In the book's own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. A few names of people born after 1905 are withheld for privacy. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
Born 1840, Clark County
From 20th century history of Springfield, and Clark County, Ohio, and representative citizens (1908)
ELIJAH L. DAVISSON, one of Pleasant Township's representative citizens, owns a valuable farm of 137 acres in Clark County and 100 acres in Champaign County, Ohio. He was born in Clark County, Ohio, April 12, 1840, and is a son of Lemuel and Susan (Lott) Davisson.
The grandparents of Mr. Davisson, Isaac and Sarah Davisson, came to Clark County from Pennsylvania at a very early day. Both died in this county, the grandmother living to be almost one hundred years of age. Lemuel Davisson was born in Clark County, June 14, 1812, and married Susan Lott, December 31, 1835. She was born December 11, 1812. They had eight children, namely: Isaac, Elizabeth, Elijah L., Mary, Greorge, Daniel, Isaac and Thomas William. The first Isaac of the above family was born September 18, 1836, and died February 19, 1840. Elizabeth, born July 18, 1838, died February 21, 1840. Mary Ann, born January 21, 1842, died September 6, 1888. She was married (first) to John Hendricks, who died from wounds received in the army during the Civil War. He left one son, Wilbur. She was married (second), in 1879, to Eli H. Adams, who died in 1907. George W., born November 23, 1843, married Elizabeth J. Jones and they had eight children, namely: Ida M., Lawrence E., Minnie, Mertie, Hayes, Nettie, Wilbur and Omar. Daniel D., born December 31, 1845, died September 9. 1860. Isaac (2), born December 31, 1848, died September 6, 1860. Thomas William, born March 31, 1851, died May 21, 1902. He was married (first) in 1880 to Lizzie A. Stipp, who died April 19, 1891. They had one child, who never breathed.
He was married (second), in 1894, to Mary Stateler, and their one child died in infancy.
Elijah L. Davisson attended the district schools when he was a boy and grew to manhood on his father's farm. In 1862 he joined Company C, One Hundred and Tenth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, for service in the Civil War, but the regiment had gone no further than Piqua, Ohio when he was jDrostrated with typhoid fever and instead of going out to fight, he was brought home and struggled through a serious spell of sickness. On September 1, 1869, he was married to Dorothy Jane Neer, who was born April 14, 1851, and is a daughter of Joseph F. and Margaret (Arbogast) Neer. The parents were born in Clark County, May 4tii and September 6th, 1825, respectively. The mother still survives. There were the following children in the Neer family: Amy, the eldest daughter, residing with her mother at Meehanicsburg, was born July 1, 1845; Sarah C, who was born in 1848, died in 1860; Dorothy Jane; Bruce, born in 1857, married Mary Wilkison and they have two children, Esta, who is the wife of Clarence West, and Cloice E., of Champaign County, who married Bessie Everhart; AVilliam, born in 1863, married Anna Kimble and they have three children, Foster and Florence, twins, and Milburn; and Grant, born in 1865, married Fannie Loveless and they have one son, Paul, born in 1893. Mr. Neer had married (first) Dorcas Bodkin. She left one daughter, Margaret Ann, who died in 1904. In 1860 all this section was afflicted with a scourge of diphtheria, and both the Neer and the Davisson families lost children from this disease.
Mr. and Mrs. Davisson have three children, Charles Clifford, Clarence W. and Harry L. Charles Clifford was born May 15, 1871. He was married February 5, 1896, to Nellie B. Woodmanse, and they have three sons: Floyd L., born December 13, 1897; Bruce R., born November 23, 1903; and [name withheld], born March 3, 1907. Clarence W. was born August 6, 1877. He was married to Lelia Dodsou in May, 1900, and they have one daughter, Mabel Corinne, who was born October 8, 1901. Harry L. was born November 29, 1887, and he assists his father in managing the large estate.
Mr. Davisson has resided on his present farm since 1870. He has been continually adding to its acreage and making improvements. With the assistance of his son he carries on general farming, raising large crops of the natural products of this climate. He is one of the leading members of Nation Chapel, and is a steward in the same and is one of the trustees. For fifty-four years Mr. Davisson has been the chorister in the Methodist Episcopal Church, serving in three different churches in this period. All of his family are members of the chapel mentioned, which is situated not far from his farm. He takes no active interest in politics, but he is always ready to perform the duties of a good citizen.
As printed in 20th century history of Springfield, and Clark County, Ohio, and representative citizens (1908). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
The printed record stops around 1908. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.