Sarah Franck and David Davidson
DAVID DAVIDSON was born January 10, 1863 in Slutsk, Russia,3323, 6325 and died January 15, 1931 in Sioux City, Woodbury, Iowa.3323, 6325 He is buried in Mount Sinai Cemetery, Sioux City, Woodbury, Iowa.456
He married SARAH FRANCK on December 26, 1893 in Sioux City, Woodbury, Iowa,3314, 6367 daughter of TERESA BAUM and ADOLPH HERMAN FRANCK. She was born March 18, 1872 in Independence, Buchanan, Iowa,6325, 6343 and died July 30, 1919 in Sioux City, Woodbury, Iowa.3314, 6325 She is buried in Mount Sinai Cemetery, Sioux City, Woodbury, Iowa.456, 6343
Children of SARAH FRANCK and DAVID DAVIDSON:
- LAWRENCE LOEB DAVIDSON, b. December 23, 1894, Sioux City, Woodbury, Iowa;250, 3305, 1884 m. MARY ELIZABETH KIRK on May 14, 1924 in St. Thomas Episcopal Church, Sioux City, Woodbury, Iowa3307; d. July 6, 1976, San Francisco, California.250
- HELEN DAVIDSON, b. July 22, 1897, Iowa;56 m. THOMAS CORNISH BOLTON on November 18, 1917 in New York City, New York6792; d. October, 1972.56
- HERMAN FRANK DAVIDSON, b. August 25, 1904, Sioux City, Woodbury, Iowa;56, 3305, 1884 d. June, 1979.56
Lawrence
Helen
Herman
Personal Information
- David Davidson and Sarah Franck were members of the Mount Sinai Temple, Sioux City, Woodbury, Iowa. 3323, 6343
Work History
- David Davidson owned Davidson Bros. department store with his brother.3323
Clubs and Associations
David Davidson
Marriage Announcements and News
Sioux City Journal, December 27, 18936367
At the residence of B. Davidson, at 8 P. M. yesterday, Dave Davidson and Miss Sara Frank, sister of Mrs. B. Davidson, were united in marriage. Rabbi Franklin performing the ceremony. The wedding was a quiet one, owing to the death of Mr. and Mrs. Davidson's child, and none were present save members of the two families. THis morning the bride and groom will start for a wedding trip to California. THey will be accompanied by Mrs. B. Davidson and family. The latter will spend the winter in California, and Mr. and Mrs. Dave Davidson will probably be gone about three months.
Newspaper Articles
Eldora Ledger, March 16, 19113324
Dave Davidson of Sioux City received a cablegram which announced the successful debut of his niece, Miss Tessie Davidson, as a grand opera prima donna in the famous opera at Venice.
Obituaries
Sioux City Journal, July 31, 19196343
DEATH CLAIMS WIFE OF DAVE DAVIDSON
WIDELY KNOWN AS CLUB WOMAN AND CHARITY WORKER.
HAD BEEN ILL TEN WEEKS
Health for Number of Years Had Been Poor—Came to Sioux City in 1886—Survived by Husband, Three Children and Relatives.
Surrounded by grief stricken relatives and friends, Mrs. Dave Davidson, prominent club woman and widely known charity worker, died yesterday afternoon at 4:30 o'clock at the family residence, 1709 Nebraska street, following an illness of ten weeks. News of Mrs. Davidson's death has been withheld from her daughter, Mrs. Helen Bolton, who is seriously ill with typhoid fever.
The death of Mrs. Davidson, wife of one of the Davidson brothers, causes great sorrow throughout the city, not only in society circles but to a host of friends in all walks of life. Possessed of a democratic personality, Mrs. Davidson recognized no caste among her friends. The washerwoman and society matron were met on the same plane, and through her indefatigable efforts the lives of many indigent families have been greatly brightened and their privations ameliorated, not, however, with any display of ostentation upon the part of the donor. She was always interested in the welfare of those whom she aided in material ways and through helpful suggestions assisted many unfortunates to better their standard of living.
