Davidson - Jasper Newton
Source: Crawfordsville Sunday Star 13 Feb 1899
Jasper N. Davidson died at his home near Whitesville at 5 o'clock on Saturday morning of peritonitis. The funeral will be at the home at 11 on Monday and interment at Oak Hill. Mr. Davidson was an old and honored citizen and one of the most successful farmers in the county. He had been in failing health for some months and the grip was the not remote cause of his death. He was born in this county February 5, 1834. He always lived within a mile of the place where he was born. Mr. Davidson's marriage to Miss Levanda J. Huff occurred March 27, 1862. Mrs. Davidson was born in Mercer County, KY May 27, 1844, and is a daughter of Abrham (sic) and Julia (Brassfield) Huff. This marriage was hallowed to them by the birth of two children: Julia, born April 2, 1863 and William A. born August 27, 1867 who was engaged with his father in the breeding of pedigreed stock. The daughter attended Central Normal school three years and subsequently married James M. Waugh, December 11, 1889, Mr. Davidson was a man of affairs, gifted with good judgment, a rare stock of common sense and a far-reaching public spirit. In politics he was a democrat. He was from a Presbyterian family but was not a member of church. In all that makes a perfect citizen he was an ideal man. He was one of the founders of the county fair. He served five years as a member of the state board of agriculture. He was twice a trustee of Purdue University. He was foremost in every enterprise to the upbuilding of the county. In his death we have lost one of our best men. - kbz
Source: Crawfordsville Weekly Argus News Feb 18, 1899 p 5
Possum Den news -- Jasper Davidson died Saturday morning and was buried Monday at the Oak Hill Grave yard. Funeral services were conducted at the house. Mr. Davidson leaves a family and a host of friends to mourn his death. - kbz
Source: Crawfordsville Weekly Journal Friday, 17 February 1899
Hon. Jasper N. Davidson died last Saturday at 6 o’clock a.m. at his country home, “Summit Farm,” about six miles south of the city. He had been slightly ill for nearly three months, but his case was not regarded as dangerous until last Friday. He had been bedfast only two days, being at the table with his family on Wednesday. The immediate cause of his death was peritonitis, but he had been failing for some time, the grip and nervous troubles resultant from injuries received in the Monon wreck in January, 1892, having weakened his constitution. The funeral took place at the family residence on last Monday at 11 o’clock. Interment was at Oak Hill.
J. N. Davidson was a native of Montgomery County, born Feb. 5, 1834, in one of the pioneer homes of south Union Township, and he has always lived within a mile of his birthplace. He was a descendant in a direct line on the paternal side of some Scotch people who emigrated from their native land to Pennsylvania prior to the revolution. Seven brothers of this name fought for independence in the struggle of the colonists for freedom from the mother country, and all returned to their homes uninjured, to found families in various parts of the union which their valor had helped to establish. The great grandfather of J. N. Davidson was one of the numbers. He married Margaret Cochran Fleming, and their son, our subject’s grandfather, was born in Pennsylvania, and became a school teacher. He married Mary Lattimour, of a fine French family, and they had seven children, one of whom was William Fleming Davidson, the father of Mr. Davidson.
Jasper N. Davidson was a gentleman of sound culture, and of liberal views, and had well defined opinions on all subjects of general interest. He attended the district school in his boyhood, generally during the winter term, which usually lasted three months, and he had supplemented the education thus obtained by extensive reading and keen observation of men and things. Reared a farmer, he settled on a rugged timber tract, the highest surveyed spot in Montgomery County.
Nevertheless, after the forest was conquered, it needed drainage, and Mr. Davidson had over nine miles of tile on less than half a section of land. This farm, once a swamp, is now one of the first, as to improvements and production, in the county. April 16, 1863, the house that the family originally occupied was burned with its contents, but another was built in its stead the same year. In 1875 that cottage was replaced by a commodious residence, which stands on top of a knoll, whence the name of “Summit Farm.” Surrounded by nearly an acre of forest trees, their shade affords a pleasant retreat in which to spend the hours of rest and recreation.
Mr. Davidson’s marriage to Miss Levanda J. Huff occurred March 27, 1862. Mrs. Davidson was born in Mercer County, Ky., May 27, 1844, and is a daughter of Abraham and Julia Brassfield Huff. This marriage was hallowed to them by the birth of two children: Julia, born April 2, 1863, and William A., born August 27, 1867, who was engaged with his father in the breeding of pedigreed stock. The daughter attended the Central Normal School three years, and subsequently married James M. Waugh, December 11, 1889. Mr. Davidson was a man of affairs, gifted with good judgment, a rare stock of common sense, and a far reaching public spirit.
Politically, Mr. Davison was reared a Democrat, but he steadily believed in a protective tariff, and opposed any inflation of the currency. He also believed that only two great parties can survive, and that they are needed to maintain the balance necessary for the perpetuation of our republic. In religion he was non-sectarian, though from a Presbyterian family, and believed in the right to individual opinion and interpretation of the Scriptures, guided by care and reverence.
Mr. Davidson was one of the organizers of the Montgomery County Agricultural Society, its object being the improvement and development of agriculture and kindred industries. Always a director on the board, Mr. Davidson was its first president, and served for nine years in that capacity. In 1882 he was elected a member of the State Board of agriculture, and was re-elected five times. During the greater part of this period, he was one of the executive committee, and served two years as president. He was also trustee of Purdue University, appointed first by Governor Hovey for a term of three years; he began a second term in August, 1892, by appointment of Governor Chase. He always interested himself in public improvements, and, strongly advocating good roads, he carried the first petition for the Crawfordsville & Whitesville free gravel road, which was the first one constructed in the state under the free gravel road law of 1878. - thanks so much to "S" for this great addition