from The History of Hendricks County (Indianapolis: B.F. Bowen & Co., 1914)--pages 299-301
This is an age in which the farmer stands pre-eminently above any other class as a producer of wealth. He simply takes advantage of the winds, the warm air, the bright sunshine and the refreshing rains and, applying his own hands and skill to nature's gifts, he creates grain, hay, live stock, etc., all of which are absolute necessaries to the inhabitants of the world. Nature does much for the husbandman, so much, indeed, that it is often a question whether he fully appreciates what is thus done for him. Of course he must make proper use of his brain and his muscle, must not quail at obstacles and sit down and repine if things go wrong; on the contrary, he must ever be up and doing, with a heart for any fate. Such a man is William Robert Davidson, of Eel River Township, one of the leading farmers in this locality and a man who has refused to permit obstacles to down him.
William Robert Davidson, the son of Daniel N. and Elizabeth (Davidson) Davidson, was born in North Salem, Hendricks County, Indiana, May 14, 1860. His father, Daniel N., was a son of Silas and Elizabeth (Stamper) Davidson, and was born September 6, 1832, in Breathitt County, Kentucky. Shortly after his birth, his parents moved to this state and settled about two and one-half miles northwest of North Salem, but a year later moved across in Montgomery County and entered land in the southeastern part of Clark Township. Silas Davidson and wife lived there until 1855, then moved to Iowa and spent the remainder of their lives there. Daniel N. Davidson grew to manhood in this county and married Elizabeth Davidson, a native of this county and the daughter of Samuel and Susan (Dent) Davidson. Her parents were natives of Kentucky who had come here early in the history of the county. After Daniel N. Davidson was married, he and his wife went to Iowa with his parents, but three years later returned and located in North Salem, where he spent the most of his career in farming, although he has of late years been engaged in the mercantile business in North Salem. Early in life he started to study medicine, but eventually gave this up and devoted his attention to farming. He died in May, 1893, and his wife on December 31, 1891. Mr. and Mrs. Daniel N. Davidson were the parents of seven children: Oliver F., who died at the age of nine; Ida, who was the wife of William H. Vannice and died September 7, 1892; Melissa, who was the wife of A.G. Hypes and died in May, 1903; Lillie V., of North Salem; Mary N., the wife of James Oscar Emmons, of North Salem; William Robert, who career is herein presented, and one child who died in infancy.
William Robert Davidson remained on the home farm until his marriage, after which he farmed his father's place for eight years and then, after three years' residence in North Salem, he bought ninety-two and a half acres east of his present farm, where he lived for thirteen years. He then sold this farm and moved four miles northeast of North Salem, after which he lived three years in North Salem, then bought his present farm of sixty-seven and a half acres, two miles northeast of North Salem. He has improved his farm in many ways and has brought it up to a high state of cultivation.
Mr. Davidson was married on January 13, 1884, to Rosella Crose, the daughter of James Ross and Ann Eliza (Riggin) Crose. James R. Crose was born in Marion Township, this county, in 1834, the son of Andrew Jackson and Nancy (Rogers) Crose. Both his parents were born, reared and married in Nicholas County, Kentucky, and came to this county in 1831 and entered land. When James R. was about thirteen years old, his parents moved to Boone County, where Andrew J. Crose died about six months later, leaving his widow and seven children.
James Ross Crose remained in Boone County until his marriage, in 1852, to Lurancy Riley, the daughter of Allen and Levina Riley, of Boone County. His wife died in 1860, leaving one son, James Madison; two other children had died in infancy. James Madison Crose married Alice Ellington and was killed by a falling tree in Eel River Township at the age of forty-two. Mr. Crose was married a second time on March 12, 1862, to Ann Eliza Riggin, who was born in 1842 in Montgomery County, Kentucky, daughter of Wesley and Ann (Wren) Riggin. She came with her parents from Kentucky to this county when she was nine years of age. They came in wagons, and consumed eight days in making the overland trip to this county. Mr. and Mrs. Riggin located about two miles north of North Salem and later moved three miles southwest of Lizton, where they made their home and spent the remainder of their lives. There were three children by the second marriage: Rosella, the wife of William Davidson; Lillie Dale, the wife of Dr. William Wiseheart, of Colfax, Indiana, and Mary Etta, the wife of Douglas S. Grimes, a merchant of North Salem. Dr. and Mrs. Wiseheart have one daughter, Nina; Mr. and Mrs. Grimes have two children, Edna and Herman C.; Mr. and Mrs. Davidson, of North Salem, have four daughters, Blanche Naomi, Murle Agnes, Nellie May and Hilda Marie. Blanche is the wife of James H. Fiscus, of North Salem; Murle Agnes is a teacher in the city schools of Muncie, having previously taught at North Salem and Connersville; the other two daughters are still at home. All four daughters graduated from the North Salem High School and three attended the Central Normal College at Danville. Murle has been a student at the State University at Bloomington.
Mr. Davidson is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He has never sought or desired office of any kind, though by nature and experience he is well qualified to fill important trusts. He has chosen the quiet way rather than the turmoil and unrest, and in the quietude of home has found the content which would have been denied him in public places. A successful farmer, a kind and obliging neighbor and a worthy citizen, he has lived to honorable ends.