Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1897-08-27

on the farm except during the winter term Of
school. From - 90 T. he was IN the employ Of
Capt Samuel Mcclure d neIghborlng farmer, but
still continued a. attend school during the winter
he made the most of his limited advauta gees. and
often rose three or four hours before sunrise 70
study by the light Of fire or a tall Dw candle.
Al the age Of Is he enabled with the
sstauce OF his father, 20 attend the fall term Of
school m ACWorth village lie began here the
study Of the classics. and soon formed the deter
minatiOn 20 gam a thorough education, but being
v'thouf means 70 was necessary for him 81 WORK
hard and 70 pract,a- s'rict economy He BROKE
down ID health and for two v-s~s lad TO abandon
hts efforts bu- on his restoration O. tai'h he en-
tered kimna Union academy az Meridel. y II.
and later fitt+c Tor college A. New London. y. Il.
h- entered Dartmouth college at he age Of -.
lie taught school during tn- winter onths out
continued his college studies. graduated with hts
class DO l-i2. ard was houorei hy ritc elton as a
member OF the Phi Beta Kappa soCi-ty
Few young men have worked harder % gain an
education. or have practicr1 self denial more de-
trrminetiy than Mr. Davidson. ana at the time Of
ms graduation be wa - debt 10 some extcu. for
ms education. His first purpose WAS TO pay this
obllgt ton and he rOou secured position as piu
cipal Il the academy at Bath. y II he taught
next IN Worcester aud Richmond, ". and IN The
latter place he first met Miss Graua J. Andrews.
also teacher. and they were married Nov -,
1854 Mr.. davidson found IN tue young wife
true help-Weet ard companion and with her as
ssiancr ne took charge Of the academy at North
field VT and aiterwari a wear was spent IN the
Acacrmy al Franklin. VI. From lsG6 In $50 Mr..
Davidson had charge OF the academy AZ Hrnniker.
y II He taught nine months IN Wilson. y Y
and was offered a urufesSOrAhip IN New Hampton
institute at AriaN. T. then tue principal Baptist
sch,ol in the state He came TO Tow nshend in
1874 to take charge Of Leland and Gray seminary
He hau read law before coming 10 1owushend
and he continued his lega studies with Hon A
Stnddard. and was admitted 70 the bar in 1872
He. expected 70 begin the practice Of law IN
neghboring town tut the trustees Of the Wind
ham County savings bank offered him the posi-
ton NJ treasurer with the understanding that he
should have charge OF All the law and Office work
pertaining % the business
His work for the bank was perhaps the most
important OF his life. He showed himself 20 be
possessed OF great business ability. and the bank
under his management has Deeu a successful and
honored institution Public and individual con.
hdenc- m him was such that he was often called
% act 10 fiduciary capacities, these trusts incud-
ing the settlement OF several estates.
Mr.. Davidson joined the Baptist church while
IN school at New London, ana was Identified with
the religious interests 90 the community IN which
he lived throughout his life De has done i'm
p0rtaut public service a member OF the execu-
tive committee. trustee and treasurer Of Leland
ana Gray seminary treasurer OF tire Wiudham
county creamery association director OF the
Union Mutual Fire Insurance company Of Mont
peher, director Of the Brattl-boro q whitehall
railroad company; superintendent OF Newfane
schools. and president ~ the Christian AID asso
citation. He was formerly Democrat IN his DO
liticA views out 10 recent years h IS been pro
nounced Prohibllonist. and with his wife who is
one Of the leading Woman Christian Temper.
ance union women OF Vermont, has done an i'm
portaut work for Temperance tie has received
the votes OF his party for states attorney and
town representative He was a delegate 10 the
national cOhNcu ION or TIE fruulUtlOu party N
lss,, a candidate for presidential elector on the
Prohibition ticket m Che same year. and for state
treasurer in 1892 MIR Davidson is survived 10y
his wife and one daughter, Lula Estella, wife Of
pr OsEood Of Townshend
At the time OF Mr.. Davids1n's death Mrs. Dav-
idsuu was % Lyndouvilie m attendance upon
camp meeting ana school of methods Of the state
". {. 7. [. The message containing the sad an.
nouucement was handed 20 her when she was en-
gagged m conducting platform exercise. She
left for home hy the first train and was met at
Brattleboro 10y a carriage and taken al once TO
Newfane.
The news Of Mr. Davidson's death came as a
shock 10 the Newiane community and throughout
the West River valley towns Ia his own quiet
way ne mad performed many services for the PEG
pie OF these towns and had won their esteem.
sincerity. faithfulness aud integrity were innate
J. nonal qualities which impressed themselves
on all who knew him His convictions upon
public questions, and especially Ou politics ana
tue ten perarrr cauS+. uld not always run
parallel with tn" views OF those about him. nut he
knew now 10 atirm and maintain ms own views
without aruuSng the auimusity OF those VINO diff.
Tered from him or him % Is peculiarly true that
bee luaves behind him the heritage of kindly
memory.
Mr.. bavdisou's body mas not arrived. but Is eX-
pected this afternoon 90 chhrge OF Mr. Eager Tn
funeral Is set fer 1890 10 morrow, saturday
morning, at the Congregational church IN New.