BIO: Joseph H. DAVIDSON, Centre County, PA

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Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania: Including 
the Counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion: Containing 
Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens, Etc. 
Chicago: J. H. Beers, 1898.
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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.  463

  JOSEPH H. DAVIDSON. Among the influential and wealthy citizens and 
progressive farmers of Union township, Centre county, the subject of 
this sketch occupies an honorable position. His beautiful farm of 140 
acres, which he purchased in 1881, is located on the Bellefonte road, 
in Bald Eagle Valley, and is one of the most highly productive and 
desirable places in the locality.
  Our subject was born at Buffalo Run, Centre county, June 11, 1842, 
and is a son of Alexander and Sarah (Hicks) Davidson, also natives of 
Centre county, where they spent their entire lives, and the father 
engaged in farming. He died in March, 1873, at the age of seventy-six 
years, and the mother passed away in 1857. Both were worthy members of 
the Advent Church, and in politics he was a Republican. Eight children 
blessed their union: Martha, wife, of W. Irwin, a farmer of Union 
township; Mary, who died in infancy; Hannah, widow of Harris Way, of 
Union township; Eliza, wife of William Taylor, of Centre county; Joseph 
H., of this review; James, a leading agriculturist of Centre county; 
Amanda, wife of Reuben T. Comly, of Union township; and one who died in 
infancy. After the death of his first wife, the father wedded Mrs. Mary 
(Walker) Watson, and to them were born three children: Michael, a 
butcher of Philipsburg, Penn.; Grant, a farmer of Centre county; and 
Ida, wife of William Brower, a farmer of Union township. The paternal 
grandfather of our subject, Joseph Davidson, throughout life engaged in 
farming in Centre county, where he died at a ripe old age.
  Mr. Davidson, the subject of this sketch, remained upon the home farm 
until his father's second marriage, when at the age of sixteen years he 
started out in the world to seek his own livelihood. He had previously 
acquired a fair education in the public schools of the county, and 
became familiar with agricultural pursuits, under his father's able 
direction. On leaving home he worked on different farms during the 
summer months, while his winters were spent in attending school. 
Subsequently he operated rented land until 1881, when he purchased the 
interest of the other heirs in the old homestead, and has since resided 
there, giving his time and attention to its cultivation and improvement 
with most gratifying results.
  In February, 1861, Mr. Davidson wedded Miss Lucy A. Hoover, who was 
born February 5, 1844, on the farm where she now resides, and is a 
daughter of Joseph and Rebecca (Orvill) Hoover, who spent their entire 
lives in Centre county. Her parents were both consistent members of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church, and her father gave his political support 
to the Republican party. He died in 1863, at the age of forty-five 
years, and his wife departed this life in 1881, at the age of fifty-
seven. In their family were the following children: Mary E., now of 
Altoona, Penn., widow of Col. John H. Stover, a lawyer by profession; 
Lucy A., wife of our subject; Helen, wife of Rev. R. H. Colburn, a 
Methodist Episcopal minister of Williamsport, Penn.; Willis, a merchant 
of Altoona; Adeline, wife of Harris Stover, an attorney of Altoona; and 
Arnold P., manager of the Northern Pacific railroad office at St. Paul, 
Minn. The paternal grandfather of Mrs. Davidson, John Hoover, was a 
large land owner of Centre county, where his death occurred.
  Ten children graced the union of our subject and his estimable wife: 
James, a farmer of Centre county; Blanche, wife of William Flick, a 
farmer of Unionville, Penn.; Ella, who died when young; Bertha L., 
Sarah R., Ina, Mary L., Willis P., Adeline A. and Helen C., with their 
parents. The children have all been provided with excellent educational 
advantages, several of them attending college, and the family is one of 
the most intellectual and prominent in the community. Socially, Mr. 
Davidson is a member of the Grange at Unionville, and politically is a 
Free-silver Democrat. He has most acceptably served as school director 
three years and road supervisor for two terms. His genial, social 
manner has gained him a host of friends, and his sterling worth and 
strict integrity comment him to the confidence and respect of all. He 
is one of the most energetic, enterprising and successful 
agriculturists of Union township, and has a high reputation in business 
circles as a man of sound judgment and excellent business 
qualifications.