George Washington Davidson 1848-1928

DAVIDSON, JONES, RADER, SEAMAN, SEYMOUR, SCOTT

Posted By: LuRee (Carlson) Runnells (email)
Date: 2/22/2005 at 19:55:08

George Washington Davidson was born Mar. 11, 1848 in Highland County, Ohio and departed this life suddenly and peacefully at the home of his son in Des Moines, IA, May 9, 1928, being at that time 80 yrs., 1 month and 28 days old.

The mother of Mr. Davidson departed this life when he was 13 years of age. Soon thereafter he attempted to gain admission to the army in the Civil War, but was denied admission on account of his age. In 1862 they accepted him as an attache to the Commissary Dept. with headquarters in Lexington, KY., and he remained in this capacity during the remaining part of the war and at the time of the capture of Morgan. His work with the Commissary Dept. was to haul supplies, and the driving of teams, hauling men and officers. He was Captain of the local W.C. Harper Post, G.A.R., 79 and attended a meeting last Saturday, where plans were made for Memorial Day. He enjoyed this meeting very much and the members present declared it a particularly splendid meeting.

At the age of 21 he came to this community where he resided on a farm for some years. In the year 1871, he was married to Miss Lida Jones, (daughter of Sarah Ann Rader Jones Seaman), who was a resident of Keosauqua. In 1872, they moved to Kansas and remained there for a period of four years, and then returned to Iowa, and lived in this vicinity for a time, and later came to Keosauqua and entered business.

At the time of his death he was President of the Keosauqua State Bank and had been since 1917. He was one of the organizers of this bank in 1893, and was then elected Vice President, and has remained an officer until this date and has taken an active and influential part in the control and management of that concern.

Mr. Davison's name is snyonomous with fair dealings, and that, more than any other trait, explains his success in business and his ability to attract business associates. He was sympathetic and he was interested in people. If a friend was in trouble he was in trouble he was in trouble because of that, and because of this trait, he made many friends and retained them. In view of the fact that he lived in a country community, he is not to be classed with the wealthy men as we classify them these days, but he has been a success in business and has brought it about by giving attention to details and because of the life he lived.

He was member of the Methodist Church and regular attendant, and was present at the services in Keosauqua, IA on last Sunday. "He knew the realities of war, and was an objector to war, because of the devastation that followed in its footsteps, including the waste of lives, and the waste of property.

He leaves surviving him his one, one daughter, Mrs. Dorothy Scott, Seymour, IA; two sons, W.R. Davidson & R.L. Davidson, both of Des Moines, IA;
two grandchildren, and one great-grandchild, besides other relatives and a host of friends.

Mr. Davidson was blessed with many years of borrowed time, but he made good use of it for himself, his family and his community, and his influence in this community will be missed, and his memory revered as one of the leading characters and business men of Keosauqua, IA.

Funeral services were held May 11, 1928, at the First Methodist Church, Keosauqua, IA. Rev. Paul P. Jackson of the Congregational Church had charge of the service. Many beautiful floral gifts bore eloquent testimony to the love and esteem in chich the deceased was held. Interment was at the Fellows Cemetery, Keosauqua, IA.

Submitted by LuRee Runnells; Mr. Davidson's mother-in-law was Sarah Ann Rader Jones Seaman, which is my grt.-grt.-grt. grandmother; newspaper
obit. is in my possession.