- THOMAS DAVIDSON, one of the leading citizens of Milton, was
born on the 20th day of
- January, 1806, in Litchfield County, Conn., and is a son
of John and Asenath (FLETCHER) DAVIDSON. He was reared to manhood
in his native State, and when twenty years of age removed to
New York, where for twenty years he engaged in farming. He is
numbered among the pioneers of Rock County of 1846, having left
New York in that year and emigrated to Wisconsin, reaching his
destination on the 26th day of June. Going to the home of James
SOWLE he took up his temporary residence in a little log cabin.
He at once engaged in farming and in connection with that occupation
did job work for some time. In 1852 he purchased a farm in the
town of Milton. Subsequently he erected a home on a farm of eighty
acres, which he had purchased in 1865 on section 19. He owned
that land for about twelve years, engaging in is cultivation
and development, when he sold out in 1881 and retired from active
life. He has made his home in Milton, where he is an honored
and prominent citizen, most of the time since 1847, when he built
a log house on the northeast quarter of section 27, in the south
part of the town. In 1868 he built a frame house which was burned
in 1873. In 1874 he built his present residence. When Mr. DAVIDSON
came to Milton there were in the south part of the village only
the Peter McEWAN house on the Janesville road, and a store building
on the site of Mrs. COLLINS' house, owned by Alexander PAUL and
occupied by John ALEXANDER, his log house being the third building
there.
- In 1829, while residing in New York, Mr. DAVIDSON led to
the marriage alter Miss Maria
- BRIGGS, with whom he has traveled life's journey for almost
sixty years. Nine children came to gladden their home by their
presence, and eight of that number are yet living. Sarah M.,
the eldest, was born on the 17th day of July, 1830; Nathan, born
Sept 2, 1831, married Julia RICH, by whom he has three children,
and they now reside in Milton; James, born Nov. 1, 1832, is living
in Spink County, Dak., and is the husband of Mary REYNOLDS, three
children having been born unto them; Asenath, born March 22,
1834, is a graduate of the Milton academy; Thomas, was born Dec.
1, 1836, and enlisting in the service of his country during the
rebellion was subjected for ten months and three days in Andersonville
Prison to confinement and hardships which so undermined his constitution
that he died in 1870, leaving a widow to mourn his loss; William,
who was born March 3, 1839, and is living in Milton, married
Maria DRAKE, and unto them were born two children, one of whom
is now deceased; Delia, born June 4, 1842, is the wife of William
BOWERS, a resident of Lima, by whom she has three children; John,
born Dec. 22, 1844, is a resident of Milton, and the husband
of Alma MILLET, five children having been born of their union;
Janette, born Feb. 25, 1847, makes her home in Milton.
- Since his pioneer days Mr. DAVIDSON has been resident of
Rock County, has witnessed the
- rapid growth and development that has taken place, has seen
its once wild and uncultivated prairies blossom as the rose,
and participating in the great work of transformation has borne
no inconsiderable part in its development. During the forty-three
years of his residence his honorable, upright course of life
has secured him many friends, and he is held in high esteem by
all. In politics he is a supporter of the Republican party, and
though not an office-seeker, feels that interest in political
affairs which every true American citizen should manifest.
-
- Taken from "Portrait and Biographical Album of Rock
County, Wis." (c)1889, p. 728-729.
- Courtesy of Carol
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