DAVISON Daniel Harrison

Notes:

He always took great interest in studies and became probably one of the best Mathematicians in the Country. Advanced as far as possible at the old Cobb's school house and at Grafton Centre, then attended New York Normal School at Albany, NY. commenced teaching when eighteen and followed it for a great many years. When he married, he bought out the heirs to the old homestead and resided there a number of years. He then sold out to Simeon Corbin and came west. Bought land west of Minonk, IL of the Illinois Central Railroad Co., and made a nice home. Followed farming, surveying and teaching. He has been County Surveyor nearly forty years. March 25, 1902, he and his wife celebrated their fiftieth anniversary of their marriage. Takes great delight in figuring out difficult problems and does surveying in other parts of the State. (Almond Alexander Davison, brother of Daniel Harrison Davison)


(The following was copied from the Minonk, IL newspaper at the time of his death, by Elsie Arvilla Davison-Simpson.)
DATE: September 17, 1914
DEATH PICKS OUT A SHINNING TARGET

Earthly pilgrimage of Daniel Harrison Davison closes on last Sunday night.
Long an Illustrious Citizen.
Funeral Services held at Late Home at 3:30 p.m. yesterday and Burial in Minonk Cemetery.

Daniel Harrison Davison, for many years one of Minonk’s most illustrious citizens, died at his home in this city on Sunday night at 9:45 o’clock. He had lived longer than his allotted three score years and ten, the active part of his life covering that period of time. Two years ago he began to show the feebleness of age, and death was surreptitously hastened when a stroke of paralysis overcame him one day last week, which caused the aged man to sink gradually into eternal sleep of death. His age was 88 years, 3 months and 19 days.

The life history of Daniel H. Davison, is full of intense interest. As we turn over the pages which record from birth to death this man’s career, we feel that there is written something deeper, something greater than we are accustomed to read. Born at Grafton, Rensselaer County, NY, on May 25, 1826, he came of ancestry that can be traced back as far as 1611, when Nicholas Davison, was born and who, as early as 1639, came to America and landed at Charleston, Mass., as the agent of Matthew Cradock, a merchant of London, and the first nominal governor of Mass. The Davisons were closely connected with all the events of those momentious times, various members of the family taking part in the Revolutionary War and the French and Indian Wars. They lived through the Puritan days and saw witchcraft come, and saw witchcraft go.

All of the hardships of those pioneer days were met with that perseverance and that determination which implanted in the decendants the strength of character, the virility, the ambition, which resulted in success for so many of them.

Daniel H. Davison, grew to manhood in the Empire State, and while still a resident of that State, he was united in marriage to Miss Louisa Ann Bly. Mr. Davison, became the owner of the old homestead, which was owned and improved by his great grandfather, and which had been in possession of the family from that time until 1855, when it was finally sold to other parties. In the meanwhile Daniel H. Davison, turned his attention to School teaching and to topographical surveying. The latter occupation took him at different times to Maine, Massachusetts, and to Pennsylvania, and these journeys afforded him much experience and general information.

In 1857, Mr. Davison, came to Illinois and invested in 80 acres of praire land lying three miles west of Minonk, IL, for which he paid $16.00 per acre to the Illinois Central Railroad Co. The prairies at that time swarmed with wolves and at the very site where he later built his home, he waged a fierce battle with a den of the animals. From time to time Mr. Davison added to his possessions and for the evening of his life he had acquired a rich competence.

During all these years, Mr. Davison, gained an enviable reputation as a Surveyor. He was a stanch Democrat and for more than fifty years he was elected and served as County Surveyor for Woodford County. His surveying expeditions took him to many localities and to many counties in the State. He was on the commission appointed to survey Hudson Township, McLean County, and he also surveyed Milan Township, Macon County. So accurate and well-known was his knowledge on the subject that he was frequently called as a witness in contested cases of boundry lines. He also did the surveying for all of the mines in this part of the State. His various surveys, when subjected to the decision of the Court were invariably approved.

But this man of brains needed more to occupy him than this. He was also a great Mathemetician and as such he gained a nation-wide reputation, many of his problems having been published throughout the United States and Canada. He composed many problems and theorems, and wrote many articles on that subject, most of them being published in the School Visitor of Ohio, which receives contributions from many of the ablest mathematicians in the United States.

What a marvelous life to contemplate and what a rich heritage to those who come after him! A life which touched the life of every President of the United States, except that of George Washington. (Also, though he did not know it, that of President Kennedy, who was born after his Death.) John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, living at the time of his birth, both passed away on the same day, July 4, 1826. Mr. Davison saw the wonderful development of the nineteenth century, and its application to the arts of life in this great twentieth century. He has seen history made in four Wars. Has seen Presidents and Generals come and go. Railroads and telephones and telegraphs and the wireless mode of communication developed. Automobiles and flying machines perfected, and to the very last his keen intellect followed with deep interest and progress that the world was making.

Some years ago, Mr. Davison retired from the farm and with his wife, moved to this city. Mrs. Louisa Ann Bly-Davison, departed from this life about five years ago.

