Davison

Davison History

Settlements in what is now Davison began in 1836, with the first land purchase recorded by James Hoise of Essex County, New York. The area then encompassed Atlas, Davison, Richfield and Forest Townships which were part of Lapeer County. In March of 1843, an act by the state legislature added this area to Genesee County.

The first settler of what is now Davison Township was Andrew Jesse Seelye. He came from Saratoga County in New York. Along with his brother Alson and sister Debbie they purchased 240 acres in early 1837.

Settlement in the area became more common. People like Christopher Miler and his family, Ira and Clarissa Potter and Goodenough Townsend started making homesteads in the area.

Miller and his sons, John and Hermish, built the first frame house in their new community. The log cabin they erected at what is now Flint and State Streets, became the first school house, with Sabrina Barnes being the first school teacher.

Norman Davison, during this time, had constructed a sawmill on the banks of Kearsley Creek in Atlas Township with his four sons. He was one of the delegates to a convention in Detroit on May 11, 1835 that framed the first constitution for the State of Michigan. Davison was also a delegate to the convention in Ann Arbor that ceded a portion of land to Ohio and Indiana in exchange for the region that is now the Upper Peninsula of the state. Norman Davison held many offices in the early years, including judge in Lapeer County. He also was the first supervisor of Grand Blanc Township when Atlas Township was still part of that area.

Goodenough Townsend had the first election of township officers at his home April 6, 1840. He also was an advocate of annexing the area from Lapeer to Genesee in 1843. He went on to establish the first Sunday school and was the first postmaster for the area. Mail would come once a week by ox team to the area, after it had been left by the train at Grand Blanc, then brought to Atlas by stage coach.

In 1852 Seth Wicker built the first hotel at what is now the intersection of Lapeer and State roads. He succeeded Townsend as postmaster when Franklin Pierce became president.

The first stage line to Flint was introduced and the area was formally called Davison Center, commonly known as "Wickers Corners" was made a way station to change horses and accept mail twice a day.

In these early years school was held in two sessions. The older boys and girls attended a four month winter term with a male teacher. Younger children would join their female teacher during the summer months for their schooling.

From 1870 to 1894 the first church in the area stood at Richfield and Oaks roads. Since then St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church has had a notable presence in the Davison community.

With the construction of the railroad in 1871, came an increase in settlement in the area. This required a larger school for educating the youth. A two room structure with a basement was constructed at Davison and Fourth Streets. This was the Davison area school until 1886, when a bigger brick building was erected. Currently, the Davison City Hall is located where the brick school house stood.

In 1872, E.W. Rising platted the area that had become known as "Seelyeville" or Davison Center. There, the first government offices were established in the rising Hall, which was destroyed in 1894. A fire broke out in the Dugan building April 30, 1894 and destroyed much of the Main Street business district, except the A. E. Hurd store which became the Reid Drugs business. While equipment from the Flint Fire Department was rushed to the area on flat cars by the railroad, it was too late. Consequently, in 1895 the first Davison Volunteer Fire Department was organized with a hand plumper and a two-wheel cart as their equipment.

Also in 1895, Edith Hill, Bert Hurd and Will Capsaddle completed the ninth grade and became the first graduates of the Davison School.

In 1904 the first organized horse racing began on Main Street, with area residents and merchants clearing the thoroughfare for the event. In the area known as Rosemore Park subdivision, county fairs were held for several years until fire destroyed the stables and ultimately stopped the event.

In 1906 the Davison School expanded to include 11 grades, with the 12th grade added in 1907.

The first physician came to the area in 1872 - Dr. L. W. Hanson; Damon Stewart was the first merchant and postmaster; Davison State Bank was organized in 1894 with A. B. Cullen as president and John F. Cartwright as teller. The businesses included: a washing machine factory; a brickyard; a buggy works; a cheese factory; and a sawmill.

A. E. Gifford, of Union Telephone Company helped phone service grow from a single telephone in 1883 to a direct dialing system in 1957 by General Telephone Company.

Historical information courtesy of the Davison Historical Society. The Davison Area Historical Society is dedicated to the preservation and enrichment of Davison history. The Davison Area Historical Society was established in 1989 as part of the Davison Centennial celebration. On May 20, 1990 the Davison Area Historical Museum was opened. Inside the museum you'll find bits and pieces from everyday life in early Davison. Clothing, toys and household items from some of the area's first families have found a permanent home in our museum. A miniature of Davison Village as it appeared around 1900 is on display. In it you find replicas of some of the area's earliest homes and businesses. The Charles B. Uptegraff house, the Davison Depot, two sawmills and many other buildings are fun to find in the miniature landscape. Also on display is a collection of military uniforms, medals and equipment once used by Davison residents who served in the armed forces. 

Davison Area Historical Museum
263 East Fourth St.
Davison, MI 48423
(810) 658-2286