BIOGRAPHY: Davidson, James From the A.T. Andreas Illustrated Historical Atlas of the State of Iowa, 1875 ************************************************* Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ************************************************* JAMES DAVIDSON was born in Sandusky, Ohio, April 27, 1836. He is a lineal descendant of Wm. Davidson, who came to America from the North of Ireland in 1728, and settled in Woburn, Mass., where he probably died. The family was originally from Scotland, and were at the siege of Londonderry. The parents of Wm. Davidson were murdered in Ireland for their money; the murderer was arrested, tried and hung. William Davidson married, first: Mary Alexander, and had the following family: Second Generation I. ROBERT, married Margaret Walker, had Robert, James, Margaret and John -- residence, Ackworth, N. H. II. NATHANIEL, married Mary Walker, had Nathaniel; residence, Goffstown (then Concord) -- had James. III. WILLIAM, married, had Douglas, residence in Douglas, Mass. IV. ELIZABETH, married John Correll, had John, Joseph, Mary, Sarah and Betsy -- residence, Windham. V. JOHN (see post). VI. GEORGE, married Susanna Christie, had David, married Elizabeth Dickey. George married Miss Gilmore, Thomas married Jane Moore, had William, Mary and Susan VII. JANE, married Thomas Campbell, residence in Londonderry, Mr. Davidson married secondly Margaret McCarthey, and by her had ______. VIII. ALEXANDER, married first, Miss Mears; secondly, Judith Butman. IX. FRANCIS, married first, Rebecca Richardson; secondly, Jeanette Eagnes, had Rebecca, Sarah, Jeanett, Hamilton, Laoni, Fanny, Thomas, etc. X. MARY, married Mr. Nicols; residence, Carlisle, Mass. XI. MARGARET, married Abner Wilson. Third Generation. JOHN DAVIDSON, the fifth child of William, was born in the North of Ireland, April 20, 1720; came to America with his father 1728; married Sarah Nutt, of Hopkinton, Mass., March 25, 1745; moved to Windham, N. H., in 1752. His wife was born in Newton, Mass., April 30, 1722, and died June 4, 1806. Mr. Davidson died September 27, 1799. Their family was as follows: I. SARAH, born January 23, 1746, married December, 1764, Robert Alexander, born May 16, 1725, died February 12, 1812. She died March 3, 1818. II. ANNA, born November 20, 1744, married December 25, 1770, Deacon John Anderson, born 1742, died July 11, 1805. He died October 25, 1835. III. JOHN, born March 16, 1750, married November 10, 1774, Mary Lancaster, born June 27, 1747, died January 5, 1829. He died October 25, 1835. IV. JAMES (see post). V. MARY, born March 17, 1754, married first, February 12, 1779, Samuel Anderson, born June, 1748, died March 11, 1796. She married secondly December 31, 1801, Robert Dinsmore, born October 7, 1757, died March 16, 1836. She died January 19, 1838. VI. WILLIAM, born May 3, 1756, died May 5, 1761. VII. JESSE, born October 19, 1758, married first, 1780, Mary Dinsmore, died September 6, 1805. He married secondly Rebecca B. Oaks, born 1762, died February, 1818. He died August 18, 1806. VIII. WILLIAM, born October 15, 1761, married December 14, 1790, Jane Barnet, born June 24, 1765, died May 23, 18323. He died March 20, 1839. IX. ELIZABETH born, May 14, 1766, married December 27, 1792, Ebenezer Lancaster, born September 6, 1761, died October 22, 1831. She died February 6, 1849. Fourth Generation JAMES DAVIDSON, the fourth child of John, was born January 12, 1752 at Tewksbury, Mass. Married, February 10, 1778, Hannah Hemphill, born September 29, 1758. She was the granddaughter of Nathaniel (who married Jameson) and daughter of Robert and Eleanor (Clark) Hemphill. Her brother Joseph married Susanna B. Rogers, the eighth generation in decent from John Rogers, the martyr. James Davidson was at Charlestown, Mass., the first year of the Revolutionary war; also, at the taking of Burgoyne at Saratoga. Mrs. Davidson died July 22, 1820, and Mr. Davidson died July 3, 1837. Their family was as follows: I. NATHANIEL, born April 17, 1779, at Windham, N. H., married in 1800 Margaret Witherspoon, and had Samuel, born 1805; married Lydia Jackman Alvan, born 1807; married Anna Howe, has Milon; married Gratia L. Andrews, has Mary L., Betsey and Eri; Eri, born 1809, married Harriet P. Shepherd, Hannah married Henry Woodbury. Nathaniel died January 18, 