Common in dress, common in speach, common in every day life, almost eccentric in his commoness, Mr. Davison was a familiar figure in the city. Unostentatious at all times, his worth, like that of all men of finer clay, was but realized after it grew beyond our reach. Mr. Davison lived to be the oldest of all the generations in the history of the Davison family.

The following children survive: Mrs. Ada C. Taylor, of Minonk, IL; Joseph a. Davison of Ft. Myers, FL; Daniel Melvin Davison of Bloomington, IL; Cyrus Elmar Davison of El Campo, TX; Mrs. Minnie A. (F.W.) Wilcox of Minonk, IL; Dr. Dexter H. Davison of Bombay, India; and Orris Merton Davison of Woodrow, FL. Mary H. Davison died in childhood, and William Archer Davison, passed away in 1891. There are also twenty-two grandchildren who survive, and seven great-grandchildren, and one aged brother, Almond Alexander Davison of Manito, IL.

Short funeral services were held at the residence yesterday afternoon at 3:30, being conducted by Rev. J. Clark Oranger of the First Baptist Church. The music was furnished by a quartette composed of Mr. and Mrs. Harrison Parks, (son of Louisa Malinda Davison-Parks, daughter of Daniel P.M. Davison, and nephew and niece and their two children.), Miss Louisa and Harvey Parks.

The Rob Norris Lodge, A.F.& A.M., of which the deceased had been an honor member for many years, led the funeral procession to the Mononk Cemetery, where they conducted the impressive Masonic burial services, Louis Zinger of Pekin, officiating.

Those from out of town who came to attend the funeral were, Mr. and Mrs. Ray Hedrick, (daughter of his son Joseph,) and Mr. and Mrs. Elbert Davison, (son of Joseph,) of Polo, IL. Mrs. Hattie Webber-Davison, (wife of William Archer Davison,) and Miss Nellie Webber, (her sister,) of Rutland; Edward Wilson, Mrs. Dr. Mammen and Daniel Melvin Davison and family, (Daniel M., is son of D.H., Edward Wilson, D.M.'s brother-in-law; Mrs. Mammen, is Sarah Malinda Parks-Mammen, fifth child of Louisa Malinda Davison-Parks, a neice of Daniel H. Davison;) all came from Bloomington, IL. Cyrus Elmer of El Campo, Texas; and Orris M. Davison of Woodrow, FL, (a son). Because of the European War, all efforts to reach Dr. Dexter H. Davison, (a son) of Bombay, India were unavailing.

The family wishes to express their sincere thanks for the many kindnesses shown by their friends.

Died:
Interment: Sep 1914 , Minonk , Woodford Co., IL

Daniel married BLY Louisa Ann on 25 Mar 1852 in Sand Lake, Rensselaer Co., NY. Louisa was born on 26 Mar 1829 in Sand Lake, Rensselaer Co., NY; died on 18 Feb 1909. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. DAVISION Ada Carolyn was born on 19 Jan 1854 in Sand Lake, Rensselaer Co., NY; died on 18 Oct 1936 in Edgar, Clay Co., NE.
2. DAVISON Mary Malinda was born on 30 Oct 1855; died on 25 Feb 1858.
3. DAVISON Joseph A. was born on 18 Jan 1859 in Minonk, Woodford Co., IL; died on 17 Nov 1932 in Fort Myers, Lee Co., FL.
4. DAVISON Daniel Melvin was born on 24 Dec 1860; died on 29 Jun 1933 in Yakima, Yakima Co., WA.
5. DAVISON William Archibald was born on 26 Aug 1862 in Minonk, Woodford Co., IL; died on 06 Apr 1891 in Minonk, Woodford Co., IL.
6. DAVISON Cyrus Elmer was born on 10 Mar 1865 in Minonk, Woodford Co., IL; died on 22 Jun 1953 in Houston, Harris Co., Texas.
7. DAVISON Minnie Arvilla was born on 09 Aug 1867; died on 23 Apr 1948.
8. DAVISON Dexter Harrison was born on 29 Sep 1869; died on 06 Dec 1950 in Tucson, Pima Co., AZ.
9. DAVISON Orris Mertin was born on 03 Jun 1872 in Minonk, Woodford Co., IL; died on 16 Aug 1950 in Fort Myers, Lee Co., FL.
10. DAVISON Ruth Alene was born on 09 Oct 1896 in Minonk, Woodford Co., IL; died on 07 Jan 1985 in Fort Myers, Lee Co., FL.

Notes:

After his father died, he bought out the heirs to the homestead where his father and grandfather had lived and died. He was a carpenter by trade, also a farmer. In 1837, he tore down the old house and built a new house on the same foundation where his father’s house had stood. That house was burned in 1848, while occupied by his widow, Malinda Maxon-Davison, and again rebuilt on the same spot. It stands there yet. Also the same old barn that grandfather Ezra Davison built.

Have a kodak picture of the house and barn, also a section of stone wall taken by Mrs. Minnie Arvilla (F.W.) Wilcox, of Minonk, IL in 1901. The fences and the old place are mostly stone walls. There are stones enough to fence the land in one acre fields and then have enough left to nearly cover the ground. The land produces good grass and the best potatoes and other vegetables, and SUCH GOOD APPLES.

