice of Montgomery County, commissioner, and served as judge in the
Thirteenth Judicial District ranging from 1867 to 1870,” Matthew stepped out of
the car while Peter followed clumsily afterwards.
“Okay, so he was a judge; I am going
to assume that that is why he became notable. Parallel, that is why he has a
law office,” Peter reflected, “Hmm, but do you know anything about his
childhood?” Matthew crosses his arms and takes a moment to refresh his memory.
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“Yes, I remember now!” Matthew’s
eyes glistened, “Nathaniel H. Davis was born in Fayette County, Kentucky, on
November 6, 1815 to Nathaniel Bowe Davis and Martha D. Davis. Only two years
after his birth, the family moved to Alabama; there, Nathaniel H. Davis
received his early education followed by his attendance of Transylvania
University, also attended by Stephen F. Austin, credited as the ‘Father of
Texas’ by Sam Houston for his absolute dedication to Texas.”
“Interesting,” Peter remarked with a
slight, however friendly grin, “You forgot to mention that he taught at Marion
Military Academy while retaining a license to practice law in 1837 in Alabama.”
“Oh, I did forget!” Matthew
apologized with a smile, “However, I believe you also forgot something! Davis moved again from Alabama to
Montgomery in 1840 which became his final residence.”
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Peter looked back towards the car
and whispered to Matthew, “Do you remember, in Texas History last year, Mr.
Anderson taught us about the Somervell expedition.”
“I do recall that, however vague,”
Matthew summoned up inside his mind, “What about it?”
Peter eagerly continued, “Nathaniel
Hart Davis was part of the expedition!”
Matthew, impressed, raises his
eyebrows and responds, “Wow, I never knew that! How did you learn about…” His
reply was interrupted by a mysterious rustle in the nearby bush that ended just
as fast as it started. “What is that?” Matthew shrieked, panic flashing through
his veins, and his face turning gray.
“We should investigate,” Peter
suggested, “Maybe we can even bust a criminal!” Matthew reluctantly agrees and
the pair of friends presses towards the bush.
Prying open the shrub, Peter prepares to gasp.
“Nothing.”
“Just nothing,” Peter sighed,
letting his guard down. “Wait a second, check this out, Matthew!”
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“I think so,” Peter glanced at
Matthew, “I think these are the graves of two children.”
“Ok then, that doesn’t help us in
our cause,” Matthew concluded. “Also, I need to add, this house was built in
1851 by Nathaniel Hart Davis with his spouse, Sarah E. White. The materials
were from logs from legal payment. Later, the kitchen was added in 1880; just
before a school was founded here by Texanna Snow that lasted ten years from
1881 to 1891. Following that, J. F. Davis attached a south wing in 1895 while
the house was made a Texas Historical Landmark in 1966.”
