For
Muscatine County Iowa
1911
| Biographies For Muscatine County Iowa 1911 | |
Source: History of Muscatine County Iowa, Volume II, Biographical, 1911, page 132
ELMER E. DAVIDSON. Elmer E. Davidson, a highly respected citizen of Muscatine, who has gained his present position through his energy and good judgment, was born in this city, June 22, 1861. He is a son of William and Mary ( Dunn ) Davidson, the former of whom was born in Ohio and the latter in Pennsylvania. The father ws a carpenter and came to Muscatine in 1838, being one of the pioneers in this part of the state. Here he followed his trade and engaged in contracting. At the time of the Civil war he was in the employ of the United States government, building gunboats at St. Louis. He lived to the advanced age of ninety-two years, his wife passing away at the age of eighty-seven. They were both consistent church members and highly respected in the community where they made their home. The matermal grandfather of our subject was James Dunn, a native of Pennsylvania, of Scotch-Irish descent. He was a wagon-maker by trade and came to Muscatine about 1840 and operated a wagon shop at the forks of the road, about two and a half miles west of the town. In those early days many emigrants were passing westward and he found steady employment in repairing their wagons. He came of a long lived family and died at the age of ninety-seven years, his wife being called away after she had reached the age of ninety years. They were the parents of the following children that grew to maturity, Margaret, Mary, John, Kimmel, Samuel and Joseph. There were six children in the family of Mr. and Mrs. Davidson; Sarah, now the wife of O. K. Greeley, of Billings, Montana; Zachary T., of Acton, California; Thomas, of Muscatine; James, deceased; Elmer E., our subject; and Ida, the wife of Samuel Borger, of Muscatine.Elmer E. Davidson was reared in Muscatine and vicinity and educated in the public schools. After laying his books aside he began work in a sawmill and later carried on gardening on Muscatine island and was identified with the railroad business. He then manufactured cans for several years for a canning factory at Muscatine and for five years was associated with a Mr. St. John in a grocery store. Since 1896 he has been identified with the book and stationery business and maintains a news stand. He is also a stockholder in the Muscatine State Bank.
On the 24th of November, 1885, Mr. Davidson was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Pilgrim, a daughter of George and Lizzie Pilgrim, both natives of Germany. She was born at Hesse-cassel, Germany and came to America with her father in 1871, the mother having previously died in the old country. Mr. Pilgrim is now living in Muscatine. There were three chldren in his family, Reinhard, Elizabeth and Henry. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Davidson two children have been born, Fred E. and Gertrude.
Mrs. Davidson holds membership in the German Lutheran church and is one of the active workers of that organization. Since arriving at manhood Mr. Davidson has been a supporter of the men and principles of the republican party and for six years he filled the office of city treasurer of Muscatine, discharging his duties with a fidelity that met the hearty approval of the tax-payers. He has been a resident of Muscatine for nearly fifty years and witnessed most if its substantial growth. Here he has a large acquaintance and a host of friends whose regard he has gained by the influence of an upright life and the application of those principles of kindness and good fellowship in everyday affairs that never fail to receive merited recognition.
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