Ida Eleanor Franck and Benjamin Davidson

BENJAMIN DAVIDSON was born August 15, 1859 in Slutsk, Russia,³³¹⁹ and died October 31, 1927 in Rochester, Olmsted, Minnesota.⁷⁴ He is buried in Graceland Park Cemetery, Sioux City, Woodbury, Iowa.³³¹⁷

He married IDA ELEANOR FRANCK on July 16, 1888 in Sioux City, Woodbury, Iowa,³³²² daughter of TERESA BAUM and ADOLPH HERMAN FRANCK. She was born November 19, 1870 in Buchanan County, Iowa,⁶³²⁵ and died April 23, 1906 in St. Joseph's Hospital, Sioux City, Woodbury, Iowa.⁶³²⁵ She is buried in Mount Sinai Cemetery, Sioux City, Woodbury, Iowa.⁶³²⁵

• Descendant Reports
  • Loab Franck Descendant Report (Ancestor of Ida E. Franck)

Children of IDA ELEANOR FRANCK and BENJAMIN DAVIDSON:

1. THERESA DAVIDSON, b. April 21, 1889, Sioux City, Woodbury, Iowa;^{3320, 1884} m. OSWALDO DE ZULIANI on September 29, 1911 in Sioux City, Woodbury, Iowa³³²⁰.
2. EDITH DAVIDSON, b. January 7, 1893, Sioux City, Woodbury, Iowa;¹⁸⁸⁴ m. PAUL MAURICE SEGNITZ on March 20, 1919 in Paris, France¹¹³⁷³; d. May 16, 1957.⁴⁵³²
3. LEON DAVIDSON, b. April 14, 1895, Germany;¹¹⁴⁴² m. DOROTHY HELEN DREYFOOS on January 8, 1919 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois²⁰⁸⁵; d. August 17, 1942, San Francisco, San Francisco, California.^{250, 11442}
4. FRANK BENJAMIN DAVIDSON, b. October 5, 1901, Iowa;²⁵⁰ d. September 18, 1977, Los Angeles County, California.²⁵⁰



Work History

Marriage Announcements and News

Sioux City Journal, July 22, 1888⁶³⁶⁶

HYMENEAL.

DAVIDSON-FRANK.

The marriage of Ben. Davidson, the well-known dry goods merchant of Sioux City, to Miss Ida Frank, took place on Monday at the home of the bride's parents, Mr. and Mrs. A. H. Frank, No. 916 Pierce street. The wedding was strictly private, only the relatives of the contracting parties being present. Among them were Mr. and Mrs. A. W. Neisser, of Milwaukee, and Mr. and Mrs. Fred Kahn, of Yankton, the ladies being cousins of the bride.

