Davidson, Thomas Marion 1838 - 1923
DAVIDSON, WICKHAM, LUSK
Posted By: Reid R. Johnson (email)
Date: 7/18/2013 at 17:00:30
Elkader Register, and re-printed in the Postville Herald of Thur., 20 Dec. 1923.
T. M. Davidson, veteran of the Civil War, one of the few members of the Grand Army of the Republic left in Elkader; a veteran member of the Clayton county bar; prominent in political circles until within a few years, early settler in the county, and respected citizen of our town, passed away at his home on Thursday evening, December 6th, near midnight, says the Elkader Register. The end came suddenly, though not unexpectedly, as Mr. Davidson would have reached his 85th birthday on December 19th, and during the last few weeks had showed evidences of rapidly breaking health. Wednesday of last week he sat down to his usual evening meal; Thursday he remained in bed, and just before midnight he peacefully sank to the eternal sleep.
Thomas Marion Davidson was born in Licking county, Ohio, December 19, 1838. He was adopted by an uncle when a child of three and made his home with him for fifteen years. In 1856 he came to Iowa with his uncle and located in Volga.
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Elkader Register, Thur., 13 Dec. 1923 (included the photo of Mr. Davidson)
T. M. Davidson, veteran of the Civil War, one of the few members of the Grand Army of the Republic left in Elkader; a veteran member of the Clayton County bar; prominent in political circles until within a few years, early settler in the county, and respected citizen of our town, passed away at his home on Thursday evening December 6th, near midnight.
The end came suddenly, though not unexpectedly, as Mr. Davidson would have reached his 85th birthday on December 19th, and during the last few weeks had shown evidences of rapidly breaking health.
Wednesday of last week he sat down to his usual evening meal. Thursday he remained in bed and just before midnight peacefully sank to the eternal sleep.
Thomas Marion Davidson was born in Licking County, Ohio, December 19th, 1838. He was adopted by an uncle when a child of three and made his home with him for fifteen years. In 1856 he came to Iowa with his uncle and located at Volga.
At the beginning of the Civil War he enlisted in the Sixteenth United States Infantry and was assigned to Company F, First Battalion. He participated in the Battle of Shiloh and the Corinth and Stone River Campaigns. He was promoted to Sergeant and in February 1864 was sent to regimental headquarters at Ft. Ontario, N.Y., where he superintended the drilling and equipping of recruits, remaining there until the expiration of his term of enlistment.
At the close of the war he returned to Volga and engaged in the occupation of shoemaking, becoming an expert and competent workman. It was while at work on the bench that he began the study of law and was admitted to practice in the state courts in 1877. In 1882 he formed a partnership with the late Samuel Murdock at Elkader, which continued for four years.
On account of health disabilities, he partially gave up his practice of law in 1890 and established the Elkader Argus, which continued for several years to be one of the prominent county newspapers.
Mr. Davidson often spoke with great satisfaction that he began his career as a voter by casting his first ballot for Abraham Lincoln for President of the United States. In 1896 he was elected County Attorney by a substantial majority and for eight years continued to hold that high office.
For many years he has been identified with a number of civic societies of the town, prominent among which have been the Masons, the Woodmen and the Grand Army of the Republic. He has also been a member of the Soldiers' Relief Commission ever since its organization, acting as its secretary from the first.
January 25, 1864, he married Miss Margaret E. Wickham of Licking County, Ohio. To them were born four children. They have reared two of them, one of whom, M. Anna, is the wife of Rev. Robert C. Lusk, and the other Wilmer Wickham, both living in Elkader. These together with Mrs. Davidson, three grandchildren and two nieces, residing in Ohio, survive him.
He retired from the active practice of law at about the age of seventy. His final years were spent in comfortable retirement. His health, though not robust, was sufficient until recently to enable him to maintain a vital interest in public affairs both local and national. Within a few days of his death, he looked after the details of his home.
Mr. Davidson achieved his high standing in the community by his earnest efforts and his integrity of character. To know him was to respect him; to know him better was to form a deep and lasting friendship.
The funeral services were held Monday afternoon. A brief private service at the home owing to the ill health of Mrs. Davidson was followed by the public service at the Congregational church in charge of the Elkader Lodge No. 72, A.F. & A.M. Rev. W. J. Warner preached the funeral sermon and H. D. Brown gave the funeral service of the Masonic Order. The funeral was largely attended by many coming from Volga City, where Mr. Davidson had lived. In addition to members of the Masonic order, were the surviving members of the G.A.R., members of the American Legion in uniform, and members of the Modern Woodmen. A firing squad from the Legion gave the military salute to the flag draped casket and the beautiful notes of "Taps" sounded as his remains were laid in the East Side cemetery to await the call of his master.
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Submitter is not related.
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