This photo is of my great grandfather on my mother's side of the family. John Davidson was her father, Fred Davidson's, father. John Davidson was the sheriff of Walker County, AL. There are some tales to tell about this man, I'll get my facts together and post them sometime.
THE REALITY OF THE NAME OF GOD
1 year ago
Posts
4 comments:
he's got a Wyatt Earp mustache
awesome....
Mother ran across the stories of John Davidson. She reminded me of one today. Good stuff that I think you'll appreciate.
Tell....
Davidson, Pauline Sergi. “John Reuben Davidson.” The Heritage of Walker County, Alabama. Clanton: Heritage Publishing Consultants, 1999 (146-147).
John R. [Davidson] was a farmer, as was his father, until the Indian Head Cotton Mill was built in Cordova. He went to work with the security force at the mill. Later, he was asked to become Police Chief, Cordova [in Walker County, AL].[...]
Some stories were told about John carrying a large wooden bat in his buckboard; he would travel to a farm where he had heard of a drunken father who was mistreating his family. If John couldn’t take him away peacefully, or knock him out with his fists, he’d use the bat, then haul the father to jail. John was about 6' 4" tall, weighed about 250 pounds, had an olive complexion, black hair, brown eyes, and a handle-bar moustache. [...]
Grandpa remained Cordova Police Chief about nine years, and felt the town was “cleaned up.” The family moved to Carbon Hill so John could “calm it down.” In 1915 they moved back to Cordova, now a nice, quiet town, where the job of Police Chief was handed him again.
In the fall, 1918, Grandpa's knee began to swell. The stories told by relatives said that gangrene had developed from an old bullet wound. The doctor said the leg must be amputated. Grandpa refused. July 7, 1919, John Davidson died of the infection. Family members, and Dr. Miller, who were around his bed said Grandpa motioned with his arm, and said, “Step aside and let the angels through.”
Post a Comment