My Genealogy Hound

John W. Davison, who is engaged in a blacksmith business at Oxford, Oakland County, has been a resident of the village since 1850 and has been identified with its growth. He was born in Detroit, July 21, 1836, and is a son of George and Mary Ann (Balfour) Davison, both of whom were born in Yorkshire, England.

The parents came to Oakland County in 1830. The father was a blacksmith by trade, a vocation he followed all his life, being a very reliable and competent workman. His death took place August 11, 1891, at the age of 88 years. His wife died in January, 1884, aged 76 years. In politics he was a Democrat. They reared a family of eight children, namely: Betsey, Mrs. W. J. Tunstead and Mrs. Charles F. Tunstead, all of Oxford, Oakland County; Mrs. Mary J. Wilson, of Grand Rapids, Michigan; George, a member of Broadhead’s regiment (1st Reg., Michigan Vol. Cav.), who died in prison at Salisbury, North Carolina; Mrs. Ann Hosmer, who died in Macomb County, Michigan, in 1888; John, who died in childhood; and John W., our subject.

John W. Davison was reared in Macomb County, Michigan, and learned his trade with his father, who conducted a shop at Oxford for a number of years and up to 11 years before his death. Mr. Davison has worked steadily in the same shop for more than a half century. It formerly stood on the opposite side of the street, but has been on its present site for 50 years. In 1897 Mr. Davison formed a partnership with Samuel Bradley and they control a large business.

Mr. Davison was married to Helen Cole, who was born in New Jersey, and came to Oakland County with her parents in 1864. She is a daughter of Jacob G. Cole, who operated a hotel for one year at Orion, and for several years at Oxford, dying at the latter place December 16, 1897, at the age of 80 years.

Mr. Davison is a Democrat in his political views. Formerly he was actively connected with the Masonic fraternity. He is one of the familiar figures in Oxford. In early days the forge in his father’s shop was the general meeting place of the neighbors and in its glow many a tale of adventure was told, many a social happening was discussed and many a friendly, neighborly act was performed.