Harold John Davidson (1891 - abt. 1974)

Born 10 Nov 1891 in Athol, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States

Husband of Esther Amsden (Morse) Davidson — married 28 Jul 1920 in Athol, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States

Died about Jun 1974 at about age 82 in Massachusetts, United States [uncertain]

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Biography

BIRTH:

A record of the birth of this Harold J. Davidson who was born November 10, 1891 in Athol, Worcester, Massachusetts to parents, Robert G. Davidson, a "tailor" born in Scotland and Mary (Moore), born in Newfoundland.^[1]

EMPLOYMENT:

See 1910 US Census source that seems to suggest he was working in some capacity "gas & electric xxx."

See 1920 Marriage source that says he was employed as a "traveling salesman." in 1920.

See 1930 & 1940 US Census sources that each say in that time frame he was employed as a "salesman - tools."

See 1950 US Census source that says in 1950 he was employed as a "sales engineer - retail precision tools."

See 1974 Obituary source that says he was employed as a "salesman," for L.S. Starrett Co. of Athol, Massachusetts for 40yrs.

MARRIAGE:

A state of Massachusetts marriage certificate for the marriage of this Harold J. Davidson to Anna M. Morse in Athol, Worcester, Massachusetts, July 28, 1920. Of this Harold, this record also tells us he was a 28yr old "traveling salesman" entering into his 1st marriage. It also tells us he was born in Athol, Massachusetts and that his parents were Robert G. Davidson & Mary Moore.^[2]

CENSUS':

The 1900 US Census of Athol, Worcester, Massachusetts finds this Harold at the age of 8yrs old and given as born in Massachusetts in November of 1891. He is living there in Athol at 461 Main St. with his 41yr old father, Robert G. Davidson, his 40yr old mother, Mary and his two siblings; 10yr old Florence and 6yr old Clarence.^[3]

The 1910 US Census of Athol, Worcester, Massachusetts finds this Harold J. at the age of 18yrs old and given as born in Massachusetts and working in some capacity "gas and electric xxx" (?). He is living there in Athol at 259 Crescent St. with his 56yr old father, Robert G. Davidson, his 55yr old mother, Mary and his two siblings; 20yr old Florence J. and 16yr old Clarence W. NOTE: the ages of the parents are suspect.^[4]

The 1920 US Census of Athol, Worcester, Massachusetts finds this Harold J. at the age of 28yrs old and given as a "traveling salesman - machine shop," born in Massachusetts. He is living there in Athol in the household of his 63yr old widowed mother, Mary Davidson. His 26yr old brother, Clarence W. is living in the household. Also living in the household is his 30yr old sister, Florence D. Harris and her family consisting of her husband, 31yr old Leslie M. Harris and their two children; 2yr old Virginia A. and 3-month old Eleanor D. ^[5]

The 1930 US Census of Newton, Middlesex, Massachusetts finds this Harold J. Davidson at the age of 38yrs old and given as a "salesman - tools," born in Massachusetts and married since age 28yrs old. He is living there in Newton in a home he is renting for $85 a month with his 33yr old wife, Esther M. and their 1yr, 10-month old son, Robert.^[6]

The 1940 US Census of Newton, Middlesex, Massachusetts finds this Harold Davidson at the age of 48yrs old and given as a "salesman - tools," born in Massachusetts. He is living there in Newton in a home he owns valued at $9,000 17 Halcyon Rd. with his 43yr old wife, Esther and their 11yr old son, Robert.^[7]

The 1950 US Census of Newton, Middlesex, Massachusetts finds this Harold J. Davidson at the age of 58yrs old and given as a "sales engineer - retail precision tools," born in Massachusetts. He is living there in Newton at 17 Halycon Rd. with his 53yr old wife, Esther M.^[8]

US MILITARY-TYPE RECORDS:

A US Military Draft record dated April 21, 1942 in Newton, Massachusetts for this Harold John Davidson tells us the following: He was born November 10, 1891 in Athol, Massachusetts; He was living at 17 Halcyon Rd in Newton at the time; he was 50yrs old at the time, his next of kin was his wife, Esther M. Davidson, his employer was L.S. Starrett Co., of Athol, Mass.; he was 6-feet tall and weighed 210 pounds, had a dark complexion, brown eyes and black hair.^[9]

See Obituary source that says he served in the US Army in France during World War 1.