We will remember the Greecy Greening, and the Barn apples, so mellow we could crush them in our hands. The Honey Sweeting, the Pobiquamp, that was large and just right for cooking without sugar; the White House Sweeting, a large striped sweet apple; the Cheesebrook, and the Rhode Island Greening; the juicy apple and the Streaked Sweeting; and many others that we well remember, and it makes our mouths water to think of them. The trees in the old orchard were nearly all gone when I was there in 1889.

Daniel P. M. Davison was a very ambitious man, but never enjoyed good health. He was exempt from military duty because of this. He died at age 39 years, 4 months, and 13 days. He took great interest in religious matters. He was Superintendent of the first Sunday School at Cobb’s School House. Was a Methodist, and held prominent offices in that Church. The preachers were frequent visitors, and prayer meetings were held at his house. He also held responsible offices in town. He was a good neighbor, a good father, and a good Christian. (A. A. Davison)

Daniel married MAXON Matilda on 14 Dec 1823. Matilda was born on 25 Mar 1806 in Woodford Co., IL; died on 30 Aug 1871 in Woodford Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Died:
Interment: Sep 1871 Davison (Yankeetown) Cemetery, Clayton , Woodford Co., IL

Notes:

Although family tradition holds that Ezra enlisted when he was but 16, the first record of his service is his enlistment in Capt. Benjamin Durkee’s company of Matrosses, at Port Trumbull, Connecticut, August 12, 1782, his 17th birthday.

They took up land two miles northeast of Grafton Centre. the country was then a wilderness. They built a house, cleared the land of forest, planted on archard, and built stone walls, or fences. Panthers used to steal their sheep. Bears were in the woods. There were few settlers. No Church nor School House. The first school district was organized, Sept. 13, 1813, and they voted to build a school house on a man's land, whose name was Cobb. (It was always called the Cobb's school house.) It was sixteen feet square with an entry large enough to hold a load of wood. They levied a tax of $75.00, the rest was to be paid in work. Three or four generations of Davisons studied Webster's spelling book, Daboll’s arithmetic, and the English Reader, and perhaps got punished in the Cobb’s school house.

The first trustees were Daniel Mills, Foster Reynolds, and Bradick Peekham, Jr., moderator, Elisha Wells, Clerk Daniel Mills. A great many prominent men were educated in the Cobb's school house. About 1842, Van Ransellaer, the Patron, offered a set of outline maps, to the best school in Grafton, to be examined by a committee at the Church in Grafton Centre. We carried home the maps and were justly proud of it. I visited the spot in 1889. Found nothing but the foundation stones and thickly grownup weeds and brush. (A. A. Davison)

Ezra lived and raised his family on what we call the “Old Davison Homestead.”

Ezra married SMITH Diedamia on 24 May 1790 in Argyle, Penobscot Co., ME. Diedamia was born in 1774; died in 1853. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Record and Pension Office, War Department.
Respectfully returned to Almond A. Davison, Manito, Illinois.
Washington, D.C., March 28, 1896.

The records of this office show that Asa Davison, served as a private in Captain Nathaniel Webb's Company, 4th Battalion, Connecticut Forces, commanded by Col John Durkee, Revolutionary War. He enlisted, March 1, 1778, to serve 5 months, was discharged, January 1, 1779.

The records also show that Asa Davison, served as a private in the 1st Company, Fifth Connecticut Regiment, Commanded by Lieut. Col. Sherman, Revolutionary War. His name first appears on the roll for March 1782, and he was discharged, June 22, 1782.

The records further show that Asa Davison, served as a private in Capt. Nehemiah Rise's Company, 8th Connecticut Regiment, Revolutionary War. He enlisted Aug. 16, 1779 to serve six months, and was discharged, Jan. 15, 1780.

The records also show that Ezra Davison, served as a private in Capt. Benjamin Durkee's Company of Matrosses, at Port Trumbull, Connecticut. He enlisted, Aug. 12, 1782, (That day he was 17 years old.), to serve 12 months, and was discharged, Aug. 12, 1783. By authority of the Secretary of War. Signed by Col. U.S. Army Chief in Office.

Note that they were enlisted for short campaigns of a few months to a year, following which they would return home to take care of farm and family, then enlist again. (GEW)

In other accounts, Asa Davison appears at “The Battle of Lexington”, and “The Battle of Monmouth”. He was also with Gen. Benedict Arnold, on his famous campaign to Canada.

Asa served with the English Army during the French and Indian War, at the siege of Louisburg, Nova Scotia. After the war, the family settled there for a time, where his son, Ezra was born in 1765. At some point, he moved the family back south, as we find him in Ashford, Massachusetts at the start of the Revolutionary War.

At some point after the war, the family migrated on down to Grafton, New York, where Asa died in 1824. He was buried in the Brock burying ground in the northeast part of Grafton.

Died:
Interment: 1831 Brock Cemetery, near Grafton , Rensselaer Co., NY

Asa married PRIDE Sarah. Sarah was born on 24 Aug 1743. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]