At precisely 11 A. M., the hour named for the ceremony, Misses Sarah and Bertha Frank, pianist and violinist, struck up the old and yet ever sweet music of Mendelssohn's Wedding March. The bride and groom, accompanied by Mr. and Mrs. Frank, entered the front parlor and the bridal pair took position in the great window, which was decorated with ferns and foliage plants. The lace draperies were wreathed with smilax and adorned with knots of roses, and above their heads hung a large and magnificent bell of roses. While the happy pair stood in waiting for the last notes of the music all had time to notice the loveliness of the young and pretty bride, who looked so charming in her rich and becoming bridal robes. She was attired in a costume of cream-colored faille de Francaise. The petticoat was trimmed with an elegant corner of pearl passamenterie in two shades, harmoniously blended, which extended across the front and up the left side, inclosing a pointed fan-shaped trimming of the faille. The court train, which swept the floor, three yards in length, was edged with a crepe lisse ruche dotted with pearls. The corsage, which was worn high, with three-quarter sleeves, was richly ornamented with the shaded passamenterie. Italian lace finished the sleeves, caught with pearl ornaments, and the same soft lace was worn in the neck. Her ornaments were diamond earrings, the gift of the groom, and an artistic leaf-shaped pin holding four diamonds, another wedding gift. She wore a cluster of drooping half-blown cream roses in her dark hair, a corsage bouquet of Marechal Niel roses and carried a hand bouquet of the same tied with long loops of cream satin ribbon. Dainty toe slippers of cream satin disclosed lovely embroidered silk hose. Silk mitts met the sleeves. The groom wore a suit of fine black, Prince Albert coat, boutonniere, white satin tie and white kid gloves. Mayor J. M. Cleland performed the marriage ceremony in a felicitous style, using parts of the Episcopal ceremony. Mr. Frank gave the bride away, the wedding ring was put on and the pair were pronounced husband and wife. Congratulations warm and hearty followed. Then the company sat down to a sumptuous wedding dinner, two long tables holding the twenty-five guests present. Colored waiters were in attendance. Lovely button-hole bouquets were concealed in each napkin. Eight or ten courses were served and champagne and imported wines were served without stint. During an interim between courses Mayor Cleland read a pile of congratulatory telegrams received from various points. In fact, telegrams kept coming by twos and threes up to the hour of departure. After dinner the company were treated to some fine music, rendered by the daughters of the household, and the time was spent socially until the arrival of three hacks to take the wedding party to the 2:40 P. M. train. The bride appeared in a most becoming traveling suit of tan-colored cloth, with jacket and hat to match. The drapery upon the skirt was caught on one side with a bow of olive green moire ribbon, and the same combination of colors appeared in the hat trimmings. The shoes were made to order in Rochester, N. Y., the lower parts of patent leather, the uppers of the tan=colored cloth. The groom wore a complete suit of pearl gray cloth. Their bridal trip will extend over a period of six weeks and will include Omaha, Chicago, Boston, New York and a stay at Saratoga. The mammoth trunk, arranged with tills, which went with them, contained many elegant costumes to be worn at that fashionable watering place. It is needless to tell any one in Sioux City or in any place reached by a Sioux City Journal who Ben Davidson is. It is enough to say that Ben Davidson has won a fair and sweet bride to himself, and his friends can only hope that he may always have the degree of happiness in the future that seemed to be his upon his wedding day. Mr. and Mrs. Davidson will begin housekeeping upon their return as soon as suitable arrangements for a location can be made. The following elegant list of wedding gifts will do much to adorn that home:

Cedar Rapids Evening Gazette, December 24, 1910³³¹⁵

WEDDING CULMINATES RICH IOWAN'S ROMANCE

Special to The Gazette.

Sioux City, Iowa, Dec. 24—A romance begun in the verdant hills of New Hampshire last August will culminate in Chicago next week when Ben Davidson of the Davidson Bros. department store here will wed Mrs. Blanche Hart, a prominent and well known widow of Cincinnati, O. The couple met in the White mountains. They will reside in Sioux City. Mr. Davidson is a widower. His two daughters are being educated in Europe and Miss Tessie has received a very flattering offer from Oscar Hammerstein.

Obituaries

Sioux City Journal, April 24, 1906⁶³⁵²

DEATH OF MRS. BEN DAVIDSON

Demise Occurred After an Illness of Only a Week.

Mrs. Ben Davidson, aged 35 years, died at 11:45 o'clock yesterday morning after an operation for appendicitis. Death came as a surprise, the opinion of the physicians having been that the patient was improving and would probably recover.

The end came at St. Joseph's hospital, where Mrs. Davidson had been taken just a week ago yesterday for the operation. Mrs. Davidson had not been sick a day before she was taken to the hospital, busying herself about the usual activities up to that time, and the case is described by physicians as a most remarkable one for the quickness with which the illness developed.

The deceased woman was a daughter of the late A. H. Frank. She was a woman of lovable characteristics, and her unlooked for death has cast a deep gloom over her many friends. She was born at Independence, Io., coming to Sioux City with her parents in 1886. She was married to Ben Davidson, of the Davidson Bros. company, July 16, 1888. There are for children, Theresa, aged 17years; Edith, aged 13; Leon, aged 11, and Frank, aged 4. All are living at the home of their parents in Sioux City. Mrs. Dave Davidson, Mrs. Charles Baldwin and Miss Matie Frank, sisters, and Leonard Frank, a brother of the deceased woman, also reside in Sioux City.

