The Biographical record of Livingston and ... - University Library

638 THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.sold all his fanii property with the exceptionof the land on which his residence islocated, and is now living a retired life. Hestill owns a couple of dwelling houses in thevillage of Roanoke.]Mr. [eter has e\er taken an active andprominent part in ])ul)lic affairs, and hasbeen elected to several responsible positions.While a resident of Roanoke township hehlled all the township offices, ser\-ing as itsfirst treasurer and filUng that position twoyears. He was supervisor Un- the long periodof fourteen ^-ears ; assessor for ten years,road commissioner nine years; and schooldirector over sixteen years. He also servedas coroner of \\''oodford county for oneterm of two years, and has faithfully dischargedevery duty devohing upon him,whether public or private. In politics hehas always been a Democrat, and in religiousbelief he is a Baptist. His election to publicofifice shows the high esteem in which he isheld by his fellow citizens, and he has alwaysproved worthy of their regard. Althougheighty-six years of age, and his wife seventy-eight,they still enjoy good health, and arenow living a quiet, retired life, surroundedby a large circle of friends and acquaintanceswho esteem them highly for their sterlingworth.WILLIAM A. DAVIDSON.William A. Davidson, who is now livinga retired life in the city of Eureka, is one ofthe oldest native-btirn citizens of WoodfordC(_.unty, Illinois. He was lx)rn in Olio township,April 5, 1837, and is the son of Caleband Martha (Glazebro(ik) Davidson.He grew to manrhood on his father'sfarm and recei\'ed his primary education inthe subscription schools of the day.He thenentered Eureka College, but completed hisschool life a student of Northwestern LTniversitv, Evanston, Illinois. In 1859 he enteredinto the general mercantile business, puttingup a store building on the S(|uare, one of thefirst stiires in the place. He contiinied intrade until August, i86j, when he enlisted inCompany E, One Hundred and Eighth Illir.oisX'olunteer Infantry, the first service nfthe regiment being in the chase afterMorgan. It was then sent to Memphis, whereit was organized for the campaign against\"icksburg, and participated in the entiresiege. l*"r(im ^'icksburg it proceeded southand was in the engagement at Port Hudson,and also at Sjianish Fort, the last regularengagement of the war. On entering theservice Mr. Daxidscm was commissioned secondlieutenant, but was later promoted captain,and as such was mustered out and honorablydischarged.His company started outone hundred and fourteen strong, and on itsreturn home there were left luit twenty-threemen of the original number. After the closeof hostilities it did provost dut\- niuil musteredout in .\ngust, 1865.Returning home. Captain Daxidson resumedhis mercantile business in which hecontinued until the fall of iXUt). when hetraded his stock of merchandise for farmlands in Woodford county, buying the oldhomestead of two hundred and ninety-threeacres, where his parents died. To that farmhe moved, and there continued to reside formany years, engaged in general farming antlstiick raising. He was one of the first to introduceshort horns, Herefords and Callow avcattle. He alwa^'s endeavored to ha\e a highgrade of stock and did much to improve thestock of the county. He continued to successfullyoperate his farm until iS