An Illustrated History of Central Oregon, Western Historical Publishing Company, Spokane, WA., 1905, pages 421-422. CHARLES DAVIDSON, secretary of the Davidson Fruit Company, and a genial man of sixty odd years, is one of the well known business men of Hood River. He was born in Knox county, Ohio, on June 21, 1840. His father, William C. Davidson, commonly called Casper, was a native of Maryland and died in 1884, aged sixty-seven. He came to Ohio with his parents when three years of age. His grandfather, the great-grandfather of our subject, was a sailor and died at the advanced age of ninety-six. This venerable gentleman's son, Samuel Davidson, was a patriot in the War of 1812, and participated in the battle of Bladensburg, and others. William Davidson married Miss Louisa Arnold, a native of Harrison county, Ohio. She is residing in Knox county, aged eighty-four. Her parents were of Pennsylvania Dutch stock and came from Susquehanna count. Her mother died in Missouri, aged eighty-seven, in 1884. Her father died in 1857, aged sixty-one. Our subject was educated in the public schools and in 1857 commenced to learn carriage painting. For three years he served as apprentice, and in this line he has shown himself an artist, as his work is some of the best to he obtained. He has charge of the vehicle department of the company at Hood River and renders valuable service toward the success of the company in his line. Mr. Davidson followed painting of carriages in various sections until 1901, when he came west to join his son and since that time has continued in the business with him. Mr. Davidson has four children; Arnanda B., the wife of Albert Whitehead, in the employ of the company; Horatio F., mentioned elsewhere in this work; Ella M., in Hood River; and Maud K., the wife of William H. Chipping, assistant superintendent of the Electric Light and Water Company. Politically, Mr. Davidson is an independent thinker and leans toward socialism. He was formerly a member of the Greenback party and is well posted in all political subjects. ******************* Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in January 2005 by Jeffrey L. Elmer. Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.