DAVIDSON, James
James DAVIDSON. Quite a number of the
leading and prominent citizens of
Marshall
county are of alien birth, and have transported to this land of
fertility and plenty the thrifty habits of their native country.
Among these there is none that is better known or more widely
respected than the gentleman whose name appears at the head of
this sketch. Since five years of age he has made his home in
this county, and is now one of the extensive farmers and stock
raisers, residing on section 22, La Prairie township.
In Roxburghshire,
Scotland, Mr. DAVIDSON was
born August 27, 1844, and five years later was brought to Illinois by his parents, James and Margaret
(PRINGLE) DAVIDSON, the latter the aunt of Robert and Andrew
PRINGLE. George DAVIDSON, a brother of his father, had
previously come to Marshall county, locating in Steuben township,
where he spent his remaining days. James DAVIDSON, Sr., with his
family settled on land adjoining the present farm of our
subject, where he made a permanent home and there died in 1880,
at the age of eighty-two years. After surviving him for about
two years, the mother also departed this life at the age of
eighty years. The father had but twenty dollars when he landed
at Chillicothe,
Illinois, and having a wife and six
children to support, he at once secured land and immediately
began its cultivation. He prospered in his undertakings and well
deserved the success which came to him.
Our subject remained with his father until
the latter’s death, when in company with his brother Adam he
continue d to operated the old farm, to which they added more
land by subsequent purchase. Some twelve years ago, however, he
bought his present farm, a fine tract of one hundred and sixty
acres, and also has sixty acres more a half mile distant, all of
which he operates. He gives some attention to the breeding of
good roadsters of the Hambletonian breed, and has sold horses
which were quite noted for their speed, one going a mile in
2:26. He is also engaged in the raising of cattle and hogs.
On the 3d of February, 1887, a marriage
ceremony was performed which united the destinies of Mr.
DAVIDSON and Miss Margaret E. HOWE, of Trego county, Kansas, but
formerly of Chillicothe, Illinois, where she was reared. Mr.
DAVIDSON has now acceptably served as township supervisor for
three years, being now on his second term, and has done much
toward making La Prairie township one of the best in Marshall county. He is chairman of the pauper
committee, and so efficiently has he done his work that in his
township there is not now a single pauper. He has also served as
township collector, and school director for a number of years,
and road commissioner for nine years. He has ever discharged his
duties, both public and private, in a most able manner, and well
deserves the confidence and trust reposed in him by the people.
Extracted April 2011 by Norma Hass from
The Biographical Record of Bureau, Marshall and Putnam Counties, Illinois,
1896.
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