The funeral will be held this afternoon at 2:30 o'clock at the home, 1918 Jackson street, Rabbi Joseph Rauch, of Sioux City, and Rabbi Eugene Mannheimer, of Des Moines, officiating. Interment will be in Mt. Sinai cemetery.

Sioux City Journal, November 1, 1927³³¹⁹

DAVIDSON RITES ON WEDNESDAY

Thousands Will Attend Rites for Sioux City Merchant Prince.

What will probably be one of the largest funerals ever held in Sioux City will be conducted Wednesday afternoon, when last rites for Ben Davidson, president of Davidson Bros. company and one of the leading figures in Sioux City's business life, will be held at his home, 1915 Jackson street.

The services will begin at 2 p. m., and will be conducted by Rabbi Theodore Lewis, of Mt. Sinai temple. Oscar J. Hoberg, deputy for the sovereign grand inspector general in the Valley of Sioux City, Sioux City Consistory will read the Masonic burial service at the grave in the Hebrew cemetery at Graceland Park.

Pallbearers have not been chosen, pending arrival of Mr. Davidson's sons, who left here for Rochester, Minn., immediately upon hearing of their father's death there early Monday. They will arrive with the body today.

Sioux City department stores and many other establishments will close during the funeral, in tribute to the pioneer merchant, and to give owners and employes, many of whom were close personal friends of Mr. Davidson, a chance to attend the services.

Died Monday Morning.

Word of the death of the man who entered Sioux City with a peddler's pack on his back and lived to become a merchant prince, was received by Dave Davidson, his brother, at about 4 a. m. Monday.

The wire received by Dave Davidson gave no information as to the immediate cause of death. The senior member of the firm, however, had been in failing health for some time and had made trips to Miami, Fla., where he had his winter home, and to Europe in an effort to regain his strength. He departed for Rochester to consult the Mayo Bros. staff about 10 days ago.

Word of his death, however, came as a surprise to relatives here, as the reports that had been received previously were to the effect that Mr. Davidson had been getting along splendidly and there was no intimation of serious trouble. It was thought by some that death probably was caused by a heart attack. Mr. Davidson had been suffering from heart trouble for some time.

Sons Go to Rochester.

Within a half-hour after the receipt of the news of Mr. Davidson's death, Leon Davidson and Frank Davidson, sons, had departed by motor for Rochester. Mrs. Ben Davidson had accompanied Mr. Davidson to Rochester.

Ben Davidson was born at Ilutsk, Russia, August 13, 1859. At that time, members of the race of Mr. Davidson, the Jews, were not subjects of any great amount of persecution, but they were denied equal opportunity with the members of other races. In America, the young man saw a land of dreams, of opportunity unknown in the little Russian community.

Forty-six years ago, in 1881, Mr. Davidson first landed on the shores of the new world. At that time the trend of the youth of the land was to follow the advice of Horace Greeley and "go west" to the magic lands that lay west of the Mississippi. Following this urge, Mr. Davidson, in the spring of 1882 came to Sioux City, then a bustling frontier town of less than 7,000. Previous to coming here, he had spent short periods of time at New York, Akron, O. and Omaha, Neb.

Began as Peddler.

At that time W. Z. Swartz was the mayor of Sioux City and in the mayor, the young Jewish boy found a friend. With a capital of only a few dollars, all of which was needed for the pack on his back, the young peddler had no money to pay the license fee of $5 what was required for peddlers. When the young Jewish lad told his story to the mayor, the mayor gave him permission to peddle his wares regardless of a license and he freed the young man when he was picked up by the marshal for not possessing the required permit. The reason given by the mayor, who must have been blessed with a spirit of prophecy, was that he thought such young men were of value to the town and that he might some day become one of the leading men of the community.

Honesty and fair-dealing brought many customers and frugality began to pile up a small capital. The young man had been joined by his brother, Dave, and the two continued to carry on their trade, extending their operations into the territory surrounding Sioux City, in northwest Iowa, in Nebraska and South Dakota. During these early days, the two brothers laid the foundation of friendship and service, upon which they later built a great mercantile establishment.

