Henry M. Davison, a prominent businessman and influential citizen of Springfield, South Dakota, was born and raised in Bon Homme County. After excelling in education, he joined the Springfield Bank and later co-founded the highly successful Springfield Hardware Company. A dedicated Republican, Davison served as treasurer of Springfield for five years and is currently in his second term as mayor, leading the city with exceptional management. His integrity and contributions to the community have earned him a stellar reputation. Davison’s personal life is equally fulfilling, with a loving marriage to Eva G. Stevens, and he actively participates in various fraternal organizations and supports the Episcopal Church.
HENRY M. DAVISON.— The enterprising young businessman and popular citizen whose name furnishes the heading of this review needs no formal introduction to the people of Springfield and Bon Homme County. Mr. Davison is, in every sense of the word, a western man, as he was born and raised in South Dakota, and thus far, his life has been closely identified with the growth and development of Bon Homme County, where he first saw the light of day on January 5, 1870. His father, Henry C. Davison, was a native of Augusta, Maine, and his mother, who bore the maiden name of Alberta Mead, was born in the state of New York. These parents moved to Illinois a number of years ago, then in 1869 to Bon Homme County, South Dakota, where the father was engaged in merchandising until 1874, when he discontinued that line of business and began dealing in livestock. His experience in the latter industry was of brief duration, however, as he died the same year, shortly after taking up his residence in Springfield. Mrs. Davison bore her husband two children, and about two years after his death, she became the wife of George W. Snow, with whom she now lives in the above town.
Henry M. Davison was born and raised in Springfield, South Dakota, and enjoyed the best educational advantages the schools of the town afforded. He early manifested a decided predilection for business, and at the age of eighteen, he entered the Springfield Bank, in which he held an important position from 1888 to 1892. Severing his connection with that institution the same year, he became associated with other parties in organizing the Springfield Hardware Company, with which enterprise he has since been connected, the business growing to large proportions in the meantime, until the establishment is now the largest and most successfully conducted of its kind in the city. In 1903, the company added agricultural implements and farm machinery to their stock, and the patronage in these lines is already large, lucrative, and steadily increasing.
While deeply interested in his business affairs and making every other consideration subordinate thereto, Mr. Davison has not been unmindful of his obligations to the public or of his duties as a citizen. From an early age, he has taken a lively interest in matters of public moment, and since old enough to exercise the rights of the ballot, he has been an earnest and zealous supporter of the Republican Party. In recognition of his valuable political services, as well as his peculiar fitness for the position, he was elected treasurer of Springfield in 1896, a position he efficiently discharged to the entire satisfaction of the public for a period of five years. Later, he was further honored by being made mayor, and he is now serving his second term in this office. During his incumbency, municipal affairs have been ably and faithfully managed, and the city is now enjoying one of the best administrations in its history.
Mr. Davison is one of the leading young men of his city and county, and his influence in business circles and public affairs has been marked and salutary. As already indicated, his life has been spent in Springfield, and his personal history presents no pages marred or blotted by unworthy actions. Few men in the community are as widely and favorably known; none enjoy a higher standing as a generous, obliging, self-sacrificing friend. From what he has already accomplished, it is safe to predict for him increased usefulness and additional public recognition and honor with each succeeding year. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias in Springfield and has been a member of Mt. Zion Lodge, No. 6, Free and Accepted Masons, since 1891. In addition to these fraternities, he is also identified with the Order of the Eastern Star and the Modern Woodmen of America, having held important official positions in all of these organizations. Religiously, he subscribes to the Episcopal creed, and with his wife, he belongs to the church in Springfield, where he is a zealous worker and contributes generously to its support.
Mr. Davison contracted a matrimonial alliance with Miss Eva G. Stevens, an intelligent and accomplished young lady who was born in Cass County, Iowa, on January 15, 1896. Since their marriage, they have moved in the best social circles of the city in which they reside. Mr. and Mrs. Davison have a beautiful home, abundantly supplied with comforts, conveniences, and many luxuries, and their domestic relations are indeed most pleasant and agreeable. Mrs. Davison was elected Worthy Grand Matron of the Order of the Eastern Star of South Dakota at Deadwood in June 1903.
Source: Robinson, Doane, History of South Dakota: together with mention of Citizens of South Dakota, [Logansport? IN] : B. F. Bowen, 1904.