BIO: JOHN S. DAVIDSON, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania
   
  Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Joe Patterson
  OCRed by Judy Banja

  Copyright 2004.  All rights reserved.
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  >From Biographical Annals of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania,
  Chicago: The Genealogical Publishing Co., 1905, pages 330-331
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  NOTE: Use this web address to access other bios:
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     JOHN S. DAVIDSON was for many years one of the most substantial citizens of
  West Pennsboro township, Cumberland county, where for over thirty years he
  madehis home on the farm now occupied by his widow.

    Mr. Davidson was born March 2, 1829, in West Pennsboro township, son of
  Alexander Davidson and grandson of John Davidson. His father was also a
  native of Cumberland county. He settled on a farm in the Kerrsville district,
  and prospered in his agricultural work so that he was enabled to add to his
  possessions until he owned five hundred acres. In 1858 he retired from active
  work, locating in Newville, where he and his wife passed the remainder of
  their days, Mr. Davidson dying Oct. 19, 1865, at the age of seventy-eight
  years. He married Miss Jane Woodburn, daughter of John and Jane Woodburn, of
  Dickinson township, Cumberland county, and she survived him a number of
  years, passing away Aug. 19, 1879, when eighty years and eight months old.
  Mr. and Mrs. Davidson were the parents of eight children.

    John S. Davidson received his early education in the local schools, and
  supplemented the instruction there received with study in the academy at
  Lititz, Lancaster Co., Pa. After starting life on his own account he carried
  on merchandising at Plainfield, in West Pennsboro township, from 1851 to
  1859, in the latter year abandoning mercantile pursuits and settling on his
  fine farm of 150 acres in the township, where he passed the remainder of his
  days. He died there in 1891, and his widow has lived there ever since. The
  place was formerly owned by Rev. Joshua Williams, a Presbyterian minister,
  who built the handsome residence which still adorns the place. Mr. Davidson
  was a successful business man, and, like his, father, was a director of the
  First National Bank of Newville, of which at the time of his death he was
  president. He always took a lively interest in public affairs,

    CUMBERLAND COUNTY.  331
 
  served many years on the township school board, and was appointed internal
  revenue assessor for the townships of Dickinson, West Pennsboro, and
  Frankford. His political support was given to the Republican party.
 
    On Jan. 1, 1856, Mr. Davidson was united in marriage with Miss Jane A.
  Davidson, daughter of John Davidson, who was a native of West Pennsboro
  township, and there followed farming throughout his active years.