STEPHEN DECATUR DAVISON, M.D.

 

 

     Stephen Decatur Davison, b April 18, 1851 in Pineville, Monroe County, Alabama, d October 7, 1924 in Reagan, Falls County, Texas and buried in the Hog Island Cemetery near Reagan - was a son of Hugh E. Davison, Jr., b February 22, 1815 in Monroe County, Alabama, d April 21, 1889 in Reagan, Texas, where he had settled in 1881, and his first wife, Mary Jane (Andress) Davison, b October 30, 1822 in Pineville, Monroe County, Alabama, died there January 19, 1862 and buried in a cemetery in the Pineville - Beatrice area of Monroe County, Alabama. Hugh E. Davison, Jr. was a teacher all his life. He was married second in Alabama before moving to Texas to join his son, Stephen, in Falls County, but he had no children in this marriage. She reared the children of his first wife: Jasper William Cluck, b August 20, 1839, died at the Battle of Gettysburg on July 1, 1863 while in the Confederate States Army during the Civil War; Martha Jane Davison (called "Jennie"), b August 15,1841, d June 8,1880 and buried in Hog Island Cemetery - married Dr. N. M. Cluck, b January 8, 1838, d July 8, 1900; Lydia Davison, b November 21, 1845, d October 15, 1922 and buried in Calvary Cemetery in Marlin - was the second wife of Thomas G. Fountain, b May 31,1839, d June 8, 1921; Newton Monroe Davison, b September 17, 1848, d August 9, 1915; Dee Davison, who died in 1918 - whose third and last husband was a Mr. Drum; Corene Davison, who died in 1912 - married J. B. ("Boney") Cotton, and had issue; and Stephen Decatur Davison.

     Stephen Decatur Davison received his medical degree from The University of Alabama Medical School. He married first in Pineville, Alabama in 1875 to Katie Bell Stallworth, and they had one daughter.

Clara Davison, b April 1, 1877 in Alabama, d October 19,1969 - who was a graduate of Baylor College for Women at Belton. She married Reverend Edward L. Compere - a Baptist Minister, and they had six children: Edward L. Compere, M.D.; Kathleen Compere, who married Harold H. Hughes; Thomas Compere, Clinton Compere, M.D.; Verna Ruth Compere, who married Joseph Odell; and Clara Dee Compere, who married "Penny" Frisby.

     Dr. Davison moved from Alabama after the death of his wife, and settled in the Hog Island Community (present - day Rosedale) of Falls County, with his young daughter, Clara, and set up his medical practice.

On October 20, 1880 in Falls County, Dr. Davison was married second to Sarah Tankersley (always called "Sallie"), b March 16, 1861 on her parents' farm in the vicinity of present - day Reagan, Falls County, Texas, d April 27, 1912 in Reagan, and buried by her husband in Hog Island Cemetery - a daughter of George Tankersly, b January 5, 1833 at Tankersley Place, Hope Hull- south of Montgomery, Alabama, d December 11, 1884, and his wife, Flora A. (Jordan) Tankersley, b July 4, 1843 in Ft. Deposit, Alabama, d February 27, 1924 - and both also buried in Hog Is- land Cemetery. Sallie (Tankersley) had attended a Girls' Finishing School in Alabama before her marriage.

Dr. Stephen Decatur and Sallie (Tankersley) Davison were the parents of ten children - including a pair of twin daughters, but only seven children survived to adulthood:

     Verna Davison, b August 19, 1881 in Reagan, Falls County, Texas, d January 13, 1969 in Marlin, Texas and buried there in Calvary Cemetery - married James Gerden Berganier, b August 15, 1872 in Ft. Deposit, Alabama, d March 14, 1953 and buried in Cal- vary Cemetery. They had issue.

     Clinton Gordon Davison, b January 1885, d October 1951 and buried in Taylor, Texas - attended Baylor University in Waco, and graduated from Highland College in Alabama. On December 22, 1909, Clint was married first to Eloise Womack, b December 24, 1888, d January 24, 1923 - a daughter of Robert Monroe and Ida (Black) Womack - early settlers of Round Rock, Texas. They had four children: Flora Elizabeth Davison, b October 16, 1910, d October 1977 - was not married; Clinton Hardy Davison, b April 22, 1913 - married, resides in Houston, and had two sons, William and John Clinton Davison; Stephen Monroe Davison, b September 16, 1916, who resides in Taylor, Texas and is not married; and Doris Davison, b December 26, 1922, who was reared by her paternal aunt and uncle (at the request of her mother, before she died), James Gerden and Verna (Davison) Barganier - married Cullen James Rogers, b May 29, 1921 - a son of John Harvey and Mary Elizabeth (Leach) Rogers, of Limestone County, Texas. Clint married second to Eleanor Bledsoe, of Taylor, and they were the parents of Robert Gordon Davison, b October 28, 1929, d May 1976 and buried in Calvary Cemetery in Marlin, who married March 17,1951 in Marlin to Bobry June Houston, b July 11, 1930 - a daughter of John Durward Houston, b April 20, 1904, d November 8, 1981- a son of T. Walton and Ida Lela Elizabeth (Evans) Houston, and his wife, Hildred (Elder) Houston, b September 30, 1904. Robert Gordon and Bobry June Davison had two daughters: Lee Ann Davison, b May 11, 1960; and Susan Elizabeth Davison, b June 15, 1961- who married David Hanneman, b 1961 in Chicago, Illinois.

