William Davidson

William Davidson was born on February 14, 1783, in Carlisle, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, where he served as prothonotary; manager of the Laurel Furnace, Bedford County; moved to Connelsville in 1808, and later served as iron-master at Breakneck Furnace; service in the war of 1812, becoming a prisoner of war in the capture of Detroit under Hull; survived to return to Connellsville where he married the widow Sarah Rogers Blackstone. He served in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, 1814, 1816-1817; elected Speaker of the House in 1818.  Davidson also served in the Senate, 1818-1824. He died in 1867, age 85.