Genesee County MI Archives Biographies.....Davison, John W. 1830 - 
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Author: Chapman Bros. (1892)

JOHN W. DAVISON is a prominent and representative pioneer of Grand Blanc
Township, Genesee County, residing on section 4. He is a native of Livingston
County, N. Y., where he was born December 6, 1830, his parents being Jonathan
and Agnes N. (Gibson) Davison, both being natives of the Empire State. His
ancestors on the paternal side were of Scotch-Irish stock and, indeed, also on
the maternal side. He takes great pride in the fact that his Grandfather Davison
was a Revolutionary soldier, being a Fife Major in the Continental army, and his
father was a soldier in the War of 1812.

  Jonathan Davison with his family emigrated to Genesee County in 1831, coming
via the lake to Detroit, and thence to Genesee County with an ox-team. On coming
to this township he purchased the land upon which our'subject now lives, paying
the Government $1.25 per acre for the same. Their first habitation in this
locality was a board shanty which was built out in the woods. The family lived
in this for several years and then built a better home. Our subject's father was
a carpenter and builder by trade and found plenty of employment in those early
days. His decease occurred in 1865, his wife having preceded him by a number of
years, her death having taken place in 1850. In their decease the county lost
two of her first and best pioneers. People who had inbred strength of purpose
and tenacity of fibre, they are well fitted to cope with the difficulties of
that nebulous social period and to look forward to a time when advantages that
they were envious of for their own children should be free to those of another
day. They were the parents of four children, three of whom are living at the
present time: Catherine, John W. and Andrew J.

  The principles of the Democratic party in its purity were those held by our
subject's father. He endured all the hardships incident to pioneer life, and on
first coming here was obliged to go to Pontiac with an ox-team for grist,
following an Indian trail. John W., our subject, was surrounded with the
influences above described and naturally the sturdier elements of his nature
were developed, for there was no luxury to pamper any effeminate tendencies at
that time.

  Our subject assisted his father in clearing up the farm upon which he now
lives, breaking the ground at an early day with an ox-team. He received the
advantages to be had in the early district schools of Grand Blanc Township, On
reaching manhood he was united in marriage, November 7, 1855, with Hannah W.
Foote, who was born May 21, 1834, in Livingston County, N. Y. When ten years of
age she came to Genesee County, this State, with her parents. The head of her
family is now deceased, and her mother, an octogenarian, who has passed an
eventful and useful life, makes her home at Flint and is still hale and vigorous
for one of her age. She does not use glasses.

  Our subject is the father of one son, Irwin L., a youth of whom the parents
are very proud. He owns a fine farm of eighty acres with an excellent residence
and good barns and other improvements. He is one of the best farmers in the
county. In 1851 our subject started out in the carpenter and joiner's trade, and
followed it for many years in connection with farming. He frequently had from
two to five mechanics in his employ. He now devotes much attention to raising
fine Jersey cattle. Mr. Davison is a Democrat in politics, and he and his wife
are enthusiastic workers in whatever promises to be for the advantage of the
county.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

Portrait and Biographical Record of Genesee, Lapeer and Tuscola Counties,
Michigan, Containing Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative
Citizens, Together with Biographies of all the Governors of the State, and of
the Presidents of the United States

Chicago:
Chapman Bros.
1892

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