1815. II. MARGARET, born May 24, 1781, at Windham, N. H., married Jeremiah Hills; had a family. III. SARAH, born October 15, 1783, at Windham, married March 17, 1803, Jonathan Alexander, born July 24, 1776, had a son, born May 4, 1804; Caroline, born July 9, 1805, married D. Dickey, February 22, 1825; Ann A., born February 5, 1807, died March, 1808; Joseph, born October 14, 1808, married October 14, 1835, Jane Alexander; Hannah J., born October 4, 1810, married October 9, 1832, George Elmwood; James, born August 3, 1812, died 1816; Harriet, born December 11, 1814, married February 5, 1834, S. Dickey; Alanson, born January 14, 1817, married November 13, 1844, Harriet Adams; Elizabeth A., born December 26, 1818; Mary D., born April 10, 1821, married July 3, 1850, Ruben Gorden; Dorendo, born February 25, 1823, died March 10, 1823; Sarah B., born May 19, 1824, died, 1831; Louisa, born January 6, 1826, died January 8, 1826; Ira N., born August 23, 1828, married first, March 16, 1854, E. Johnson, died February 12, 1855, married secondly, M. T. Johnson, 1858. IV. ANNA, born July 16, 1785, at Windham, died 1788. V. SAMUEL, born January 20, 1788, at Windham, married December 29, 1814, Martha Anderson -- had Acksah, born November 14, 12816, married December 14, 1837, William Dodge; Almira, born November 2, 1818, married December 14, 1845, M. E. Adams Belinda, two infants; Martha born July 25, 1826, died July 20, 1828; Zoe, born April 26, 1828, married John Foster March 31, 1852, died May 13, 1858; Harriet, born October 23, 1829, married March 24, 1858, S. Cummins, died November 15, 1860; Mary, born May 11, 1831, married December 9, 1857, C. Layman; Samuel A., born August 7, 1834, married December 23, 1858, Mary McLaughiin. Samuel died September 20, 1865. VI. ANNA, born August 29, 1790, at Windham, died May 16, 1812. VII. JAMES N., born September 17, 1792, died August 19, 1793. VIII. MARY, born April 15, 1795, died February 6, 1819. IX. JAMES NUTT (see post). X. JOHN H., born June 3, 1802, died May 18, 1805. Fifth Generation JAMES NUTT DAVIDSON, the ninth child of James, was born July 12, 1797, at Windham, N. H., married first, February 4a, 1819, Lucy Lancaster, born January 24, 1795, had eleven children, died November 20, 1855; he married secondly, Cynthia White, died August 28, 1858, in Chicago. Sine parole. He married thirdly, Eliza F. Burt. Sine parole. In 1852 he united with the Presbyterian Church at Windham, and in 1827 moved to Goffstown, and two years thereafter was one of ten to organize a Congregational Church, and was made a deacon the following year. He moved to Sandusky, Ohio, in May, 1`835, where he united with the New School Presbyterian Church, and was chosen a deacon. March 1848, he aided in organizing a Congregational Church, and remained a member till 1851, when he moved to Elgin, Illinois, where he united with the Congregational Church. In the Spring of 1852, he moved to Chicago, and united with the Congregational Church, and in the Spring of 1853 helped organize the N. E. Church. He removed to Elgin, where died in August, 1873. He was a staunch abolitionist, and his house was always open to the refugee from the Southern plantations. At Sandusky he was engaged in the packing business for years, and in Chicago he was in the produce and commission business. By his first wife he had the following family: I. MARY, born December 20, 1819, died September 1, 1845. II. AMINTER, born January 23, 1821, married April 3, 1845, in New York, Mary F. Hathaway, born December 25, 1822; has Edward L., born October 11, 1846, in Buffalo, New York, died September 10, 1848; Mary F., born July 5, 1848; Charles, born March 10, 1850, at Albany, New York, died August 30, 1851; Clarence, born May 6, 1852, at Elgin, Illinois, drowned at Saginaw Bay, December 4, 1873. Aminter was Captain of the 11th Pennsylvania Calvary; resides at Chicago. III. DANIEL, born June 16, 1822, married February 13, 1848, at Cleveland, Ohio; Sarah E. Congdon (daughter of Benjamin), born January 16, 1827, at buffalo, New York; has Kate, born December 6, 1848, Chicago, Illinois, married May 8, 18--; Edward A. Kimball has Wallace D., Harriet, born January 13, 1851, died august 12, 1852; Lucy, born December 19, 1852, died April 13, 1853; Daniel, born September 9, 1855. He was one of the