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| children=Joseph Moore Davidson (1894-1918)<br>​

| children=Joseph Moore Davidson (1894-1918)<br>​

Alice Moore Davidson Baxter​}}

Alice Moore Davidson Baxter​}}

 

'''William Mackenzie Davidson''' (December 1857 &ndash; January 18, 1930) was a [[cotton]] planter, [[politician]], and civic figure in St. Joseph in Tensas Parish, [[Louisiana]], one of the [[Mississippi River]] delta parishes with majority [[African American]] populations, rich in farming, and susceptible to periodic flooding.

'''William Mackenzie Davidson''' (December 1857 &ndash; January 18, 1930) was a [[cotton]] planter, [[politician]], and civic figure in St. Joseph in Tensas Parish, [[Louisiana]], one of the [[Mississippi River]] delta parishes with majority [[African American]] populations, rich in farming, and susceptible to periodic flooding.

 

==Background==

==Background==

In 1880, at the age of twenty-four, Davidson moved the short distance north to St. Joseph and became a merchant and planter. He married Carrie Moore (1866-1957), daughter of Joseph Moore, one of the wealthiest men in Tensas Parish. He moved with comfort and ease into the circle of the Tensas elite.<ref name=bio>{{cite book|url=http://etd.lsu.edu/docs/available/etd-11082006-162523/unrestricted/jmreonasdiss.pdf|title=James Matthew Reonas, ''Once Proud Princes: Planters and Plantation Culture in Louisiana's Northeast Delta, From the First World War Through the Great Depression''|publisher=[[Baton Rouge, Louisiana|Baton Rouge]]: Louisiana State University Ph.D. dissertation, December 2006, pp. 24-25, 245-248, 274|accessdate=July 20, 2013}}</ref>​

In 1880, at the age of twenty-four, Davidson moved the short distance north to St. Joseph and became a merchant and planter. He married Carrie Moore (1866-1957), daughter of Joseph Moore, one of the wealthiest men in Tensas Parish. He moved with comfort and ease into the circle of the Tensas elite.<ref name=bio>{{cite book|url=http://etd.lsu.edu/docs/available/etd-11082006-162523/unrestricted/jmreonasdiss.pdf|title=James Matthew Reonas, ''Once Proud Princes: Planters and Plantation Culture in Louisiana's Northeast Delta, From the First World War Through the Great Depression''|publisher=[[Baton Rouge, Louisiana|Baton Rouge]]: Louisiana State University Ph.D. dissertation, December 2006, pp. 24-25, 245-248, 274|accessdate=July 20, 2013}}</ref>​

 

==Political and civic affairs==

==Political and civic affairs==

 

Davidson was a founder and the general manager of the powerful Panola Company, an agricultural entity based in St. Joseph which controlled at one point eleven thousand acres of valuable farmland. James Howard Netterville (1879-1943) supervised three of its most valuable holdings, the Balmoral, Blackwater, and Wyoming plantations.<ref name=eastla/> He sat on the board of the Bank of St. Joseph, the most stable financial institution in Tensas Parish. He worked to bring the USDA Agricultural Experiment Station to St. Joseph and [[lobbying|lobbied]] for construction of the Mississippi River bridge at Natchez, which linked the lower delta country to one of it major trade cities.<ref name=bio/>​

Davidson was a founder and the general manager of the powerful Panola Company, an agricultural entity based in St. Joseph which controlled at one point eleven thousand acres of valuable farmland. James Howard Netterville (1879-1943) supervised three of its most valuable holdings, the Balmoral, Blackwater, and Wyoming plantations.<ref name=eastla/> He sat on the board of the Bank of St. Joseph, the most stable financial institution in Tensas Parish. He worked to bring the USDA Agricultural Experiment Station to St. Joseph and [[lobbying|lobbied]] for construction of the Mississippi River bridge at Natchez, which linked the lower delta country to one of it major trade cities.<ref name=bio/>​