Sarah Frank was born at Independence, Ia., March 18, 1872. When she was 14 years old her parents, Mr. and Mrs. A. H. Frank, removed to Sioux City. In 1893, four years after the death of her mother, she was married to Dave Davidson, and is survived by her husband and three children, Lawrence and Herman Davidson and Mrs. Helen Bolton. Her father, A. H. Frank, died in 1904. An older sister, Ida, the wife of Ben Davidson, died in 1906. Two sisters and a brother, Mrs. Charles Baldwin, Mrs. A. L. Levy and Lenard Frank, also survive.
Mrs. Davidson's health had been poor for about five years, following a serious attack of typhoid fever which forced her to remain bedfast for nearly a year. She never fully recovered from the ravages of the disease and ensuing complications brought about a decline which caused her to forego her former social and charitable activities. Ten weeks ago her condition became worse and despite medical skill and the loving care of her family death closed the career of a woman beloved by all classes.
Funeral services will be held Friday afternoon at the Mt. Sinai temple, Mrs. Davidson being a member of that congregation. There will be no service at the residence, owing to the illness of the daughter, Mrs. Bolton, and the family requests that no flowers be sent.
Waterloo Evening Courier, August 1, 19193314
FORMER INDEPENDENCE GIRL DEAD AFTER A LONG INVALIDISM
Sioux City, Ia., Aug. 1.—Mrs. Dave Davidson, prominent in social and charity circles during her 33 years of residence in Sioux City, died at 4:30 p. m. Wednesday at her home, 1709 Nebraska street, after several years of ill health, following an attack of typhoid fever. She had been confined to her bed for the last 10 weeks.
Mrs. Davidson was a charming figure in a charmed circle wherein she moved without a rival for a quarter of a century.
Mrs. Davidson before her marriage was Sarah Frank, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. A. H. Frank, Independence, Ia. She was born March 18, 1873. At the age of 14 she came to Sioux City with her parents, where they lived the remaining years of their lives. Mr. Frank died in 1904 and Mrs. Frank in 1889.
Miss Frank was married to Dave Davidson in 1893. Besides her husband, she is survived by her three children.
Sioux City Journal, January 16, 19313323
DAVE DAVIDSON IS FOUND DEAD IN HIS HOME
President of Big Business Firm Is Victim of Shot
Dave Davidson, 68 years old, a leading Sioux Cityan and merchant here, was found dead in his home at 1709 Nebraska street late Thursday afternoon. He had shot himself through the head. A .38-caliber revolver was found beside the body.
The death was pronounced a suicide by Coroner J. H. Robbins early Thursday night, after he had con[unreadable]
son was president of Davidson Bros. Co.
Instructions had be left with Mr. Davidson's sons, Lawrence and Herman, at the store at 2 o'clock in the afternoon for them to call him at 4 o'clock. The calls were attempted at that time. No answer was received and an investigation was started.
When the sons arrived at the home they found the doors locked. Forcing their way into the house they hurried to the third floor, where they found Mr. Davidson dead in his room. He was sitting upright in a chair. The bullet from the gun had pierced his head.
Coroner Robbins was notified. After he completed an investigation the body was removed to West's funeral home.
Mr. Davidson was born in Russia, January 1, 1863, and lived there until 1883, when he came to the United States and settled in Sioux City. Ben Davidson came to Sioux City a year previously.
The Davidson brothers, after their arrival here, peddled merchandise to farmers in the Sioux City territory until 1884, at which time they opened a store at 322 1/2 Fourth street. After doing business in the small store at that location, Ben Davidson opened the store at Fourth and Pierce streets. While Ben Davidson was operating the store, Dave continued to sell merchandise to the farmers throughout the territory. Dave joined Ben in the operation of the store about two years after it was opened at its present location.