organizers and operators of the Underground Railroad at Chicago. IV. NATHANIEL, born November 12, 1823, married January 2, 1851; Sarah D. Fash, born September 3, 1826; has Julia, born November 14, 1852, died January 5, 1853; Annie, born April 4, 1854. died January 30, 1863; James, born August 24, 1857, died March 17, 1858 -- all born in New York City. Mrs. Davidson died august 29, 1857. He married secondly, Mrs. ----, of Virginia, and is now a member of the Republican newspaper staff at Washington, D. C. V. ORLANDO, born May 3, 1825, married May 26, 1848, at Grafton, Wisconsin, Caroline A. Gifford, born May 26, 1827, at Millport, New York, daughter of James T. Gifford, the founder of the City of Elgin, Illinois. They have Lucy Lancaster, born March 28, 1849, at Chicago, died July 14, 1849; James Gifford, born January 19, 1851, at Elgin; Laura R., born July 10, 1853, Chicago; May Cynthia, born May 14, 185, Elgin; Jennie E., born October 30, 1860, Stella, born November 19, 1862. Orland is a prominent business man, and President of the National Bank at Elgin. VI. ELIZABETH, born October 8, 1826, married April 10, 1856, at Chicago, S. Milton Moore, born December 15, 1830; has Edwin D., born April 29, 1858, Mendota, Illinois, died November 14, 1859; Jennie E., born June 24, 1860; Mary E., born October 5, 1861, Chicago; George Milton, born august 19, 1865, died December 4, 1870; Harry S., born July 13, 1869, died July 29, 1869. Mr. Moore is one of the heaviest insurance men in Chicago. VII. CYNTHIA ANN, born May a8, 1828, at Goffstown, N. H., married June 9, 1853, in Chicago, James H. Stead, born February 12, 1827, at Rensselaerville, New York; has Charles H., born March 28, 1854; Frank Osborn, born October 17, 1855; Minneiska, born January 16, 1862, Sandusky, Ohio; reside at Chicago. VIII. CHARLES, born October 29, 1824, married February 18, 1856, Jeanette Lathrop, born December 7, 1833, at Alexander, New York. He died December 18, 1873. IX. JANE, born April 15, 1832, married October 21, 1851, at Elgin, Gilbert G. Edgerton, born May 5, 1827, -- residence, Fremont, Ohio. X. JAMES, born May 13, 1834, died July 20, 1835. XI. JAMES, born April 27, 1836, at Sandusky, Ohio, was educated at Sandusky and Oberlin College; went to Illinois in 1851; resided at Chicago and Elgin till the breaking out of the Rebellion in 1861; was an officer in the "Elgin Continental Military Company;" volunteered April 16, 1861, and the company became Company A, 7th Illinois Regiment, being the first raised for the war in that state in the three months service. He re-enlisted in the 52nd Illinois Volunteers, 2d Division, of the old army of the Tennessee; was wounded in the battle of Pittsburg; Landing, April 6; promoted after the battle for meritorious conduct, and for two years was upon the staff of Brigadier General G. W. Sweeney, as aide-de-camp and acting adjutant general 2d division 16th army corps, and participated in the battles of that division, and was honorably discharged December, 1864. He was in the civil service in the Treasury Department in Tennessee for some time; returned to Elgin, made an addition to that city, and came to Monticello, Iowa, February, 1866. He married September 21, 1864 Adaliza Ellen Dean, of Conneaut, Ohio, and had James Gilbert, born at Conneaut, August 26, 1865; Charles, born October 27, 1867, at Monticello; Lucy Lancaster, born August 8, 1871; Henry Stead, born February 12, 1874. Mr. Davidson was editor of the Monticello Express for a year and a half; was elected county superintendent of schools, and June 7, 1866, was appointed postmaster, and was reappointed for the second time by President Grant, and still holds the position. Mrs. Davidson was the daughter of Gardner Dean and Clarissa A. White, his wife. He was a lineal descendant of Walter Dean, who came from Taunton, England, in 1637, and settled in Taunton, Massachusetts. She was a descendant of William White, of the "May Flower" Company, who landed at Plymouth Rock in 1620. The White Genealogy WILLIAM WHITE, the great great grandson of William, the emigrant (the descent being --1st generation, William; 2d, Perigrine; 3d, Daniel; 4th, Ebenezer; 5th, William), was born December 31, 1765, married April 25, 1793, Jane Prescott, born June 10, 1771, died March 19, 1843. He died 1863, aged 98. They had ---- 1. William, born May 3, 1794, married Sarah Parker, born July 27, 1796, died March 19, 1818. 2. Huldah, born February 23, 1796, married March 27, 1817, Josiah Southard. She died March 21, 1861. 3. Lydia, born March 28, 1798, married March 31, 1819, Darius Moore. She died November 24, 1825. 4. Jane, born April 17, 1800, died April 12, 1840. 5. Ira, born March 5, 1802, married September 26, 1827, first, Abigail Books, died March, 1844; married secondly, April 6, 1845, Lydia Buss. 6. John, born May 7, 1804, died March 26, 1813. 7. Percy, born September 1, 1805, married October 15, 1826, Joseph Carpenter. She died April 28, 1842. William White, oldest son of William, had the following family: 1. Clarissa A., born January 11, 1820, Stratford, Vermont, married April 29, 1840, Gardner Dean, born June 18, 1816, Berkeley, Massachusetts, had Adaliza E. Franklin and Adelaid F. 2. Marietta E., born July 27, 1821, Thetford, Vermont, married April, 1841, Horatio Fobes, of Ohio, son of William and Olive (Webster) Fobes, of Litchfield, Connecticut. She died February 3, 1846. 3. Susan R., born March 3, 1823, married October 8, 1844, Henry A. Fowler, born September 10, 1820, at Farmington, Ohio. She died August, 1850. 4. William P., born May 30, 1826; resides at Conneaut, Ohio. 5. Theresa S., born March 25, 1828, Tunbridge, Vermont, married December 29, 1847, Horatio Fobes, has Edwin W. and William E. He died 1855. She married, secondly, John Egbert at Goshen, Indiana. 6. Cornelia A., born February 23, 1830, married April 17, 1851, Henry A. Fowler. 7. Adaliza, born February 18, 1833, died September 1, 1834. 8. Adelaid, born February 18, 1833, died September 2, 1834. THE DEAN GENEALOGY Walter and Jon Dean, brothers, came to America in 1637, settled in Taunton, Massachusetts, and gave the name to the town. The name Dean (also Deane) is derived from the Saxon Den or Dene -- signifying a valley. First Generation. Walter Dean, born 1615, married Eleanor, daughter of Richard Strong, and had Joseph; married Mary Tipping, had four children; Ezra, married Bethia Edson, had five children; Benjamin married Sarah Williams, had twelve children. Second Generation JOSEPH married Mary Tipping, had Joseph; married Sarah ----., had Samuel and James. Third Generation Joseph married Sarah ----, had Benjamin; married Mary Turner (see Dean Genealogy). Fourth Generation BENJAMIN married Mary Turner, daughter of Dr. John Turner, of Freetown, Massachusetts (Fall River) -- had Benjamin, Moses, John, Samuel, Hannah Hines, Aaron, Gardner, Joseph, Eben, Sally, Patience, and Susan. Fifth Generation SAMUEL married Hannah Hines; residence, Berkley, Massachusetts; had Rhoda; married Williard Tripp, of Taunton, Massachusetts; Gardner married Clarissa E. White; had Nancy, Franklin, and Walter; Samuel married Harriet Morrel; had Anna B., Lafayette and John. Sixth Generation GARDNER married Clarissa A. White, at Kingsville, Ohio, April 29, 1840; had Adaliza Ellen, born April 11, 1841, married James Davidson, has four children; residence, Monticello, Iowa; Franklin, born October 12, 1842, married December 6, 1871, Antoinette J. Price, born July 31, 1852, has Clara, born June 1, 1874, residence, Wahoo, Nebraska; Adelaide, born August 22, 1846, married May 8, 1867, Rev. Charles G. Fairchild, son of President Fairchild, of Berea College, Kentucky; has Bertha M., Julia W., Eugene, and Paul D. Adaliza graduated at Ingham University, LeRoy, New York, June 27, 1861, and taught in Ohio and Illinois. She had a fine collection geological specimens, and is well versed in that attractive science. Franklin graduated from the Law Department of Michigan University, and is practicing law in Nebraska. Adelaide graduated at Oberlin, in the class of 1866; resides at Berea, Kentucky. THE PRESCOTT GENEALOGY Mrs. Davidson is also descended from the Prescott family -- her great grandmother, Jane Prescott, being daughter of James (and Jane Hilliard) Prescott, who was the son of James (and Sarah Butler) Prescott, who was the son of John (and Abigail Marston) Prescott, who was the son of James (and Mary Boulter) Prescott, who was the original emigrant from England to America. (See Prescott Genealogy). THE PARKER GENEALOGY Mrs. Davidson's maternal grandmother, Sarah, was the daughter of John W. and Rebecca (Stiles) Parker. The family was as follows: John Wilkes Parker, born August 5, 1768, married February 6, 1791, died August 29, 1837; Rebecca, his wife, born May 26, 1871, died July 1, 1841. Their Children 1. John, born January 13, 1792, died December, 1795. 