     Florence Davison, b September 14, 1887, d July 16, 1962 - married George Allan Odam, who was Head of the Education Department at North Texas University in Denton. Florence was a graduate of Baylor University, Waco. They had two daughters: Mary Joy - a graduate of The University of Texas, Austin, who married Dr. Roscoe Bennett Cowper; and Eloise - attended The University of Texas, Austin, and graduated from North Texas University, Denton - who married Harry Ferguson, of Whiteville, Tennessee.

     Hugh Tankersley Davison, b November 17, 1889, d April 30, 1977 and buried in Waite Cemetery at Reagan, Falls County, Texas - married Ruth Thomas, b November 3, 1896 in Hamilton, Texas - a daughter of James William and Martha Ann (Adams) Thomas of Hamilton. Hugh served as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army during World War I, and was a farmer in the Reagan area of Falls County. He served as a Deacon in the Baptist Church at Reagan, where he and Ruth reared their children: Ruth Ann Davison, b August 25,1929 - a graduate of North Texas University who received her Masters Degree from Baylor University - married Henry Truett Torgerson, b April 19, 1923, a graduate of Tarleton University, who received his Masters Degree from North Texas University, Denton, reside in Marlin, Texas, where both are teachers in the Marlin Independent School District - having three children, Carolyn Torgerson, b October 25, 1953, who graduated from Sam Houston University and married Keith Stewart, and now residing in Colorado; Donald Truett Torgerson, b August 7, 1955 - a graduate of Texas A&M University and is unmarried, residing in Houston; and Janet Ann Torgerson, b May 1, 1958 - a graduate of Texas A&M University, who married Michael Sanders, and resides in Dallas, Texas.

The second child of Hugh Tankersley and Ruth (Thomas) Davison was Hugh Thomas Davison (called  "Tommy"), b April 10, 1935, who graduated from Texas A&M University, married Ruth Cadie Fitte, b March 15, 1935 - a daughter of Falls County Veteri- narian, John Maurice Fitte and his wife, Berniece Euleta (Garrett) Fitte. Hugh Thomas and Cadie have Jyl Davison, b May 8, 1960; and Jeffrey Thomas Davison b July 21, 1961, and the family resides in Bryan, Texas Ruth (Thomas) Davison has continued to reside in the family in Reagan - now approaching her ninetieth birthday, and still quite active.

     Twin Daughters, b January 27, 1892. One did not survive, while her twin, Dimple Davison did survive. Dimple attended Baylor University, Waco; and married Cleve Davis of Ft. Deposit, Alabama. They had two daughters: Sarah Lee Davis who graduated from Auburn University - married John Redmond, and re- sides in Washington, D.C.; and Mary Davis who at- tended Auburn University, but received her degree from Troy State University - married John Helton, and resides in Troy, Alabama.

     Stephen Alfred Davison, b January 2,1897, d May 14, 1966 and buried in Calvary Cemetery in Marlin- served in the U.S. Army during World War I, and was a farmer in the Reagan area of Falls County. He married Agnes Beatrice Woodland, b November 18,1899 - a daughter of Fred H. and Margaret (Maggie Swinnea) Woodland, of the Blue Ridge Community. Stephen and Beatrice adopted a son, George E. Davison, b March 29, 1929, who married Rhoda Kay Jones - a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Sam Jones; and then Stephen and Bea- trice had a daughter, Sallie B. Davison, b September 1, 1930, d July 7, 1949 in an automobile wreck, and buried in Calvary Cemetery in Marlin. Sallie B. was a student at Baylor University in Waco, when she died.

     Milton Andress Davison, M.D., b May 17, 1901, d February 27, 1976 and buried in Calvary Cemetery in Marlin - married June 21, 1921 to Lois Threadgill, b November 28, 1902 - a daughter of Arthur and Martha Jane (called "Patsy" Foster) Threadgill. They had Issue.

     Dr. Stephen Decatur Davison was a well-known physician throughout the area of Central Texas, and was often the speaker at various medical meetings throughout the State. The family were members of the Baptist denomination, and were always active in their church affairs. Mrs. Davison often accompanied her husband on his medical calls - particularly to the homes of poorer citizens, and while her husband pro- vided the needed medical care, she often cleaned the home, did other chores around the house, and often remained overnight to provide nursing care. It was while nursing a patient ill with spinal meningitis that Mrs. Davison contracted the disease, and died.

      Many descendants of Dr. and Mrs. Davison continue to reside in Falls County, Texas, and their heritage is a proud one.

 

 

 

 

Copyright Permission granted to Theresa Carhart for printing the biographies of these Falls County Families to this Web page.
"Families of Falls County", Compiled and Edited by the Falls County Historical Commission, page 114 column 1 and 2, page 115 column 1 and 2.  
Member of Falls County Historical Commission.