Blair County PA Archives Biographies.....Davison, Capt. George C. March 29, 1845 - ????
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Source: Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Blair Co, PA: Philadelphia, 1892.
Author: Samuel T. Wiley

CAPT. GEORGE C. DAVISON
is a well known architect, contractor and builder of the borough of Tyrone,
and sole proprietor of the Tyrone Brick Works. He is the president of the
Tyrone Industrial Company, recently organized for the purpose of carrying on
manufacturing enterprises of various kinds in that city, and is an active,
far-seeing business man, possessed of executive ability. He is a son of John
A. and Ellen (Dunlap) Davison, and was born at Tyrone Forges, Blair county,
Pennsylvania, March 29, 1845. His paternal grandfather was John Davison, an
ironmaster, of Cecil county, Maryland, who failed in business during the
trying times that resulted from our second war with Great Britain, and in
1814 removed from Maryland to Tyrone Forges, this county, where he is entered
the employ of Lyon, Shorb & Co., and superintended the erection of the
machinery in their slitting mill and nail factory. He was a whig in politics.
He served as captain of a company of Maryland volunteers during the War of
1812. He died at Tyrone Forges about 1820. His wife was a Miss Armstrong and
they reared a family of six children, two sons and four daughters. John A.
Davison (father) was born in Cecil county, Maryland in 1803, but while yet a
lad came with his father's family to Tyrone Forges, this county. He passed
nearly all his life in this county, and died on his farm, west of Tyrone in
1876. He was the first machine nail cutter in central Pennsylvania, and
operated the first nail machine ever set up in this section, working under
the superintendence of his father, and in the employ of Lyon, Shorb & Co., at
Tyrone Forges. He remained with that firm until 1848, acting as forge
carpenter, weighmaster, etc. In 1848 he purchased a small farm in Snyder
township, where he resided until his death in 1876. He was a whig and later a
republican in politics, and served as school director, tax collector,
supervisor, and justice of the peace. He held the latter office for a period
of fifteen years in succession, and was elected for another term, but
declined to serve. He was a man of high moral character and strict rectitude
in all his dealings. He married Ellen Dunlap in 1829, and to their union was
born a family of eleven children, six sons (two of whom died in childhood)
and five daughters. Mrs. Davison was a native of Barree, Huntingdon county,
this state, born in 1807 and died in Tyrone, October 12, 1889. She was a very
capable woman and a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal Church for more
than seventy years.
   Capt. George C. Davison was reared on his father's farm near Tyrone,
accustomed to hard work during the summer, and attending school during the
winter. He was an apt student, and acquired a good English education in the
common schools of his native place. In 1862, when he was only seventeen years
of age, his young mind became imbued with military ardor, and leaving the
farm, he enlisted at Tyrone in Co. A, 125th Pennsylvania Infantry, and served
with that company until May 1863, when he was discharged at Harrisburg. At the
Battle of Chancellorsville he was wounded and left on the field for dead, but
finally revived, was taken to the hospital and recovered. In 1864 he
reenlisted as a veteran in a Pennsylvania battery, and served in the campaign
of that year, participating in all the engagements of the Army of the Potomac
from Rapidan to Petersburg. He was knocked down by the explosion of a shell
at the Battle of Cold Harbor, and received a contused wound in the right
forearm at the storming of the works before Petersburg. His battery was
consolidated with the 2d Pennsylvania artillery in September 1864, and with
that organization participated in the Battle of Chappen's Farm, north of
James River and afterward held the line of fortifications at Bermuda Hundred
until the evacuation of Richmond. After the surrender of Richmond this
command was stationed in the city of Petersburg, Virginia until February
1866, and was mustered out of service at Philadelphia sometime during the
following month. 
   In 1875 he was commissioned captain of the National Guard of Centre county,
this state, by Governor Hartranft, and served as such until September 1876,
when he resigned and removed to Blair county, locating on the old homestead
near Tyrone. In 1880 he moved into the borough of Tyrone, where he has since
resided, and engaged extensively in contracting and building. He is also an
architect of experience and ability, and a number of fine buildings in that
place are built after plans originated by him. In addition to his other
business, Captain Davison is sole proprietor of the Tyrone brick works. He
has been successful in all business enterprises, and possesses good judgment
and the energy necessary to make his mark in the business world. He is now
serving as president of the Tyrone Industrial Company, recently organized for
the purpose of carrying on manufacturing enterprises in that city. Politically
he is a republican, very firm in his convictions and ardent in the support he
gives his party. He has served as councilman of Tyrone.
On December 29, 1868, Captain Davison was wedded to Westanna M. Jones of
Tyrone, and to their union was born a family of five children, only two of
whom now survive: Maude born September 17, 1870 and married William C.
Grazier, a carpenter, residing in Tyrone; Oren J., born August 29, 1873, and
died September 17, 1874; Viola, born May 1, 1875 deceased October 22, 1876;
George L., born April 9, 1877 and passed from earth October 17, 1891; Leo P.,
born January 15, 1880.

Additional Comments:
Originally submitted 2001. Transcribed by Janet Gray.

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