The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1908-01-29
THOS. DAVIDSONDEAD


Thomas Davidson, seventy.four
years old. died at 1880 o'clock last
night In his home. 20 Mobile sheet.
Mr.. Davidson's death was resultant
from severe attack Of la grippe, which
on account OF. the infirmities that be-
set him IN his old age. could not be
There are few better known citizens
OF montgomery than was Mr.. Davidson,
and probably there Is none who over.
coming so many obstacles and suffer-
ing 20 many yicissitudes yet, after-ail.
attained 80 high degree OF success.
with his mother and two brothers
Joseph and James. he landed In New
Orleans In ls4s. whenN he was fifteen
years old. James at that time was
seventeen and Joseph eighteen. All OF
them were born near Belfast. ireland.
from whence they sailed for America.
From New Orleans they came east
werd 10 Alabama and settled neaf
Montgomery. But Thomas Davidson
soon left Alabama for Boston, where
ne remained for q short time. He then.
and after his return to Montgomery. a
short time before the war, piled the
trade of q stone-cutter. At the com :
mencement OF the war he entered lthe
ordinance department of the Confed-
eracy, and with great skill selected tn .
iron ana other metals which were
fashionef into weapons for use by the
army. At the same time. his brother.
Joseph Davidson, who had been an en-
gineman on the Southern Railway
linen the Selma, Rome and Daltonl
gave his mechanical knowledge and
training to the Confederacy. In the
Selma Arsenal he worked the material
cohected by his brother, who himself
spent much time In Selma. Their
Drotner, James Davidson. was also in
the services OF the Confederacy.
Whatever Of fortune had been start
ed by the three brothers at the initia-
tion OF the war was at its end entirely
expended, and with no monetary re-
sources they commenced q career that
was marked with success. In 1865 they
established the grocery Of J. and 4.
Davidson on Court Square, and from IL
they derived q competence which I'm
creased until they lived In afiluence. It
was said last night that Mr.. Thomas
Davidson left an estate worth between
slso,000 and s250.00O. The business
was sold when Mr.. Davidson retired
from active life in 1889. He was dtrec-
tor In several banks
Mr.. Davidson's mother died many
years ago. His brother. James, died
In 1884 and his brother Joseph In 1888.
Honesty. determination and charity
80 ~ CANatAtA&ut Qu4f4ktS1 S61 MI. La
Wilson's character. Beginning life with
no advantages he worked steadily, un-
dauntedly. unc0nfpromlsingly and all
OF the success he won came from toll
and intelligence. In his commerce with
men ne was true in spirit as In letter.
But even pore notable was his gener.
osity. Hts charity was not public but
to the Presbyterian Church, OF which
ne and his mother and brothers were
members, he gave freely, and to other
churches and public dement's he was
most generous His life won for him
ths love Of many friends.
MIR. Dayidson's kinsmen are his sis
ter. Miss Elizabeth Davidson OF Chris
tiansburg. Va, and several cousins. Mrs.
Elizabeth O'Brien, Mrs. Sarah Barrett.
Frank McClerten of Wilcox County.
John Kirkpatrick of Christiansburs.
Va, and Mrs. Mathilda Staples OF PEN
secoia. The funeral will take place
from the residence tomorrow morning
at 10 o'clock.