A horse and buggy was purchased for Ben and for a year the elder brother worked more in the country, where he had many friends, and the younger brother worked house to house in Sioux City. Starting with tinware, only, they expanded their business until merchandise of all kinds was to be found in their packs.

"Bargain House" Started

Then in 1884, came the first step in the realization of the dream that had been brought from the steppes of Russia—the establishment of their own business with a permanent location. The first little venture was a far cry from the great modern establishment that now bears the name of Davidson ... the "Bargain House." The entire establishment was contained in a single room at Fourth and Jennings street, and the only clerks were Ben and Dave and a third brother, Abe, who had come from Russia to join them. The original capital of this store was $1,400, all the three brothers could scrape together.

The same policy of fair dealing and honesty, established on the road, was followed in the new "Bargain House," and customers flocked to the new venture and were held by the honesty and integrity of the brothers. As business increased, it was found necessary to seek larger quarters and a two-story building on the site of the present great Davidson store at Fourth and Pierce streets was acquired.

The building proved inadequate as Sioux City entered upon the colorful and romantic "boom days" of the 90s when the city was building its famous corn palaces and was attaining a reputation that reached from coast to coast. At that time, there were many business men who believed that Sioux City was destined to become the New York city of the middle west and the Davidson brothers were in the vanguard of those who had faith in their city.

Two more stories were added to the Davidson store; an annex was built to the west and then an extension was built on the back of the store. Finally, a new building was constructed on Douglas street. Announcement was made last year of the plans that have been forming in the brains of the brothers, the construction of a new 10 or 12-story building on the site of the present building. Plans for the building have been completed although decision has not been made as to the exact time that construction will begin.

The Fourth and Pierce streets institution is not the only monument left by Mr. Davidson as a testimonial of his faith in Sioux City. He not only was a pioneer merchant prince of the city, be he also was one of the shrewdest and most far sighed real estate men. Almost 20 years ago, he saw the need of an exclusive business office block and the Davidson block was constructed at Sixth and Pierce streets. It was the first real business office block in Sioux City and many were the well meaning friends who tried to dissuade the brothers from the project.

The next great enterprise was the Sunset View addition, which until the brothers purchased it, had been an eyesore of steep hills, gullies and ditches, used principally as a dumping grounds. With an eye to the future, Mr. Davidson purchased it left it lie until the time was ripe for development. When the dream had taken shape, hugh amounts of money were spent in leveling the hills and in making an addition different from any that the city had had at that time, an addition where the paving already was done, where all assessments were taken care of and which was to become one of the finest residence sections of the entire city.

Surviving are: The widow, Mrs. Blanche Davidson; two sons, Leon Davidson and Frank Davidson, both connected with the executive staff of the Davidson Bros. Co.; two daughters, Mrs. Tess De Zuliani, Venice, Italy, and Mrs. Edith Signitz, Paris, France; two brothers, Dave Davidson and Abe Davidson; two sisters, Mrs. Sippe D. Schwimmer, Sioux City, and Mrs. J. Edlin, San Francisco, Cal. There also are five grandchildren, the daughters of Leon Davidson, Helen, Mary and Jane, and the son and daughter of Mrs. Tess De Zuliano, Benjamin and Cotina.

Sioux City Journal, November 4, 1927³³¹⁶

OVER MILLION IN ESTATE

Davidson's Will Provides Trust Fund for His Property.

Total amount of the estate of the late Ben Davidson, pioneer merchant prince of Sioux City, will be about $1,300,000. Announcement was made by Dave Davidson, brother of the deceased, and vice president of the Davidson Bros. company.

Of this amount, about $1,000,000 is represented by his interest in the Davidson Bros. store, the Davidson Realty company and the Davidson Building company. Largest items of the holdings of these companies are the store building at the corner of Fourth and Pierce streets and Sunset View addition on the North Side.