Davidson was the first mayor of St. Joseph from its incorporation in 1901 until his death some twenty-nine years later.<ref>Davidson obituary, ''Tensas Gazette'', January 24, 1930.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://files.usgwarchives.net/la/tensas/court/elec0001.txt|title=List of mayors of St. Joseph, Louisiana|publisher=usgwarchives.net|accessdate=August 2, 2013}}</ref>​

Davidson was the first mayor of St. Joseph from its incorporation in 1901 until his death some twenty-nine years later.<ref>Davidson obituary, ''Tensas Gazette'', January 24, 1930.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://files.usgwarchives.net/la/tensas/court/elec0001.txt|title=List of mayors of St. Joseph, Louisiana|publisher=usgwarchives.net|accessdate=August 2, 2013}}</ref>​

 

As the office of mayor in such small communities was and remains part-time, Davidson was also the Tensas Parish treasurer for some three decades.<ref name=eastla/> He was heavily involved in partisan activities of both the parish and the state committees of the [[Democratic Party]]. He was a [[conservative]] Democrat, whose political views were shaped by the aftermath of the Civil War and [[Reconstruction]]. He had managed to put the grief of Confederate defeat, known in history and literature as the Lost Cause of the Confederacy, behind him, particularly with the arrival of the promise of the 20th century.<ref name=bio/>​

As the office of mayor in such small communities was and remains part-time, Davidson was also the Tensas Parish treasurer for some three decades.<ref name=eastla/> He was heavily involved in partisan activities of both the parish and the state committees of the [[Democratic Party]]. He was a [[conservative]] Democrat, whose political views were shaped by the aftermath of the Civil War and [[Reconstruction]]. He had managed to put the grief of Confederate defeat, known in history and literature as the Lost Cause of the Confederacy, behind him, particularly with the arrival of the promise of the 20th century.<ref name=bio/>​

 

==Death of Lt. Joseph Moore Davidson==

==Death of Lt. Joseph Moore Davidson==

 

The community and parish had grown accustomed to Davidson's leadership. Then tragedy struck. His son, Joseph Moore "Jody" Davidson (1894-1918),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://files.usgwarchives.net/la/tensas/church/birth001.txt|title=Edith Ziegler, Tensas Parish Archives|publisher=usgwarchives.net|accessdate=January 6, 2011}}</ref> was killed in action in [[France]] shortly before the armistice ending [[World War I]], then known as The Great War.<ref>"Account of the Death of Lt. Joseph Davidson", ''Tensas Gazette'', December 13, 1918.</ref>​

The community and parish had grown accustomed to Davidson's leadership. Then tragedy struck. His son, Joseph Moore "Jody" Davidson (1894-1918),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://files.usgwarchives.net/la/tensas/church/birth001.txt|title=Edith Ziegler, Tensas Parish Archives|publisher=usgwarchives.net|accessdate=January 6, 2011}}</ref> was killed in action in [[France]] shortly before the armistice ending [[World War I]], then known as The Great War.<ref>"Account of the Death of Lt. Joseph Davidson", ''Tensas Gazette'', December 13, 1918.</ref>​

 

Lieutenant Davidson was a graduate of Culver Military Academy in [[Indiana]], the [[University of Michigan]], and the [[George Washington University]] Law School in [[Washington, D.C.]], where he also was a staff member for [[U.S. Senator]] Joseph E. Ransdell (1858-1954) of Lake Providence, a foremost spokesman for delta interests. Citizens in 1926 named the high school in St. Joseph in Davidson's honor.<ref name=bio/>​

Lieutenant Davidson was a graduate of Culver Military Academy in [[Indiana]], the [[University of Michigan]], and the [[George Washington University]] Law School in [[Washington, D.C.]], where he also was a staff member for [[U.S. Senator]] Joseph E. Ransdell (1858-1954) of Lake Providence, a foremost spokesman for delta interests. Citizens in 1926 named the high school in St. Joseph in Davidson's honor.<ref name=bio/>​

 

