William W. Davidson is now nearly 84 years old, and he is the oldest settler living in the county. He came here with his father in 1799, when he was only six months old. He was born in Fayette County, Pennsylvania, on November 6, 1798. He has been a minister of the gospel for about fifty years.
His father, William Davidson, died November 16, 1811, and his mother, Barbara (McDole) Davidson, October 18, 1831. Mr. Davidson has been thrice married. His first wife was Sarah Short; the date of the ceremony was May 31, 1821. She was born March 26, 1803 and died October 23, 1834. The following are their children by this marriage:
- Ira H., born September 9, 1822, died in November 1822
- William F., February 4, 1825, resides in St. Louis, Missouri
- Paton S., September 16, 1827, resides at La Crosse, Wisconsin
- Matilda (Shepherd), August 20, 1829, died March 16, 1862
- Sarah (Shepherd), April 10, 1832, resides at Port Byron, Illinois.
His second wife was Nancy (Lawson) Davidson. They were married on November 30, 1837. She was born December 3, 1803, and died December 5, 1853. The following are the children:
- Nancy (Brubaker), born March 7, 1839, resides in Lawrence County, Ohio
- Thomas L., June 27, 1840, resides at St. Louis,
- Joseph, December 5, 1842, died October 18, 1855
- Jeremiah J., March 30, 1845, resides in this county
- Harrison K., January 27, 1847, died September 13, 1847.
The third marriage of Mr. Davidson took place in Lawrence County, Ohio, on October 5, 1854, to Lovina, daughter of Christian and Martha (Lee) Yingling, whose death took place September 12, 1856, and May 8, 1877, respectively. They settled in this county in 1798. Mrs. Davidson was born in Lawrence County on July 7, 1815. The following are the children of this marriage:
- Lovina, born August 20, 1855, died September 8, 1879
- Robert Y., January 13, 1857, resides in St. Louis, Missouri
- Mary K. (Ferguson), June 14, 1858, resides at home.
Andrew Yingling, the grandfather of the present Mrs. Davidson, was one of the warriors of the revolution, serving seven or eight years. Christian Yingling, her father, was a soldier in the War of 1812.
Two of Mr. Davidson’s sons were in the late war. Thomas L. enlisted in 1862 in the 27th Ohio Volunteer Infantry and served three years; he was wounded at the battle of Atlanta, which disabled him for further service, and he was honorably discharged. Jerry J. enlisted in August 1864, in the 173rd Ohio Volunteer Infantry, serving one year, and was discharged at Camp Dennison.
Mr. Davidson resides on a farm in Perry Township. Address, South Point, Lawrence County, Ohio.
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