DAVISSON Alfred Nathaniel

Notes:

Alfred N. Davisson, who was buried at LeClaire on Friday, September 23, was a near relative of Stonewall Jackson. He would have been 76 years of age in November. His grandfather, Daniel Davisson, was one of the earliest pioneers of the western border of Virginia and located on the site of the present city of Clarksburg, W. Va., before the Revolutionary War. At that period, the pioneer wielded both rifle and axe, for a pathway was being broken toward the "dark and bloody ground" of Kentucky, and woods and mountains swarmed with savage foes. This grandsire was one of the leading founders of Clarksburg and gave it liberal grants of land. Mr. Davisson's father (Lemuel Edward) was a lawyer by profession, a colonel of the Virginia militia, and a member of the house of delegates. He died at an early age, leaving a valuable estate to four motherless children, of which they were afterwards entirely defrauded.

At a proper age, Mr. Davisson began a commercial career in the city of Baltimore with the prominent firm of A. Tyson & Co. He manifested literary abilities, and his contributions to leading publications of the day attracted flattering notice. Soon, however, he turned his entire attention to business and won his way to an influential position in the house employing him. He remained with this firm until he became a middle-aged man--in fact, until it was dissolved by the death of the leading member. He was also, for many years, secretary of a wealthy land company. While with Tyson & Co., Mr. D. visited relatives in Iowa and passed through Davenport when there were not above half a dozen houses here. On the dissolution of the firm, he removed to LeClaire with a large family, and in conjunction with Lemuel Parkhurst, went into a general mercantile business, having the sole management of it. He built up a flourishing trade, but the panic of '57 brought disaster, and the business was closed out, all debts being paid. He was afterwards in the employ of John Applegate for many years in grain and merchandizing, after which he did some buying and shipping on a small scale for himself.

He belonged to no church or society, and was reticent of his opinions on all subjects. Although somewhat reserved, he was a generous and warmhearted man. His wife long ago preceded him to the grave. Mrs. Lemuel Parkhurst of this city is his sister. He has four sons engaged in business in St. Louis, a daughter resides at Rock City, Ia., another at Princeton, and three at LeClaire. In politics he was a democrat. He had resided in LeClaire about forty years.

Died:
Interment: 23 Sep 1892 , LeClair , Scott Co., IA

Alfred married ANDERSON Sarah A. about 1841. Sarah was born on 01 Mar 1822 in Hagerstown, Washington Co., MD; died on 02 Jul 1881 in LeClaire, Scott Co., IA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. DAVISSON Thomas L was born in 1843; died in 1896.
2. DAVISSON Henry C. was born on 22 Sep 1844; died on 06 Nov 1913.
3. DAVISSON Josephine Ellen was born on 22 Jan 1846 in Baltimore Co., MD; died on 27 Aug 1913 in Blue Grass, Scott Co., IA.
4. DAVISSON Zachary Talor was born in 1847; died in 1917.
5. DAVISSON Emma was born on 04 Mar 1849; died in 1918.
6. DAVISSON Alice was born on 04 Mar 1849 in Baltimore Co., MD; died on 04 Mar 1941 in Davenport, Scott Co., IA.
7. DAVISSON Frances was born on 21 Jan 1851 in Baltimore Co., MD; died on 19 Aug 1926 in LeClaire, Scott Co., IA.
8. DAVISSON George Leonard was born on 28 Dec 1852; died on 15 Aug 1858.
9. DAVISSON Lemuel was born in 1854 in LeClaire, Scott Co., IA; died in 1906.
10. DAVISSON Mary L. was born in 1856; died in 1931.
11. DAVISSON Sarah was born in 1859; died in 1859.
12. DAVISSON George Alfred was born on 03 Nov 1860; died on 02 Feb 1863.
13. DAVISSON William was born in 1862; died in 1887.
14. DAVISSON Tyson was born in 1863; died in 1935.

Lemuel married TURNER Rachael on 16 Aug 1815 in Harrison Co., WV. Rachael was born in 1794 in Shepherdstown, Jefferson Co., WV. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

In 1773, Daniel and Prudence built a log cabin on Elk Creek in Harrison County, VA on the present day site of Clarksburg, WV. Their claim on 400 acres of land was recognized when the land commissioner sat in Clarksburg in 1781. By 1778, Davisson had permitted a number of settlers to build cabins adjacent to his. One cabin joined another to form a wall that made the little village a fort. In that time of Indian raids, a fort was a necessary consideration.