Prominent Lodge Member
Dave Davidson was one of the few thirty-third degree Masons in Sioux City. On December 30, 1930, he was elected for the 25th time as almonar of the Sioux City Consistory, No. 5. He also was a member of the Landmark lodge, A. F. & A. M., the Abu-Bekr Shrine temple and a patron of Iris chapter, O. E. S. He also was a member of Mount Sinai temple and was a member of the board of directors of the temple. Mr. Davidson was also affiliated with several other organizations, including the Country club.
Mr. Davidson was considered one of the leading boosters of the city. Especially was he noted for his charity. Whether it happened to be a Catholic, Protestant or a Jewish project, Mr. Davidson took a prominent part and was one of the biggest contributors.
Mr. Davidson is survived by his widow; two sons, Lawrence and Herman; a daughter, Mrs. T. C. Bolton, all of Sioux City; a brother, Abe, of Sioux City, and a sister, Mrs. S. Schwimmer, of Chicago.
Funeral This Afternoon
Funeral services will be held in the residence at 3:30 o'clock this afternoon. Rabbi Theodore N. Lewis will conduct the services. Place of burial was not definitely decided Thursday night. The family requests that no flowers be sent.
The Pelletier Co., T. S. Martin Co. and other department stores will be closed during the time funeral services are being conducted. The Davidson Bros. store will be closed today.
Dave Davidson Started Business Here as a Peddler
A business career as interesting as a colorful romance was terminated by Dave Davidson's death.
Coming to Sioux City from Russia in 1883, Mr. Davidson joined his brother, Ben, in the merchandise peddling business here. Ben peddled merchandise in the rural districts near Sioux City, while Dave peddled dry goods to city residents who then numbered only about 7,000.
The following year the two brothers had saved $1,400. With that amount, they opened a "bargain house" at Fourth and Jennings streets, then the edge of the business district. The one-room store, 10 by 20 feet, provided space for a small stock of dry goods, groceries and hardware.
Several years later they moved their stock into a small two-story building at Fourth and Pierce streets, on the same site where a million-dollar enterprise now operates as one of Sioux City's leading department stores.
Benevolent Citizen
Another brother, Abe, later joined the two men in business here. As business expanded, the two story structure was enlarged. Two more stories were constructed [unreadable]
After half a century spent in the merchandise industry, 1931 found Mr. Davidson still the same mellow, benevolent citizen that he was when he crossed the Atlantic.
When the Davidson store at Fourth and Pierce streets was established, the extra space in the building served as an auditorium for small community enterprises. An example was when the annual art exhibits were presented her 30 years ago. The academy of arts here was without sufficient funds to put on the exhibit on a large scale. An appeal was made to Mr. Davidson, with the result that the fourth floor of the store was converted into an auditorium for the art exhibit, and the expenses were paid by the company.
Liberal Booster
The Davidsons have been especially charitable in giving space in their store to worthwhile enterprises. They sponsored and supported the baby clinic before that project was taken over by the Junior league.
Under Mr. Davidson's guidance, the company kept in intimate touch with every activity that was associated with the growth and development of Sioux City. Although a Hebrew institution, religious differences always have been swept aside when a community welfare project was at hand. The Davidson Bros. Co. headed the list of subscribers at the time one of the large Catholic churches of the city was erected.
Census Records
| Date | Location | Enumerated Names |
|---|---|---|
| June 18, 18803274 | Independence, Buchanan, Iowa | |
| 18853276 | Independence, Buchanan, Iowa | |
| 18953270 | Sioux City, Woodbury, Iowa |
|
| June 6, 19003296 | Sioux City, Woodbury, Iowa |
|
| April 28, 19103303 | Sioux City, Woodbury, Iowa |
|
| 19153306 | Sioux City, Woodbury, Iowa |
|
| January 2, 19203271 | Sioux City, Woodbury, Iowa |
|
| January 1, 1925328 | Sioux City, Woodbury, Iowa |
