JUDGE J. M. DAVIDGE, lawyer and farmer, Olmsted, a native of Hopkinsville, Ky., born August 31, 1816. His father, Rezin Davidge, was a native of Maryland, where he was reared and educated and subsequently admitted to the bar, and engaged in the practice of his profession. He was a prominent man of his county, and was Circuit Judge and Judge of the Court of Appeals of Kentucky. He was at one time possessed of a considerable wealth, and at all times had the esteem and confidence of his fellow-men. He died in 1861 at Hopkinsville, Ky. His father was a native of England. The mother of our subject, Elizabeth (Bell) Davidge, was a native of Virginia. She died at Princeton, Ky., in 1827. She was the mother of the following living children: Mrs. Mary O. Fry, of Louisville, Ky.; Reason, of Princeton, Ky., and James M., our subject. He was reared and educated at Hopkinsville, Ky., and with his father and his partner, T. C. Lander, studied law, and in 1838 was admitted to the bar. In the fall of 1839, he came to Illinois and located at Golconda, and afterward removed to Vienna, where he remained four years. In October, 1843, he came to Pulaski County and was appointed Clerk of the Circuit Court, and served until 1860. From 1848 to 1861, he held the office of County Clerk. In 1861, he was elected Judge of the County Court. He was Postmaster of Caledonia for over fifteen years. He is still engaged in the practice of his profession, and in connection is engaged in farming. He was married in Johnson County, Ill., in 1840, to Miss Nancy Ladd, a native of the same county. She was born February 29, 1824, and died September 21, 1877, in Pulaski County. She was a daughter of Rev. Milton Ladd, a prominent man who represented Johnson County in the Senate. She was the mother of the following children: Mary, James, Charles, Cornelia and Nanzy. He was married a second time, to Mrs. Minerva Riddle, widow of Mr. H. D. Riddle, a son of James Riddle, the founder of Covington, Ky., and America, Ill.
Extracted 02 Nov 2014 by Norma Hass from 1883 History of Alexander, Union and Pulaski Counties, Illinois, Part V - Biographical Sketches, pages 314-315.
| Union | Johnson | |
| Alexander |
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Massac McCracken KY |
| Ballard KY |
