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Compiled by John H. Wheeler Published in 1903 by B. F. Bowen Biography Page 113 - 114 |
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DONALD DAVIDSON
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The man who has lived to the age of fifty-eight years, who has spent a part of the years of his maturity in two hemispheres and whose life from boyhood has been characterized by hard work, has surely had sufficient experience to gratify the desire of the most ambitious seekers of adventure in the line of industry. Donald Davidson, the subject of this biography, who resides in Colfax township, was born, reared and received his education in Scotland. When old enough and possessed of the requisite strength he was put into the coal and iron mines of his native land, and for ten years followed that most exacting and tiresome calling, mining. Ambitious far beyond his fellow workmen, he determined that if the blessings of health and strength remained to him all the years of his life would not be spent beneath the surface of the earth at the paltry wages accorded to miners in Great Britain and elsewhere. When he had been in the mines ten years and saved some money, he went to farming, and after pursuing that avocation a few years came to America to better his condition and that of his family. Donald Davidson was born in Perth, Scotland, in 1843. His
opportunities for receiving an education were indeed limited, for he was placed
to work in the mines quite early in life. From that time to the present hard
work has been his portion, but he bore his part with all the stoicism of a
philosopher and abided his time until an opportunity offered to better his
condition. When about seventeen years of age Mr. Davidson was united in marriage
to Miss Catharine Hepburne, in Scotland, the native place of both, and there
they continued to reside for a number of years thereafter, he having quit the
mines and devoted himself to farming. Two children were born to them, David and
Christena, and their coming inspired the father with renewed ambition. He knew
what his life had been, replete with hard work and many privations, and he
determined that his children should never experience such vicissitudes as had
fallen to his lot. Accordingly, having accumulated sufficient means for the
purpose, he procured transportation and the family set out for America in March,
1873. After arriving in this country, they took up their abode in Virginia, but
remained there only a few months, when they came to Michigan, located in
Cadillac, then Clam Lake, where they lived for two years, he being employed by
Green & Sheckston, lumber mills. From there they moved to Manton, where he was
employed, and after two years of industry and the practice of most commendable
economy, he was enabled to purchase the land he now owns. |