Fayette County PA Archives Biographies.....Davidson, Hon William February 14, 1783 - March 2, 1867
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Marta Burns marta43@juno.com September 20, 2024, 3:33 pm

Source: Gresham and Wiley, 1889: Biographical & Portrait Cyclopedia, Fayette Co, PA, page 485
Author: John H. Gresham & Samuel T. Wiley

    Hon WILLIAM DAVIDSON, deceased.  The late Hon William Davidson was a
distinguished citizen of Fayette county.  A man of fine intellect, he was
born in Carlisle, Cumberland county, Penna, February 14, 1783, and died
at Connellsville, March 2, 1867, aged eighty four years.  He was descended
from a Davidson who was a native of the north of Ireland and was a
resident of Londonderry during its celebrated siege.
    William Davidson was a surveyor in Cumberland county, came to
Connellsville in 1808 where he remained during his long and useful life;
was engaged in farming, merchandising and the iron business.  Mr Davidson
was manager of Laurel Iron Works and afterwards proprietor of Breakneck
Furnace.  In the War of 1812 he was taken prisoner at the disgraced
surrender of Detroit.   He served several years in the legislature of
Pennsylvania, was speaker of the house in 1818, and afterwards served
acceptably in the State senate.
    On December 19, 1813, he was married to Mrs Sarah Rogers Blackstone, a
woman of great talent and wonderful energy.  They had five children:
Thomas R Davidson, a prominent lawyer of Western Pennsylvania, married
Isabella Austin, and died November 3, 1875; William H Davidson; John R
Davidson, dead; Colonel Daniel R Davidson, dead; and Sarah Davidson, wife
of Baldwin Norton of Ohio, and dead.  Mrs Sarah Davidson died November 21,
1856, aged seventy two years.
    William Davidson read the Bible through twice before he was nine years
of age, and master the Latin, Greek and Hebrew languages without a
teacher.  He was over six feet in height and of the fine personal address.
He was an "Old Line Whig" and a member of the Disciple church, a fluent
talker and a perfect gentleman.  
    The late Col Daniel Rogers Davidson, fourth son of Hon William Davidson,
was born at Connellsville, January 12, 1820.  He attended school, gave no
heed to his lessons but seemed to acquire knowledge by intuition.  At
sixteen he was placed in charge of a farm, and his wonderful management
of the land and stock gave him promise of a future successful career.   In
1846 he was married to Miss M C Johnston.  
    Col Davidson was the master-spirit, acting quietly but all-powerfully,
in the successful development of Fayette county's wonderful mineral
resources.  To him Fayette county principally owes her connection with the
outside world by railways.  Against great opposition, he was largely
instrumental in securing a railroad from Pittsburgh to Connellsville, the
present Pittsburgh division of the B & O R R.  He was the principal
promoter of the Fayette County Railroad, and was the originator of the
project for building the Southwest Pennsylvania Railroad.  
    In 1884 Col Davidson repaired to Hot Springs, Arkansas, on account of
his health, and where he died on March 18th the same year.  His remains
were brought home and interred in the Connellsville cemetery.  He always
took great interest in the history of Fayette county.  He liked politics
intensely for the field it opened for the play of his forces, but he did
not care for office.  Sensible persons never questioned Col Davidson's
judgment, his prognostic powers, his great capacity and energy.  The
history of Fayette county will be searched in vain for one native born
the superior to Col Davidson in all that goes to make great manhood. 

Additional Comments:
Originally submitted 2000.

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