Decades later, after desegregation and reorganization, the former Joseph Moore Davidson High School is now known as Tensas High School, one of only three schools still operated by the parish school board,, which manages a decreasing pupil population in the smallest parish in Louisiana. Most of the minority of whites in the parish attend the private  Tensas Academy in St. Joseph.<ref>''Tensas Gazette'', May 12, 2010</ref> Nearly all African Americans of school age are enrolled in public schools, which have struggled financially and with weak pupil performance for many years.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thenewsstar.com/article/20130713/NEWS01/307130026/Proficiency-slips-in-Tensas-Franklin-Parish-schools|title=Barbara Leader, "Proficiency slips in Tensas, Franklin Parish schools", July 13, 2013|publisher=''The Monroe News-Star''|accessdate=July 14, 2013}}</ref>​

Decades later, after desegregation and reorganization, the former Joseph Moore Davidson High School is now known as Tensas High School, one of only three schools still operated by the parish school board,, which manages a decreasing pupil population in the smallest parish in Louisiana. Most of the minority of whites in the parish attend the private  Tensas Academy in St. Joseph.<ref>''Tensas Gazette'', May 12, 2010</ref> Nearly all African Americans of school age are enrolled in public schools, which have struggled financially and with weak pupil performance for many years.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thenewsstar.com/article/20130713/NEWS01/307130026/Proficiency-slips-in-Tensas-Franklin-Parish-schools|title=Barbara Leader, "Proficiency slips in Tensas, Franklin Parish schools", July 13, 2013|publisher=''The Monroe News-Star''|accessdate=July 14, 2013}}</ref>​

A. H. Jackson, then the principal of the all-black Tensas Parish Training School in St. Joseph, later known as the former Tensas Rosenwald High School, described Davidson as "always straightforward, full of advice and sympathy," and supportive of "movements which he felt were good for all the people irrespective of race or color."<ref name=bio/> ''The Natchez Democrat'' described Davidson as a "man of sterling character, honest and upright in his dealings with his fellow man, possessing all of the attributes of a true [[Christianity|Christian]] gentleman."<ref name=bio/>​

A. H. Jackson, then the principal of the all-black Tensas Parish Training School in St. Joseph, later known as the former Tensas Rosenwald High School, described Davidson as "always straightforward, full of advice and sympathy," and supportive of "movements which he felt were good for all the people irrespective of race or color."<ref name=bio/> ''The Natchez Democrat'' described Davidson as a "man of sterling character, honest and upright in his dealings with his fellow man, possessing all of the attributes of a true [[Christianity|Christian]] gentleman."<ref name=bio/>​

 

For the Tensas planter class, small in number but powerful in wealth and influence, Davidson's death signaled the quick passing of the old order. Davidson personally epitomized the [[Queen Victoria|Victorian]] ideals of the old planter aristocracy unaccustomed to much social, political, or economic change but in expectation of the periodic soaring of its profits based on agricultural market conditions.<ref name=bio/>​

For the Tensas planter class, small in number but powerful in wealth and influence, Davidson's death signaled the quick passing of the old order. Davidson personally epitomized the [[Queen Victoria|Victorian]] ideals of the old planter aristocracy unaccustomed to much social, political, or economic change but in expectation of the periodic soaring of its profits based on agricultural market conditions.<ref name=bio/>​

William and Carrie Davidson are interred at Natchez City Cemetery in Natchez, Mississippi.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.natchezbelle.org/adams-ind/d-burials.htm|title="D" burial records|publisher=natchezbelle.org|accessdate=July 21, 2013}}</ref><ref>Confirmed by Danny Brown, Natchez City Cemetery.</ref>

William and Carrie Davidson are interred at Natchez City Cemetery in Natchez, Mississippi.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.natchezbelle.org/adams-ind/d-burials.htm|title="D" burial records|publisher=natchezbelle.org|accessdate=July 21, 2013}}</ref><ref>Confirmed by Danny Brown, Natchez City Cemetery.</ref>

 

==References==

==References==

{{reflist}}​​

{{reflist}}​​

 

{{DEFAULTSORT:Davidson, William M.}}​

{{DEFAULTSORT:Davidson, William M.}}​

[[Category:Louisiana People]]​

[[Category:Louisiana People]]​