Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1922-04-14
Died

A. r. Davidson, one of the early men
engaged in the banking business in
Little Fails and for many years one of
the most prominent men Of the COM
munity, died Friday morning at his
home in Winnipeg from stomach
trouble, with which he. had suffered
since last fall. He was 67 years did.
Alexander f. Davidson was born in
Glencoe, Province of Ontario, Canada,
in 1855, and was Of Scotch-Irish par
entage. He was educated: in Glencoe
and soon afterwards came to the Uni
ted States and with his brothers en-
tered the banking business in southern
Minnesota.
In 1892 Mr. Davidson was married
to Laura NJ. Tanner, daughter of Mr..
and MRS. A. Tanner, pioneer residents
Of Little Falls. His wife died in April
1917.
Mr.. Davidson and his two brothers,
A. D. Davidson and VIM. Davidson, af
ter disposing Of their banking interests
in the southwestern part of the state;
came to Little Falls in 1887 and open
ed a private bank here, known as the
"Bank of Little Falls,' in the build
ing, known as the Trebby building,
now occupied by the Bracke tailor
shop. In the spring Of 1889, the Da-
wilson brothers and M. NJ. Williams, P.
w. Blake, G. A. Lindbergh, John Wet
eel, Harold Thorson and others or
ganized the First National bank of
Little Falls. Mr.. Davidson had active
charge of that institution until 1906,
when he moved to Winnipeg. He con-
tinued to serve as president of the To-
cal bank until 1919, when he disposed
Of his interests to local parties. He
was instrumental in the organizing Of
the Farmers and Merchants State
bank Of Pierz and served as president
Of that institution until the time Of
his death; he also helped to organize
the Randall State bank and the Far
mers and Merchants State bank of
Royalton and many other banks
throughout the state.
During his residence in Canada Mr..
Davidson became interested in numer-
GUS business enterprises and became es-
pecially well known throughout west
ern Canada for his colonization work
there with Gen. A. D. McRae. When
he located in Winnipeg in 1906, he en-
gagged in land, townsite, coal, lumber
and building. He was later vice-pres=
dent and director of the firm of David
son and McRae. At the time Of his
death, he was vice-president Of the
Saskatchewan Valley and Manitoba
Land Company; president of the Quill
Plains Land Company and Carrot Riv-
Valley Land Company; vice-president
! and managing director of Canadian
Loan and Securities Company; vice
president and treasurer Of Winnipeg
Insurance and Vessel Company; direc.
tor Of Port Arthur Insurance and Yes
sci Company; associated with Toronto
Insurance and Vessel Agency; Cana
dian Western Lumber Company; Cana.
dian North Pacific Fisheries Company
Queen Charlotte Whaling Company;
Columbia River Lumber Company
Great Lakes Dredge and Dock Com
pany. Recently his interests were
consolidated under the name Of "A. r
Davidson, Ltd. !
Although he was engaged chiefly il
the banking business while in Little
4 Falls, he was large holder Of rea
estate and helped materially to in
crease land values in this county. y 4
man Of pleasant disposition, keen bust
ness ability, broad minded and with
great memory, Mr.. Davidson acquire,
an acquaintance throughout Morrison
i county, which made him one Of th,
best known men IN the county. al
though he had been gone from th
community for many years, except 70
occasional yisits, his death IS felt her
as keen loss. !.
Eunaral services Were held from th
residance at Winnipeg Sunday after
i noon and the bod - tipped e thi
Il sll1 s o,ss \,
III iihy 5)u1llufl
II 81