2. Rebecca, born January 16, 1794, at Hebron, Connecticut. 3. Sarah, born July 22, 1796, married William White, of Stratford, Vermont. 4. Philoxena, born February 6, 1799. 5. Aaron, born February 5, 1802, a clergyman. 6. Polly, born April 24, 1804, at Washington, Vermont, married Charles Lathrop. 7. Nancy, born March 8, 1806, married David Rogers, a manufacturer and inventor, of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. She died March 29, 1867. 8. Eliza, born December 17, 1810, married Henry Fisk. 9. Amanda, Born April 17, 1813, married Hartwell Fisk. 10. Betsey, born July 14, 1815, married Doras Hinkston. 11. Harriet, born August 21, 1819, married Harmon Stone. THE LANCASTER FAMILY RECORD HENRY LANCASTER, the original emigrant, came from England, and was at Bloody Point (Dover, New Hampshire) in 1631. In 1643 he was one of the grand jury from Piscataqua. In 1652 he paid the highest tax on the Bloody Point list. In 1654 the town voted him all the meadows at Bloody Point for services rendered the town. He died July 18, 1705 from a fall, being over 100 years of age. Second Generation He married Mary ----, had Joseph, Mary and Thomas; by his second wife, Hannah, he had Samuel, Henry and Hannah. Thomas was killed by the Indians in Hampton, 1703. Third Generation His son, JOSEPH, married Elizabeth Hoyt, born March 31, 1687. She was the daughter of John (and Mary Barnes) Hoyt, who was the son of John and Mary Hoyt. They had Mary and Hannah; John married Mary Hoyt; Daniel married Damaris Gole, had Abraham and Ann; Micah married Hannah Newmarsh. Fourth Generation JOHN LANCASTER, born August 22, 1691, married Mary Hoyt, December 26, 1716. (See Genealogy of the Hoyt family.) She was a descendant of Thomas Hoyt, of Salisbury. He died May 6, 1742, had Henry, born March 6, 1719, married September 18, 1742, had Dorothy Harvey; timothy, born August 31, 1718, married Sewes Sargeant, Sept 10, 1743; had Mary, born February 18, 1722; Elizabeth, born November 16, 1724; Miriam, born February 7, 1730; Hannah, born September 1732, married June 6, 1754, Joseph Nicols; Sarah, born July 14, 1734. Fifth Generation. Henry Lancaster married D. Harvey, had John, born March 28, 1743, married Mary Dodge, March 9, 1767, died January 5, 1808; Judith, born September 24, 1745, married January 5, 1769, Simon Johnson. She died April 10, 1817. Mary, born June 16, 1747, married November 10, 1774, John Davidson. She died January 5, 1820. Eunice, born January26, 1749, married Novemeber 15, 1774, Samuel Taylor. She died September 1, 1833. Moses, born February 13, 1752, married November 30, 1782, Anna Duncan. He died December 9, 1811. Anna, born may 10, 1754, married John Humphrey. Dorothy, born May 23, 1756, died 1796; Miriam, born March 15, 1758, married November 25, 1798, Edmond blood; Joshua, born March 31, 1760, married June 10, 1793, Nancy Ewins. He died April 3, 1812. Ebenezer, born September 6, 1761, married December 26, 1792, Elizabeth Davidson, had 7 children. He died October 22, 1831. Sixth Generation. Ebenezer Lancaster married Elizabeth Davidson, born May 14, 1766, died February 6, 1849 at Gillmanton, Their children are: 1. John, born October 29, 1793, married February 14, 1832, Mary Senist, He died August 14, 1816. 2. Lucy married James N. Davidson, father of the subject of this sketch. She died November 20, 1855 3. Daniel, born November 30, 1796, married August 30, 1927, first Ann E. Semist; secondly, Eliza G. Greeley, a relative of the great editor. Daniel is a clergyman in New York City, graduated at Dartmouth in 1821, at Andover in 1824, and ordained September 21, 1825. he is the author of the history of Gillmanton, New Hampshire. 4. Cynthia, born June 28, 1798, married, first Harfield White; secondly, James N. Davidson, in 1856. 5. Dorothy, born 9, 1800. 6. Cyrus, born July 28, 1802, married April 10m 1835, Mrs. Rebecca Wilson. He died February 9, 1863. 7. Henry, born February 16, 1804, married February 18, 1834, Mary A. Colby; secondly, Louisa Kimball. 8. Sarah Nutt, born December 30, 1816, died May 4, 1812.