[p. 690] a leading physician of Ellwood City, is a representative of a family which was established in Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, over 100 years ago. He was born November 23, 1859, at Wampum, in Big Beaver Township, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, and is a son of William M. and Matilda (Mehard) Davidson.
Farther back than the grandfathers on both sides, the available records do not go, but it is known that the maternal grandfather came to America from Ireland, and in all probability the paternal grandparents were of Irish extraction. In all probability, Robert Davidson. with his brother Andrew, were the first settlers in Big Beaver Township, Robert settling where Wampum now stands, and Andrew on the site of Clinton. Robert Davidson acquired several hundred acres of land, at one time owning the whole territory from Wampum to Newport, land which his son, William M., inherited. He had the following children: William M., John, Eliza, who married Judge Joseph Cunningham; Margaret, Rachel, who married John C. Cunningham; and Mary, who married Thomas Wilson, of Centerville, all being deceased.
William M. Davidson, the eldest son of Robert and Christina Davidson, was born on the present site of Wampum, and in this vicinity his whole life was passed. He was interested in farming and in the lumber industry, and owned a sawmill that stood on the spot now occupied by the depot of the Pittsburg and Lake Erie Railroad, at Wampum. He also operated a flour mill near the same place. He was man of great energy and understood how to manage the large property that he had inherited. During the Civil War he was a strong supporter of the Government and until the close of his life he was zealous in his adherence to the principles of the Republican party. He married Matilda Mehard, who was born in the north of Ireland, and was two years of age when she was brought to America. Her father was Joseph Mehard, and he was an early settler in the town of Wurtemberg, where he and wife reared a family, and both died. The children of Joseph Mehard were: Robert, who died at Wurtemberg, for fifteen years was county commissioner in Lawrence County; James, who died in Wayne Township, Lawrence County; Thomas, who was a minister, is deceased; William, who resides at New Castle; Joseph, who lived and died on the old homestead at Wurtemberg; Matilda, the mother of Dr. Davidson; Annie, who married Thomas Davidson, resided in North Beaver Township; and Elizabeth, who married W. L. Wilson, of Beaver County, became the mother of Dr. Norman and Judge Wilson, prominent citizens.
The following children were born to William M. Davidson and his wife: Alice, who married Philo M. Cunningham, of Wayne Township, died in 1908; Christina, deceased, was the wife of W. H. Witherspoon; Robert, who married Margaret Thompson, died at New Brighton; James M., residing in Wayne Township, married Emma Wilson; Joseph, who is survived by his widow, formerly a Miss Leet; and Samuel S., of Ellwood City.
Samuel S. Davidson's father died when he was nine years old, and from that time he was reared in the home of his uncle, Dr. Mehard, in Mercer County. He was educated in the Western University of Pittsburg, and Jefferson Medical College, of Philadelphia, graduating from the latter institution in the class of 1882. Following this, Dr. Davidson took a post-graduate course, and for two years pursued his medical studies and scientific investigations in the great schools and hospitals of London, Vienna and Berlin. For twelve years after his return to America he engaged in practice at Mercer, Pa., for five years of this period being surgeon in charge of the State Hospital at that place, For the past six years Dr. Davidson has been in active practice at Ellwood City, where he finds hearty appreciation of his experience and professional skill. He is a member of the American Medical Society, of the Pennsylvania State Medical Society, and during his residence in Mercer County, was a member of the medical organization there. In addition to his regular practice he is physician for the Order of Eagles. He attends the United Presbyterian Church. In politics he is identified with the Republican party.
20th Century History of New Castle and Lawrence County Pennsylvania and Representative Citizens Hon. Aaron L. Hazen Richmond-Arnold Publishing Company, Chicago, Ill., 1908
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Updated: 26 Nov 2001