Mr. Davidson also left insurance policies totaling more than $300,000, Dave Davidson sold. Of these, $280,000 was carried in favor of the Davidson Bros. company. THe balance was divided among the various members of his immediate family or were made out with his estate as beneficiary.

Perpetuation of the Davidson's department store was the thought uppermost in the mind of Ben Davidson when he drew up his will, it became apparent when the document was filed for probate in district court Thursday.

The will was so devised that Mr. Davidson's stock in the store would eventually be in the hands of his two sons, Leon Davidson and Frank Davidson.

"I take great pride in the mercantile house of Davidson, built up by my brothers, Dave Davidson and Abe Davidson and by myself," wrote Mr. Davidson in his will, "and I make provisions in this will with respect to the ownership of the common stock, with a view to peerpetuating the business so built up; and I trust that my brothers, Dave Davidson and Abe Davidson, in disposal of their common stock will share my desire to leave the control of said corporation in our sons."

After directing that all his just debts be paid, and leaving $5,000 to charity to be distributed as his executors saw fit, Mr. Davidson set out an ante-nuptioal agreement which he and his widow, Mrs. Blanche N. Davidson had entered into.

The agreement provided that in view of the fact that both Mr. Davidson and Mrs. Davidson had separate estates and were of independent means, Mrs. Davidson would relinquish her dower rights and take out of the estate only a share equal to that received by each child, which will be one-fifth.

Mr. Davidson requests that his wife leave her share of the estate in a trust fund provided by the will, which is to continue until November 1, 1935.

The rest of the estate also is to be left in the trust fund. Mr. Davidson's brother, Dave, and his two sons, Leon and Frank Davidson, were appointed trustees, with full power to act without authority from the ocurt in handling the estate. In case any of the trustees should die or refuse to act, then the court was requested to appoint a person to fill the vacancy. Mr. Davidson recommended his nephew, Lawrence Davidson, for the position.

The trustees were ordered to pay to each of the heirs $5,000 a year during the pendency of the trust. Besides Mrs. Davidson, the heirs are Theresa Davidson de Zuliani, Edith Davidson Segnitz, Leon Davidson and Frank Davidson.

Interests of Sons.

When division of the estate left in trust is made, Mr. Davidson instructed that his two sons should receive all his common stock. If this amounts to more than their share of the estate, they are to reimburse the other heirs in cash. If either of the sons does not care at that time to take common stock, the other is to be permitted to receive al the common stock and reimburse the heirs in cash.

The will was dated January 15, 1924. It was witnessed by F. E. Gill and Patrick J. Moore. A codicil dated July 1, 1927, provided that the $5,000 which Mrs. Davidson is to receive annually, while sh leaves her share in the trust, will cease if she should remarry or should be called by death.

Census Records

Date	Location	Enumerated Names
June 18, 18803274	Independence, Buchanan, Iowa	Adolph Herman Franck Teresa Baum Sarah Franck Bertha Franck Leonard Herman Franck Matie Franck Ida Eleanor Franck
18853276	Independence, Buchanan, Iowa	Adolph Herman Franck Teresa Baum Ida Eleanor Franck Sarah Franck Bertha Franck Leonard Herman Franck Matie Franck Max Charon
January 1, 18953270	Sioux City, Woodbury, Iowa	Benjamin Davidson Ida Eleanor Franck Edith Davidson Theresa Davidson
June 1, 19003296	Sioux City, Woodbury, Iowa	Benjamin Davidson Ida Eleanor Franck Theresa Davidson Edith Davidson Leon Davidson
19053310	Sioux City, Woodbury, Iowa	Benjamin Davidson Ida Eleanor Franck Theresa Davidson Edith Davidson Leon Davidson Frank Benjamin Davidson
April 20, 19103303	Sioux City, Woodbury, Iowa	Benjamin Davidson Theresa Davidson Edith Davidson Leon Davidson Frank Benjamin Davidson
January 10, 19203271	Sioux City, Woodbury, Iowa	Benjamin Davidson Frank Benjamin Davidson
January 1, 1925328	Sioux City, Woodbury, Iowa	Benjamin Davidson Frank Benjamin Davidson