BIO: John Blair Davidson, Cumberland County, PA

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http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cumberland/
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History of Cumberland and Adams Counties, Pennsylvania.
Containing History of the Counties, Their Townships, Towns, Villages, 
Schools, Churches, Industries, Etc.; Portraits of Early Settlers and 
Prominent Men; Biographies; History of Pennsylvania; Statistical and 
Miscellaneous Matter, Etc., Etc.  Illustrated.  Chicago: Warner, Beers 
& Co., 1886.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cumberland/beers/beers.htm
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                                PART II.

             HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY. PENNSYLVANIA.

                              CHAPTER XLI.

                         BOROUGH OF NEWVILLE. 

449  BOROUGH OF NEWVILLE.

  JOHN BLAIR DAVIDSON, bank cashier, Newville.  The great-grandfather 
of this gentleman, John Davidson, was one of the first to take up land 
in West Pennsborough Township, this county.  His farm is still in 
possession of a descendant, James A. Davidson.  He was born in 1743 and 
died in 1823.  His son, John, was born in 1772; was married to 
Elizabeth Young, and died in 1810, his widow dying in 1823; they had 
five chil-

450  BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

dren:  Eleanor, John Young, Samuel, Nancy and William.  Of these, 
Samuel was born April 20, 1804, and after getting such education as the 
schools of that day afforded he went to Carlisle, learning the trade of 
a tanner with Andrew Blair.  Mastering the trade he came to Newville, 
and worked in a tannery, which he soon bought, and ran for a number of 
years.  An upright, generous man he often helped others to his own 
detriment.  October 19, 1830, Samuel Davidson married Catherine Leckey, 
born May 21, 1807, daughter of Alexander Leckey, of West Pennsborough 
Township, this county.  To this union were born three children:  
Alexander Leckey (deceased in 1852); John Blair; and Elizabeth A. 
(residing in Newville).  Mr. Davidson died in August, 1880, his wife in 
April of the same year.  For forty-four years he was an elder in the 
Big Spring Presbyterian Church.  John Blair Davidson was born December 
24, 1833, in Newville, Penn.  He completed his education at Jefferson 
College, Washington County, Penn., graduating in 1852, and taught 
school for ten years, at the end of which time he went into the 
quartermaster department, at Washington, for five and a half years, 
where he learned those methodical habits which have done so much to 
make him successful.  In 1869 he returned to Newville, and entered the 
First National Bank, and in 1882 was promoted to the responsible 
position of cashier.  In October, 1857, he married Margaret Ellen, 
daughter of William Burnside, of Centre County, Penn., one of which 
family, Thomas, was judge of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania.  They 
have one son, Samuel A., born in October, 1860, who lives with his 
parents.  The family are all members of Big Spring Presbyterian Church.  
Mr. Davidson is characterized by straightforward, unremitting attention 
to his responsible duties, which he discharges in a manner eminently 
satisfactory to the directors and to all with whom he is brought into 
contact.