Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Pages 450 - 451

STEPHEN L. DAVIDSON, who occupies a prominent position in business circles in this county, is President of the Davidson Real Estate and Loan Company, of Wichita. He was born at Acworth, N. H., Feb. 28, 1814, and is a son of James and Jane (Davidson) Davidson, also natives of New Hampshire. His forefathers were originally natives of Moneymore, in the northern part of Ireland, and the first of the family to come to America left his native island in 1728, and the subject of this biography is his representative in the fifth generation.

      James Davidson was a farmer in New Hampshire, whence he removed with his family in 1821 to Allegany County, N. Y., where he located in the heavy timber, pushing his way into the interior of the forest to the depth of six miles, blazing the trees to mark the road. He wrested a good farm from the wilderness, which remained his home until death. He was an honest, intelligent, hardworking man, and a true citizen in every, respect. He was enabled to give his family a good home and to give his children good educational advantages. To him and his estimable wife seven children were born, three of whom are living— Stephen L., Rebecca, Mrs. Bell, and James.

      Our subject was reared on a farm and received from his good parents, a careful and conscientious training, well calculated to make him a good citizen. He attended the Middlebury Academy, N.Y., for three years, gaining a substantial education, and at the age of twenty-two began his career as a business man in the mercantile and lumber trade at Cuba, Allegany Co., N. Y., where he remained until 1861. During that time he also engaged extensively in agricultural pursuits, owning and managing a farm of 300 acres. He subsequently engaged in contracting for the Government, furnishing some 3,000 horses for the service. In the pursuit of his business he made quite a number of trips to Kansas and several other Western States prospecting, and on one of these trips he purchased 640 acres of land of the Government in Kansas.

      Mr. Davidson gained a very favorable impression of this part of the State in his journeys through Kansas, and finally determined to make his permanent residence here. In accordance with this resolve he moved to Wichita, then a small town, in 1872, and thus as an early settler has witnessed the various changes that have taken place in its growth from a mere trading-post to a flourishing metropolis, and has himself been an important factor in promoting its growth and prosperity. Immediately after settling here he established himself in the loan and real-estate business, which he has ever since carried on. He owns a large amount of real estate, and is a stockholder in the Citizens' Bank, Wichita. The company of which he is the head is one of the most substantial and prosperous in the city, and conducts a large business by strictly honorable methods, and its credit is good wherever known.

      Mr. Davidson has been twice married. In 1839 he was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Lancaster, of New Hampshire, a daughter of William and Fanny (Davidson) Lancaster. Two children were born of that union; Mary J., now Mrs. Sweet, and Sarah, now Mrs. Rogers. Mrs. Davidson died in 1844. To his present wife, formerly Miss Susan R. Hampton, of Pennsylvania, our subject was married in the year 1846. Of this marriage four children are now living, namely: James O., Charles L., Alice and Jennie B. Mr. and Mrs. Davidson and their family occupy a fine residence on the corner of Topeka avenue and Second street.

      Mr. Davidson is a firm Republican in politics. While a resident of Allegany County, N. Y., he was one of the leading citizens and took a prominent part in public affairs. He was Supervisor for six years, Justice of the Peace for several years, and Session Justice for one year, all of which offices he fulfilled with honor and credit to himself and to the satisfaction of his fellow-citizens.

[ Home ]