"...Major William J. DAVIS received an excellent mental training, first in the private school and then in the High School of Charleston, South Carolina, afterwards attending the 'Citadel' Military Academy and College of South Carolina, from which he was graduated in the class of 1857 with the highest distinction, ranking first in every branch of study save one. He was captain of the corps of cadets and was appointed assistant professor in his senior year and accorded extraordinary privileges. At the age of nineteen years he was appointed principal of the Murfreesboro Military Academy; commissioned first lieutenant of South Carolina infantry January 19, 1861, and promoted captain in June, 1861. Being transferred to the Western army, he joined General John H. Morgan's cavalry January 19, 1863, as volunteer aide-de-camp, first brigade. He was then made commander of scouts and afterward, on April 12, 1861, captain and adjutant-general of Duke's brigade, Morgan's Calvary, serving as such during the celebrated Ohio raid and being captured in July, 1863. For fifteen months he was held as a prisoner of war, until specially exchanged in the latter part of 1864, when he rejoined the command in southwest Virginia. After the capture of Richmond he served for a time as major and assistant adjutant-general to General John C. Breckenridge, and disbanded with the command at Woodstock, Georgia. During the war he was wounded five times, but no disability has resulted there from."
"In May, 1866, Major DAVIS removed to Louisville, and became a teacher in the public schools......On December 6, 1866, Major Davis married Frances, the daughter of Cleland Cunningham of Springfield, KY, and his wife, Rebecca Offutt of Woodford Co., KY. "
His bio indicates he was born 23 Mar 1839 near Monticello, Fairfield Co., SC to William Kincaid Davis and Sarah Zimmerman. I haven't found them on the 1850 census.
As a Womack researcher, my interest is in Maj. Joel Mayo Womack. His parents' names are on his death certificate, but we don't know Joel's paternal or maternal grandparents.
Beth