For
Muscatine County Iowa
1911
| Biographies For Muscatine County Iowa 1911 | |
Source: History of Muscatine County Iowa, Volume II, Biographical, 1911, page 37
THOMAS DAVIDSON. Thomas Davidson, has for the past twenty years been successfully engaged in business at Muscatine as a dealer in confectionary, ice cream, fruits and tobacco. His place of business is at No. 321 Mulberry avenue, while his residence is at No. 909 East Sixth street. The city of Muscatine has been his home since the date of his birth, which was December 25, 1852. His parents, William and Mary ( Dunn ) Davidson, were natives of Ohio and Pennsylvania respectively. Thomas Davidson, the paternal grandfather, passed away in Ohio when well advanced in years. He was the father of quite a number of children. James Dunn, the maternal grandfather of our subject, was a native of Pennsylvania and a wagon-maker by trade. Among his children were the following: John, Kimmel, Samuel, Joseph, Margaret and Mary.William Davidson, the father of Thomas Davidson, was a carpenter by trade.About 1836 he took up his abode in Muscatine, Iowa, and here worked at his trade for the remainder of his active business career. He lived to attain the venerable age of ninety-two years, passing away in the faith of the Methodist church. His wife who survived him for four years, was about eighty-four when called to her final rest. She was a Baptist in early womanhood but later joined the Presbyterian church. Unto this worthy couple were born eight children, five sons and three daughters. Six of the children grew to maturity, as follows: Zachary T., who is a resident of Acton, California; Sarah, who is the widow of Osmer Greeley, and resides in Billings, Montana; Thomas, of this review; James, who is deceased; Ellsworth E., living in Muscatine; and Ida, the wife of Samuel Borger.
Thomas Davidson was reared in the city of his nativity and attended the public schools in acquirement of an education. After putting aside his text-books he went to work on a farm and later sold sewing machines for some years, while subsequently he was employed by the United States Express Company for eight years. For the past twenty years he has been engaged as a dealer in confectionary and ice cream and has enjoyed a gratifying and well merited patronage.
On the 21st of June, 1896, Mr. Davidson was united in marriage to Mrs. Grace McManus, the widow of John McManus and a daughter of John J. and Susan ( Wolfe ) Kauffman, who were natives of Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania. Mrs. Davidson was born in Keithsburg, Illinois. Her paternal grandfather, Tobias Kaufman, was a native of Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, and a farmer by occupation. He was more than eighty-six years of age when called to his final rest, while his wife, who bore the maiden name of Nancy Johns, was forty-seven years old when she passed away. They were the parents of eleven children, three of whom are yet living, namely: Tobias, John J, and Abraham. Jacob Wolfe, the maternal grandfather of Mrs. Davidson, was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, and followed carpentering throughout his active business career. He lived to attain the age of seventy-four years, while his wife, who was Miss Mary Edwards prior to her marriage, was eighty-two years old at the time of her demise. Unto them were born four daughters, one of whom yet survives---Mrs. Adeline Logan, of Keithsburg, Illinois. Unto John J. and Susan ( Wolfe ) Kaufman were born seven children, namely: Emma, the wife of William Wing; Edwin, Milton, William, Grace, the wife of our subject; Claude and Mabel. By her first marriage, Mrs. Davidson had a daughter, Mabel, who gave her hand in marriage to J. N. Vedder, resides in LaGrange, Indianan, and is now the mother of one son, Chester Wayne Vedder.
Mr. Davidson gives his political allegiance to the republican party, believing that its principles are most conducive to good government. Having spent his entire life in this county, he is widely known here and has gained the warm esteem and regard of all with whom he has come in contact by reason of his upright and honorable career.
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