DEATH:

A US Social Security Death Index record for this Harold J. Davidson says he died in June of 1974 and his last known residence was in Worcester county, Massachusetts.^[10]

OBITUARY:

Harold Davidson, Retired Salesman

Athol- Harold J. Davidson, 82, of 32 Pleasant St. died Monday in the Massachusetts General Hospital, where he had been a patient for three days.

Mr. Davidson was a salesman for L.S. Starrett Co. for 40 years, retiring in 1957.

He leaves his widow, Esther H. (Morse) Davidson; a son, Robert B. Davidson of Southwick; a brother, Clarence Davidson of Indianapolis, Ind.; five grandchildren several nieces and nephews.

While working for Starrett he lived in Newton for 30 years and for several years in Allentown, Pa. During World War 1 he was stationed with the Army in France. He was a sergeant in the Army serving from 1917 - 1919 in the Harvard Base Hospital Number Five.

He was one of the founders of the Yankee Hardwaremen, a New England organization of machine distributors.

He was a member of the Star Lodge of Masons, Athol Rotary Club, the American Legion, Historical Society, the Athol Memorial Hospital Association and was a member of the First Church Unitarian.

...Burial will be in Highland cemetery. ^[11]

Sources

1. ↑ "Massachusetts Births and Christenings, 1639-1915", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FHKK-Z57 : 14 January 2020), Harold J. Davidson, 1891.
2. ↑ "Massachusetts State Vital Records, 1841-1925", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QLGR-YQTH : 1 September 2021), Anna Amsden in entry for Harold J Davidson and Esther A Morse, 1920.
3. ↑ "United States Census, 1900", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M9Y1-C4F : Thu Apr 11 19:11:51 UTC 2024), Entry for Robert I Davidson and Mary Davidson, 1900.
4. ↑ "United States Census, 1910", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M22X-Z9W : Sat Mar 09 05:15:56 UTC 2024), Entry for Robert J Davidson and Mary Davidson, 1910.
5. ↑ "United States Census, 1920", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MF9F-VSQ : Sat Mar 09 13:43:21 UTC 2024), Entry for Mary M Davidson and Leslie M Harris, 1920.
6. ↑ "United States Census, 1930", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XQPK-WHC : Sun Mar 10 15:28:55 UTC 2024), Entry for Harold J Davidson and Esther M Davidson, 1930.
7. ↑ "United States Census, 1940", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K4FR-YD8 : Sat Mar 09 12:37:04 UTC 2024), Entry for Harold Davidson and Esther Davidson, 1940.
8. ↑ "United States 1950 Census", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6F3R-XZGF : Thu Mar 21 00:21:38 UTC 2024), Entry for Harold J Davidson and Esther M Davidson, 3 April 1950.
9. ↑ "United States World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V12T-6MR : Sat Feb 24 03:09:55 UTC 2024), Entry for Harold John Davidson, 1942.
10. ↑ "United States Social Security Death Index," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JBK5-7MD : 7 January 2021), Harold Davidson, Jun 1974; citing U.S. Social Security Administration, Death Master File, database (Alexandria, Virginia: National Technical Information Service, ongoing).
11. ↑ https://www.genealogybank.com/doc/newspapers/image/v2%3A146B26977577C0FD%40GB3NEWS-17D33FE177E9CB7C%402442204-17D33C58AFC0D235%404-17D33C58AFC0D235%40?h=1&fname=Harold&lname=Davidson&fullname=&kwinc=&kwexc=&rgfromDate=1970&rgtoDate=1978&formDate=&formDateFlex=exact&dateType=range&processingtime=&addedFrom=&addedTo=&sid=rdhsvqbozfmmqbsrntcrxisbqgwrtjgj_ip-10-166-46-100_1713782579757 Worcester Telegram; Worcester, Massachusetts, pub. Wednesday, June 5, 1974; pg. 5.