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MONONGALIA COUNTY WEST VIRGINIA
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Submitted to the West Virginia Biographies Project by:
PJSTON@aol.com
December 7, 1999
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The History of West Virginia, Old and New
Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc.,
Chicago and New York, Volume II
pg 98
Davidson Brothers. The branch of the Davidson family to which belong Henry
Alexander and George S. Davidson, of Morgantown, Monongalia County, was
founded in Fayette County, Pennsylvania, prior to 1800 by Jeremiah Davidson
(I), who came from his native Ireland and first settled in Mercer County,
Pennsylvania, whence he later removed to Luzerne Township, Fayette County.
He was of Scotch ancestry, but representatives of the family left Scotland
and established themselves in Ireland several generations before his birth.
For many years Jeremiah Davidson operated the old Crawford ferry across the
Monongahela River, and later he owned another ferry, besides developing a
substantial business in the building of boats both for his own use and for
sale. He died at his old home in Luzerne Township, Fayette County,
Pennsylvania, in 1850. He married Anna Alexander, and among their children
was Henry Alexander Davidson (I), who was born at Davidson's Ferry, Fayette
County, in 1805. After his marriage to Elizabeth Gallagher, Henry A.
Davidson settled on a farm in Cumberland Township, Greene county,
Pennsylvania. His son, Jeremiah (II) was born on this farm May 26, 1834, and
after arriving at adult age continued his association with farm enterprise
until 1875, when he removed to Carmichaels, Pennsylvania. There he later
engaged in the hotel business, and still later in the livery and undertaking
business. He held the various official chairs in the local lodge of the
Independent Order of Odd Fellows and was influential in community affairs.
In 1856 he married Selantha Flenniken, and they became the parents of three
children: John Calvin, Franklin Francis and Minnie, the daughter dying at
the age of sixteen years. After the death of his first wife Jeremiah
Davidson married Mrs. Harriet Jane (Stone) Hatfield, and they had two sons,
Henry Alexander and George S. The honored father died in July, 1900, the
mother having passed away in October 1898.
Henry Alexander Davidson (II) was born March 24, 1878, at Carmichaels,
Pennsylvania, where he attended the public schools until eligible for
admission to the Pennsylvania State Normal School at California. Thereafter
he became associated with his father's business, and after the death of his
father in 1900 he came to Morgantown, West Virginia, and in April, 1901,
engaged in the livery business. March 1, 1903, he added an undertaking
department to the business, and in 1914 his brother George S. became his
partner, under the firm name of Davidson Brothers. Since 1917 the firm has
been engaged also in the handling of automobiles, with a well equipped garage
and service station in which the firm has the sales agency for the Hudson,
the Essex and the Marmon cars, and the Republic automobile trucks. The
brothers are active members of the Morgantown Chamber of Commerce and are
affiliated with Union Lodge No. 4., Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, the
local Chapter of Royal Arch Masons and the Morgantown Commandery of Knights
Templars, while each has received the thirty-second degree in the Scottish
Rite, and also holds membership in Osiris Temple of the Mystic Shrine. Henry
A. is a past exalted ruler of Morgantown Lodge No. 411 Benevolent and
Protective Order of Elks; is affiliated with Monongahela Lodge No. 10,
Independent Order of Odd Fellows; and is a charter member of the Morgantown
Country Club. He married Miss Agnes Miles, of Buckhannon, this state. They
have no children.
George S. Davidson was born at Carmichaels, Pennsylvania, January 27, 1884,
and in addition to the discipline of the public schools he took a business
course in the University of West Virginia. He came to Morgantown, May 1,
1901, and after working for his brother until 1909 he here established an
independent livery business in South Morgantown. He sold this business two
years later and thereafter conducted a similar enterprise at Morgantown until
1914, when he entered into partnership with his brother, as noted in a
preceding paragraph. The Davidson brothers are numbered among the vital and
progressive business men and valued citizens of Morgantown. George S.
likewise is affiliated with the local lodge of Odd Fellows and is a charter
member of the Morgantown Country Club. He married Mary E., daughter of Henry
Fenton Rice, the pioneer news dealer of Morgantown.
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