CFH First Draft: William Montgomery Davidson

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

William Montgomery Davidson is the 65th 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

65. William Montgomery Davidson (Sarah Montgomery-4, Elizabeth Callen-3, James "2nd"-2, James "1st"-1)

was born on 8 Apr 1845, in Rochester, Fulton County, Indiana. He was about eight years old when his family came to Oregon and settled on a 320-acre homestead three miles north of Halsey, Linn County. William attended the Halsey public schools and during 1863-64 attended the Christian college at Monmouth. In 1865 he went to eastern Oregon where he engaged in stock-raising. The following year he returned to Linn County where he resided for the rest of his life.

In 1867 he bought a place two and one-half miles east of Harrisburg, and on 2 June of that year, he married Sarah Rosetta "Rose" Morris (1848–1928). Rose was born on 24 Oct 1848 in Moniteau County, Missouri, to George Jackson Morris (1818–1896) and Eliza Ann Cook (1825–1903). (Records suggest her full name might have been "Elizanna Matilda Cook".) The Morris family were also pioneers and crossed the plains in 1853.

William and Rose remained in Harrisburg, where they raised their large family, retiring by 1910 to South Brownsville. The couple celebrated their Golden Anniversary in 1917.

Rose died on 17 Feb 1928 at the age of 79 and was buried in the Masonic Cemetery in Harrisburg. William went to live with one of their daughters in Albany, where he died on 26 May 1939 at the age of 94. He was buried next to Rose in Harrisburg. William’s obituary was published in Greater Oregon in Albany on 30 May 1939.

“W. M. DAVIDSON; 94, DIES HERE FRIDAY, SERVICE TUESDAY

“Another one of Linn county pioneer residents, William M. Davidson, died Friday evening. Funeral services have been arranged for Tuesday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock from the Fisher Funeral Home with Rev. Virgil Halbig in charge of the service. Burial will be at the Brownsville cemetery. William Montgomery Davidson was born April 8, 1845, in Rochester, Indiana. He celebrated his 94th birthday this year, with near relatives present for the afternoon. He was the second son of Henry and Sarah Montgomery Davidson, who came to Oregon with their family of four children in 1845[sic] and settled on a 320-acre homestead three miles north of Halsey. Mr. Davidson attended the Halsey public schools and during 1863-64 attended the Christian college at Monmouth. In 1865 he went to eastern Oregon where he engaged in stock-raising. The following year he returned to Linn county where he had resided continuously since. In 1867 he bought a place two, and one-half miles east of Harrisburg. On June 2, of this same year, he married Rosetta Morris. Mr. and Mrs. Davidson lived on the farm until 1874 when they sold it and bought a home 5 miles east of the same town. Here they lived until 1907 when Mr. Davidson retired from farm work and moved to Brownsville where they remained until the death of Mrs. Davidson, who was a daughter of Oregon pioneers and crossed the plains in 1853. During the past ten years, Mr. Davidson has made his home in Albany with his daughter, Mrs. Clara McCoy. He was a member of the Christian church and of the Masonic lodge. Surviving are five children: Mrs. McCoy of Albany, Bruce H. Davidson of Eugene, Hugh H. Davidson of Sacramento, Cal., and Oral E. Davidson and Mrs. Lydla Morse of Harrisburg. He is also survived by 17 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.”

Sarah Rosetta "Rose" Morris and William Montgomery Davidson had the following children:

225 i. Clara M Davidson, born 16 June 1868, Corvallis, Benton County, Oregon; married Clyde McCoy, 1888, Harrisburg, Linn County, Oregon; died 26 Oct 1950, Corvallis.

226 ii. Henry Bruce Davidson, born 16 Jan 1870, Harrisburg, Linn County, Oregon; married Genevieve Major, 30 Dec 1903, New Elberton, Whitman County, Washington; married Ada B. Sidwell, 27 Jan 1944, Lane County, Oregon; died 31 Aug 1953, Lane County.

227 iii. Laura Elsie Davidson, born June 1872, Linn County, Oregon; married George B Pugh, 1891; died 2 May 1913, Marion County, Oregon.

228 iv. John Halbert Davidson, born 1 Jan 1877, Harrisburg, Linn County, Oregon; married Lora X Powell, 1902, Oregon; died 16 Nov 1953, Sacramento County, California.

v. Iva E. Davidson, born 12 Dec 1879; died 23 July 1881, buried in Harrisburg’s I.O.O.F. Cemetery.

229 vi. Oral Everett Davidson, born 13 July 1883, Harrisburg, Linn County, Oregon; married Flora Belle Miller, abt 1909; died 28 Mar 1955, Lebanon, Linn County, Oregon.

230 vii. Lydia D Davidson, born 30 Aug 1886, Oregon; married Clinton Floyd Morse, 18 Oct 1911, Brownsville, Linn County, Oregon; died 11 Nov 1975, Linn County, Oregon.