BIOGRAPHY: Dr. Thomas J. DAVISON, Cambria County, PA 

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From Wiley, Samuel T., ed. Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Cambria 
County, Pennsylvania. Philadelphia: Union Publishing Co., 1896, p. 199-200
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DR. THOMAS J. DAVISON, a prominent and successful physician and surgeon of 
Ebensburg, Cambria county, Pennsylvania, and a veteran of the Civil War, is a 
son of Robert and Eliza A. (Scott) Davison, and was born in Ligonier township, 
Westmoreland county, this State, April 30, 1838.
     Dr. Davison's paternal grandfather was John Davison, who was a native of 
the Emerald Isle, and was born in County Down. He emigrated to America in the 
year 1785, and soon made his way into the beautiful Ligonier valley, where he 
passed the remainder of his life, dying in about 1820. He as a weaver by trade, 
and followed that avocation all his life. One of his sons, Robert Davison, who 
was the father of Dr. Davison, was born in Ligonier valley, Westmoreland county, 
and died there December 27, 1895, universally loved and lamented. Possessed of 
strong mind and studious habits, he acquired a good education for his day, and 
taught school during the winter months until 1850. At that time he abandoned 
teaching, purchased a farm, and devoted the remainder of his active life to 
agricultural pursuits.
     In early life he espoused the principles of the Democratic party, but upon 
the issues of the Civil War, he, believing that human bondage was a curse to any 
civilized country, joined hands with the Republican party, and was ever 
afterward found among its loyal supporters. Religiously, he was reared a United 
Presbyterian, but in later life connected himself with the Methodist Episcopal 
church. He married Eliza A. Scott, who died in August, 1895, aged eighty years, 
and who bore him ten children, eight of whom grew to maturity: Dr. Thomas J., 
subject; Elizabeth, deceased, the wife of John Campbell; Annie, the wife of 
Andrew Henderson; Malissa, the wife of John McDowell, of Cooke township, 
Westmoreland county; James B., a carpenter of Unity township, same county; John 
A., a lumberman, of Wisconsin; Maria, the wife of Alfred Shrum, of Tarr's 
station, Westmoreland county; and George A., of Ligonier township, of the same 
county.
     Dr. Davison obtained his scholastic training in the common schools of his 
native county, and in the old and renowned Ligonier academy. Leaving the 
academy, he taught school and read medicine alternately, until the Civil War 
burst upon us in 1861. Imbued with patriotic sentiments, he enlisted in the 
Federal service, under Captain McCurdy, company E, Eleventh regiment, 
Pennsylvania Volunteer infantry, and served until the close of the war. He was 
connected with the Army of the Potomac, and participated in twenty-seven regular 
engagements and a number of skirmishes. Among the more important engagements may 
be the mentioned: Second Battle of Bull Run, South Mountain, Antietam, 
Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Wilderness, and Five Forks. In all 
his service he was never seriously wounded or captured, but made many very 
narrow escapes. He was present at the surrender of Lee at Appomattox, and 
throughout his entire service bore himself with gallantry and courage. To such 
soldiers we are indebted for the preservation of the union of the States.
     After the close of the war, he returned home and resumed the study of 
medicine under the preceptorship of Dr. L. T. Beam, of Ligonier. He afterwards 
taught school for a time, and in 1867 went to Indiana county, and there read 
under Fr. C. M. Ewing. Subsequently he completed his education in Philadelphia 
medical colleges, and in 1869 returned to Indiana county, and formed a 
partnership with his preceptor, Dr. Ewing, with whom he maintained pleasant 
relations for one year, when Dr. Ewing removed from that place, leaving his 
practice to Dr. Davison, who remained there until 1886, when he removed to 
Ebensburg, where he has since been engaged in active and successful practice. In 
connection with his practice he runs a drug store. Politically he is a 
republican, and is a school director of his borough, president of the board of 
health, and under the administration of Harrison was a member of the board of 
United States Pension examiners of Cambria county. He is a member of John M. 
Jones Post, No. 556, G. A. R., of which he is past commander; Highland Lodge, 
No. 428, I. O. O. F., of which he is a past grand; and Beulah Castle, No. 248, 
K. G. E., of which he is a past chief. He is a steward and trustee of the 
Methodist Episcopal church, and takes a lively interest in church affairs.
     On March 4, 1870, Dr. Davison and Miss Maggie B. Stophel, a daughter of 
Thomas and Elizabeth Stophel, of Indiana county, were married, and to them have 
been born nine children: Olive B., married Otto Wagner, a tanner of Buckhannon, 
West Virginia; Robert E., is taking a medical course in the University of 
Pennsylvania; Emma M., wedded   Charles White, a miller of Ebensburg; Annie W., 
clerk in her father's drug store at Ebensburg; and Charles S., Thomas Edison and 
Lydia are at home with their parents.