Henry M. Davison Biography


	This biography appears on pages 663-664 in "History of South 
	Dakota" by Doane Robinson, Vol. I (1904) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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	HENRY M. DAVISON. - The enterprising young business man and 
popular citizen whose name furnishes the heading of this review needs 
no formal introduction to the people of Springfield and Bon Homme 
county. Mr. Davison is in every sense of the word a western man, as he 
was born and reared in South Dakota and thus far his life has been very 
closely identified with the growth and development of Bon Homme county, 
where he first saw the light of day on January 5, 1870. His father, 
Henry C. Davison, was a native of Augusta, Maine, and his mother, who 
bore the maiden name of Alberta Mead, was born in the state of New 
York. These parents moved to Illinois a number of years ago, thence in 
1869 to Bon Homme county, South Dakota, where the father was engaged in 
merchandising until 1874, when he discontinued that line of business 
and began dealing in live stock. His experience in the latter industry 
was of brief duration, however, as he died the latter year, shortly 
after taking up his residence in Springfield. Mrs. Davison bore her 
husband two children and about two years after his death she became the 
wife of George W. Snow, with whom she now lives in the above town.  

	Henry M. Davison was born and reared in Springfield, South 
Dakota, and enjoyed the best educational advantages the schools of the 
town afforded. He early manifested a decided predilection for business 
and at the age of eighteen entered the Springfield Bank, in which he 
held an important position from 1888 to 1892. Severing his connection 
with that institution the latter year, he became associated with other 
parties in organizing the Springfield Hardware Company, with which 
enterprise he has since been connected, the business growing to large 
proportions the meanwhile, until the establishment is now the largest 
and most successfully conducted of the kind in the city. In 1903 the 
company added agricultural implements and farm machinery to their stock 
and the patronage in these lines is already large and lucrative and 
steadily increasing.  

	While deeply interested in his business affairs and making every 
other consideration subordinate thereto, Mr. Davison has not been 
unmindful of his obligations to the public or of his duties as a 
citizen. From an early age he has taken a lively interest in matters of 
public moment and since old enough to exercise the rights of the ballot 
he has been an earnest and zealous supporter of the Republican party. 
In recognition of his valuable political services as well as by reason 
of his peculiar fitness for the position, he was elected in 1896 
treasurer of Springfield, the duties of which office he discharged 
efficiently and to the entire satisfaction of the public for a period 
of five years. Later he was- further honored by being made mayor, and 
he is now in his second term in this office. During his incumbency 
municipal affairs have been ably and faithfully managed and the city is 
now enjoying one of the best administrations in its history.  

	Mr. Davison is one of the leading young men of his city and 
county, and his influence in business circles and public affairs has 
been marked and salutary. As already indicated, his life has been 
spent, in Springfield, and his personal history presents no pages 
marred or blotted by unworthy actions. Few men in the community are as 
widely and favorably known, none enjoy higher standing as a generous, 
obliging, self-sacrificing friend, and from what he has already 
accomplished it is safe to predict for him increased usefulness and 
additional public recognition and honor with each succeeding year. He 
is a member of the Knights of Pythias, in Springfield, and since 1891 
has been a member of Mt. Zion Lodge, No. 6, Free and Accepted Masons, 
in addition to which fraternities he is also identified with the Order 
of Eastern Star and the Modern Woodmen of America, having held 
important official positions in all of these organizations. Religiously 
he subscribes to the Episcopal creed, and with his wife belongs to the 
church at Springfield, in which he is a zealous worker and to the 
support of which he contributes liberally of his means and influence.  

	Mr. Davison, on January 15, 1896, contracted a matrimonial 
alliance with Miss Eva G. Stevens, an intelligent and accomplished 
young lady, who was born in Cass county, Iowa, and who with her husband 
has since moved in the best social circles of the city in which they 
reside. Mr. and Mrs. Davison have a beautiful home plentifully supplied 
with the comforts, conveniences and many of the luxuries and their 
domestic relations are indeed most pleasant and agreeable. Mrs. Davison 
was elected worthy grand matron, Order of the Eastern Star, of South 
Dakota, at Deadwood in June, 1903.