Kings County Biographies


This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm


J. A. DAVIDSON, M.D.
 
is the oldest resident physician of Hanford, Tulare County, California.
            He was born in the District of Columbia, and graduated in medicine 
and surgery at the Royal College of Surgeons in London, in 1850.  After an 
experience of three years at Chatham, England, which was then the army medical 
headquarters and hospital depot for all troops, returning from foreign service, 
he entered the English army as staff assistant-surgeon, serving in different 
regiments wherever he was assigned.  In 1852 he was medical purveyor at Corfu, 
the seat of government of the lower Ionian islands, a republic under the 
protection of Great Britain. In 1854 he was stationed at Malta, when war was 
declared with Russia.  He then went with the army to Scutari, Varna and Shumia, 
and September 14, 1854, arrived at old Fort Eupatoria, on the shores of Crimea 
and Tartary.  He then followed the fortunes of war through Alma, Inkerman, 
Balaclava, and was at the siege of Sebastopol until the armistice was declared.  
After that he took charge of the wounded and invalids on board the troop 
steamship Simoon and returned to Malta, thence to England where he resigned his 
position.
            In 1858 Dr. Davidson went to Vera Cruz, Mexico, and a few months 
later to New Orleans, where he settled and followed his profession until the 
breaking out of the civil war in 1861.  He was appointed surgeon in the cavalry 
under Colonel Turner Ashby; and in 1862 was assigned to the navy department, 
serving in different departments under a roving commission until the close of 
the war.
            Dr. Davidson came to California in 1865 and settled at Kingston, 
Fresno County, then a small town, the country being used chiefly by stockmen.  
In July, 1877, he went to Fresno and made that his home until December, 1879, 
when he located in Hanford and established himself in the practice of his 
profession.  He purchased property on Eighth street and built his present 
comfortable home, office and other buildings, and is now the oldest resident 
physician of this locality.  Having had an extended experience in surgery, the 
Doctor is widely known through the valley in that department and in medicine 
also has an extended practice.
            Dr. Davidson was married, at Centreville, Fresno County, December 
25, 1873, to Miss Nanny Ellis, a native of Texas.  Their union has been blessed 
with eight children:  John E., Winnie E., Louis C., Reginald A., Harriet M., 
James A., Lillias R. and Georgia G.
            For more than nine years the Doctor has been Health Officer of 
Hanford.  Although this is a position of little honor or remuneration it is one 
of great responsibility, as on its proper management is dependent the health of 
the entire community.
 
Memorial and Biographical History of the counties of Fresno, Tulare and Kern, 
California
Chicago, The Lewis Publishing Company, 1892  p. 608-609
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler