BIO: George DAVIDSON, Beaver County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Judy Banja & Joe Patterson Copyright 2005. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/beaver.html http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/beaver/bios/bbios.htm Index for this bio book. _________________________________________________________________ BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES. This Volume Contains Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens of Beaver County, Pennsylvania. Buffalo, N.Y., Chicago, Ill.: Biographical Publishing Company, 1899, pp. 157-158. _________________________________________________________________ GEORGE DAVIDSON, a recent portrait of whom appears on the foregoing page, is a man of much prominence in the borough of New Brighton, Pa., and since February, 1888, he has been cashier of the National Bank, of that place. This institution is one of the most progressive and substantial banks in Western Pennsylvania, having been organized October 29, 1884, to succeed the old National Bank of Beaver County, which had its origin November 12, 1864, as the successor of the Bank of Beaver County, a state institution established in 1857. The last named concern occupied the quarters of the late United States Bank, and its offices were situated where Dr. Simpson's are now located. Its officers were: S. Merrick, president and E. Hoops, cashier. On November 12, 1864, the National Bank of Beaver County was chartered with a capital of $200,000; a fine brick block was erected, the front of which was of pressed brick, purchased in Philadelphia at $100 per thousand, it being the first brick of the kind ever used in the Beaver Valley. The building was of three stories; on the first floor were the bank offices; while on the second and third floors were dwelling rooms. The banking apartments were finished in the best of material, and had two large safes. S. Merrick, who was its first president, was later succeeded by John Miner, and upon the organization of the National Bank of New Brighton, M. T. Kennedy was made president, serving until his death, in November, 1884, when John Reeves became his successor. In August, 1893, Robert S. Kennedy was chosen president and C. C. Townsend, vice-president, to succeed Robert S. Kennedy. From the time the bank was organized until April 6, 1883, Mr. Edward Hoops served as cashier; he was succeeded by C. M. Merrick, who in turn was succeeded by the subject hereof. H. R. Ross is teller, and Clarence E. Kennedy is bookkeeper. The officers of this organization are among the most prominent and capable men in this part of the state, possessing high business ability, and being fully competent to fill the important positions they hold. George Davidson was born in Fayette county, Pa., October 13, 1859, and is a son of Daniel R. Davidson. At the age of eight years, his parents moved to Beaver, Beaver county, Pa., and there he obtained his primary education; he afterwards attended college in West Virginia from 1877 to 1880. Owing to ill-health, he spent several years in traveling through the western states, and, upon his return to Beaver county, became deputy pro- 158 BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES thonotary under Dan H. Stone. On leaving this position, he entered the National Bank of New Brighton, as cashier, which office he now holds. Mr. Davidson is greatly interested in the progress of his adopted borough and county, and is ever ready to give his support to those measures which, in his opinion, tend to promote the welfare of the community. His popularity and sterling worth are shown by the fact that he is now serving his sixth term as treasurer of New Brighton, and is manager of the clearing house of the associated banks of Beaver county, which association he helped to form. The subject of this record married Mary Wilson, daughter of Samuel B. Wilson, a prominent resident of Beaver, and this union has been blessed by the birth of the following children: Daniel R.; Samuel K.; Elizabeth; Margaret; William, and Mary, - the two last named being deceased. Mr. Davidson owns a beautiful home on the corner of Third avenue and Fifteenth street.