CFH First Draft: Samuel Thurston Davidson

 This post is part of an ongoing series, sharing the first draft of my Revised Callin Family History. 

Samuel Thurston Davidson is the 67th person in a descendant report beginning with the earliest known ancestor of our Callin family, (1.) James Callin. This descendant report uses the Register Style of the New England Historic and Genealogical Society. 

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Fifth Generation

67. Samuel Thurston Davidson (Sarah Montgomery-4, Elizabeth Callen-3, James "2nd"-2, James "1st"-1) was the fifth child of Henry and Sarah, born on 6 Aug 1853 while his family was en route to Oregon. Depending on the record you cite, he was born on the Oregon Trail, in the Idaho Territory, possibly in what is now Utah. The family settled near Shedd, Linn County, Oregon, and that is where he grew up.  Thurston attended Christian College in Linn County, Oregon in 1872.

Thurston married Susanna Elizabeth Briggs (1850–1910) in Linn County in about 1878. She was the daughter of Joseph M Briggs (1817–1888) and Susannah Early (1813–1901), born on 11 July 1850 and raised in Morgan County, Ohio.

Thurston died unexpectedly on 25 Apr 1889 at the age of 35 and was buried in Pugh Cemetery in Shedd, Linn County, Oregon. His obituary appeared in the Albany Democrat in Albany, Oregon on 3 May 1889.

“Death of Thurston Davidson.

Thurston Davidson, a long time resident of Linn county, died suddenly Thursday night April 25th at his residence near Shedd's. Mr. Davidson had been in his usual health up to a day or so before his death. On Thursday evening at about 4 o'clock he became suddenly ill with cramping, when the family physician was called in. The appliances in such cases seemed to relieve him and he went to sleep. Shortly after the family were called to the room by the moaning of the sufferer, when it was found he was having a severe chill. Remedies were used, but when the chill subsided he was found to be unconscious and remained so until his death. He leaves a wife and two children who have the sympathy of a host of friends. Mr Davidson was an honest, upright citizen, being respected by all who knew him.”

Susan carried on managing the farm and raising their son and daughter. She died at the age of 60 on 10 Oct 1910, and she and Thurston are buried in the Pugh Cemetery in Shedd.

Samuel Thurston Davidson and Susan E Briggs had the following children:

237 i. Cloud Henry Davidson, born 4 Nov 1879, Shedd, Linn County, Oregon; married Lura V Wilson, 19 Mar 1907, Halsey, Linn County, Oregon; died 11 Feb 1950, Portland, Multnomah County, Oregon.

ii. Addie Belle Davidson was born in Shedd on 11 Dec 1881. She was a lifelong resident of Linn County and died at the community hospital in Lebanon on 11 Feb 1954. She never married, but she was an active member of many community organizations and was frequently mentioned in the local newspapers for being the hostess or organizer of local events.