DAVISON Elsie Lois

Notes:

(The following was copied in part from the newspaper clipping that appeared at the time of her death. I thought it would be of interest to the rest of the Davison family. E.A.D. Simpson)

There is a Family History book in possession of the family which traces “THE DAVISONS” back as far as 1580, in SCOTLAND. (I would like to have a copy of that part.) Later they went to ENGLAND, and in 1639, Nicholas Davison, was sent from London to Charleston, Mass., as agent for Matthew Cradock, a merchant of London, England, who was appointed as the first governor of Mass., but who never came across the water.

Davison ancestors have participated in all of the Wars of this Country and in many directions branched out with honor to the family name. John P. Davison, (the one who later spelled his name Davidson), who was the youngest child and son of Asa Davison, was in the Mexican War, donated the ground west of Minonk, Ill., which comprises the Davison Cemetery.

Mrs. Elsie Lois Davison-McChesney, spent her childhood days in an atmosphere that now seems of another world. In those days, hay was cut with a scythe, and grain was cut with a cradle, and harvest time meant a gathering of neighbors to do the work and to enjoy the wonderful feasts that the good women folk would prepare. They spun their own yarn and wove their own cloth, and in the McChesney home now are articles of cloth that were made by Mrs. McChesney’s mother and aunt. (Sally Parks-Davison, and Fanny Parks.) Then and now seem centuries apart, yet here was a woman, with keen intellect intact to the last, who witnessed this almost unbelievable transition to the day of Radio, Air-transportation and similar marvelous developments.

She was survived by four children, Horace McChesney, of Lone Rock, Iowa; Edward McChesney of Minonk, Ill.; Mrs. Mary Elsie (W.R.O. Cothran), of Mason City, Iowa; and Mrs. Sara Lois (H.W.) Raynor, of What Cheer, Iowa. Her brother, Prosper Harvey Davison preceeded her in death several years ago. her husband, Jacob McChesney died August 28, 1917. They were the parents of six children.

Died:
Interment: Jan 1927 Davison (Yankeetown) Cemetery, Clayton , Woodford Co., IL

Elsie married MCCHESNEY Jacob on 09 Nov 1853 in Grafton, Renssealaer Co., NY. Jacob was born on 18 Mar 1835 in Grafton, Renssealaer Co., NY; died on 28 Aug 1917 in Minonk, Woodford Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. MCCHESNEY Louisa Emeline was born on 30 Dec 1855 in Clayton, Adams Co., IL.
2. MCCHESNEY Cassius Milton was born on 16 Oct 1858 in Minonk, Woodford Co., IL; died on 13 Jan 1921 in Packwood, Jefferson Co., IA.
3. MCCHESNEY Horace jacob was born on 21 Sep 1861 in Illinois; died on 08 Aug 1946 in Minonk, Woodford Co., IL.
4. MCCHESNEY Edward Dayton was born on 20 Aug 1864 in Minonk, Woodford Co., IL; died on 03 Feb 1945 in Minonk, Woodford Co., IL.
5. MCCHESNEY Mary Elsie was born on 19 Jan 1874 in Clayton, Adams Co., IL.
6. MCCHESNEY Sara Lois was born on 15 Feb 1877 in Clayton, Adams Co., IL.

Notes:

When first married, they lived with his brother, Daniel P. M. Davison, near the head of Second Pond. Afterwards, he bought a farm on the east side of Long Pond, in Grafton, NY, where he resided several years. Aunt Fanny Parks, a maiden sister of Aunt Sally Parks-Davison, made her home with them all the rest of her life, and went with them to Illinois, where she died.

He lived on a very rough, stoney farm. The great stone heaps and stone walls he built are a tribute to his strength and energy. He always took a great interest in religious matters, being a Deacon in the Baptist Church. In politics, he was a Jackson Democrat and held the highest offices in the town. He was for several years Captain of the Grafton Rifle Co., of New York State.

Socially, Uncle Milton's was one of the best places in the world to go visiting. They were always so kind and pleasant. They left the farm and kept the Quackenskill Hotel for awhile before they came to Illinois in 1855. In fact, all the Davisons have left OLD GRAFTON, where our branch of the Davison Family originated. I was there a few years ago, and there was not one there, and no relatives, except by marriage in town. (Written by A. A. Davison in 1905)

Milton came to Illinois and took up land west of Minonk, on Grand Prarie. came from rocks and stones of OLD GRAFTON, to where you could seldom find a stone large enough to throw at a bird. Tell that in Grafton, and you would find our veracity at stake. He showed the same dilligence and perserverance that he did in Grafton, and soon established another homestead, and by hard work and increased value of land, acquired a large fortune. Aunt Sally Parks-Davison died May 27, 1885. He then lived with his children about ten years, to the good old age of 83 years, 6 months, and passed away March 19, 1895, after a life well spent in Church, Sunday School, State and Home.

They are buried in the Yankee Town Cemetery, eight miles west of Minonk, Illinois.

Died:
Interment: Mar 1895 Davison (Yankeetown) Cemetery, Clayton , Woodford Co., IL

John married PARKS Sally on 24 Jun 1842 in Grafton, Renssealaer Co., NY. Sally was born on 13 Feb 1805; died on 27 May 1885 in Minonk, Woodford Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Died:
Interment: 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]