At its first meeting near Buckhannon in 1784, the Harrison County Court decided to place the county buildings on Daniel Davisson’s. George Jackson asked permission at the same meeting to build a dam and grist mill on Elk Creek about a hundred yards from the edge of the village. Daniel is everywhere in the court records of the 1780’s. He viewed the road “to Levi Shinn’s”, filled and order to “to build stocks, whipping post, and pillory” in 1785 and collected a shilling for candles he furnished the justices in 1786. He accepted a place on the committee to superintend construction of a building for Randolph Academy in 1788 and proved to the court that he worked 20 days in 1788 and 30 days in 1790 as a commissioner helping to cut a road from the State Road near Kingwood to the mouth of the Little Kanawha River. In 1788, he presented the court his commission as a Captain in The Virginia militia.

The Harrison County court ordered a courthouse erected in 1787 and by 1790, Daniel had built a residence and “ordinary” across the street. This establishment functioned as a store, hotel, restaurant and meeting place. In 1790, the county court accepted Hezekiah Davisson in place of Daniel “to keep the road in repair from for of Elk in Clarksburg to Limestone Creek and from the courthouse to the mouth of the Elk”.

Apparently the Davisson establishment served an an unofficial adjunct to the Courthouse. By 1795, the court authorized Daniel to “keep the courthouse key and to sweep the courthouse clean for a year at 15 shillings.” By 1800, the court allowed Daniel $12.50 for his room to hold court for 1 year.

In 1799, Daniel was commissioned a Major in the 11th Regiment of the Virginia Militia. That year the governor received Daniel’s name as a man likely to be a justice of Harrison County. Daniel was voted a delegate to thwe Virginia Assembly in 1801 and in 1802. In 1817, Daniel was appointed High Sheriff of Harrison County for 1 year. Prudence (Izzard) Davisson died in 1806 and Daniel in 1818.

BIBLIOGRAPHY:
"Clarksburg, A Bicentennial Album"
"History of Harrison County WV" p.153

From:
A History and Genealogy
The Davissons
Twelve Generations
1630-1992
Davidson-Davison-Davisson Families
By Russell Lee Davisson published 1993.

Major Daniel Davisson (Obadiah, Josiah, Daniel) was born in the Millstone Valley of New Jersey, circa 1748; he died at Clarksburg, Virginia, in 1819; Daniel Davisson is buried at the Hopewell Baptist Grounds, near West Main and Chestnut streets, at Clarksburg, Harrison County, Virginia (West Virginia), now the Daniel Davisson DAR Cemetery. He was probably married in 1772, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Prudence Izzard, daughter of George Izzard of South Carolina; said to be a niece of Aaron Burr; she died circa 1806(?) (deed 1808). Her name was variously spelled as Izzard and Izard, but the later spelling is used by her Davisson progeny.

His 400-acre settlement right made in 1773, and certified in 1781, included the principal part of Clarksburg between Elk Creek and the West Fork River. His cabin was allegedly located on Chestnut Street between Pike and Main streets. From being the first settler, he is known as the "Proprietor of Clarksburg." He later built a large stone building on the northwest corner of Second and Main streets where he live for many years. For a long time he kept an ordinary, a tavern or eating house serving regular meals, which was authorized by the county court held 18 September 1787. The author's grandfather told him that next to Daniel Davisson's ordinary was a large livery where he also provided stall hay and oats for the horses of his customers.

Major Davisson was one of the leading men of the county. He took part in the revolutionary struggle being commander of Nutter's Fort. His revolutionary service is referred to in the pension affidavit of his brother Isaac mentioned previously. At the court held on 18 March 1785 he was awarded a contract for the erection at Clarksburg of stocks, a whipping post and pillory. At the following April court he was named surveyor of a highway in "Monongalie," Harrison and Ohio counties, Virginia. Daniel and Hezekiah Davisson were appointed to a commission to locate the road. In 1788, these same Davissons were named trustees for Randolph Academy, then authorized by the General Assembly of Virginia. He was a delegate to the House of Burgesses in 1801-1803. At the age of sixty-nine years, in 1817, he was named high sheriff for Harrison County by the governor of Virginia.

The earliest record of the building of a church in Clarksburg is contained in a deed from Daniel Davisson dated June 21, 1790, which convenes to the "Congregation of Regular Baptist member of Hopewell Church and their successors, in consideration of ten shillings, a lot containing three rods and seven perches." This lot is located on the south side of what is now Main Street, just west of Chestnut Street, and was used a a burial ground from 1788 until shortly after the close of the Civil War. The Daniel Davisson Chapter of the DAR was named in his honor. The chapter currently maintains the burial grounds as a historic site; the church and most grave markers have long disappeared.

Died:
Interment: 1818 Hopewell Baptist Church (now Daniel Davisson DAR Cemetery)

Maj. married IZARD Prudence in 1772 in Philadelphia, Philadelphia Co., PA. Prudence was born in 1750 in Philadelphia, Philadelphia Co., PA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Birth:
or 1720

Obadiah married Elizabeth about 1743 in Millstone River, near Princeton, Mercer Co., NJ. Elizabeth was born about 1721 in Hunterdon Co., NJ. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]