Harlan Page Davidson
Encyclopedia
Education
Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
in private education.
Early life
Davidson was born in Hooksett, New HampshireHooksett, New Hampshire
Hooksett is a town in Merrimack County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 13,451 at the 2010 census. The town is located between Manchester, the state's largest city, and Concord, the state capital...
. The census records show his parents moved to Colebrook, New Hampshire
Colebrook, New Hampshire
Colebrook is a town in Coos County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 2,301 at the 2010 census. Situated in the Great North Woods Region, it is bounded on the west by the Connecticut River and home to Beaver Brook Falls Natural Area....
around 1840. His early education was limited to a few weeks during winter in a country public school. Davidson spent most of his early years as a boy helping his father in farming since they had about 300 acres (1.2 km²) of land, much of it woods. Davidson was also learning to become a stonemason under his father's training. In 1860 he was seriously injured by an accident which no longer allowed him either of these careers.
Mid life
Davidson decided at this point in his life to obtain a college education. He first attended the academy at Colebrook, New Hampshire. In 1864 he then entered Norwich UniversityNorwich University
Norwich University is a private university located in Northfield, Vermont . The university was founded in 1819 at Norwich, Vermont, as the American Literary, Scientific and Military Academy. It is the oldest of six Senior Military Colleges, and is recognized by the United States Department of...
, a military college, and was there towards the end of 1865. He studied science and also Latin and Greek. He graduated from the university. Since Norwich University moved from Norwich
Norwich, Vermont
Norwich is a town in Windsor County, Vermont, United States, located along the Connecticut River opposite Hanover, New Hampshire. The population was 3,544 at the 2000 census....
to Northfield
Northfield, Vermont
Northfield is a town in Washington County, Vermont, United States. It lies in a valley within the Green Mountains, and has been the home of Norwich University since 1866. The town contains the village of Northfield, where over half of its population lives. The population was 6,207 at the 2010...
in 1866, he did not return.
Davidson had various positions in schools and academies for the next twelve years. He was principal of the Chestnut Hill Academy
Chestnut Hill Academy
Chestnut Hill Academy, commonly referred to as CHA, is a Pre-K to 12 all-male independent college preparatory school located in northwest Philadelphia, Pennsylvania....
from 1866 to 1868. From there he worked at a private school from 1868 to 1870 at Phoenixville, Pennsylvania
Phoenixville, Pennsylvania
Phoenixville is a borough in Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States, northwest of Philadelphia, at the junction of French Creek with the Schuylkill River. The population is 16,440 as of the 2010 Census.- History :...
. Then he worked at a high school in Somerville, New Jersey
Somerville, New Jersey
Somerville is a borough in Somerset County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 12,098. It is the county seat of Somerset County....
, and ultimately became superintendent of schools in that town from 1870 to 1872. From September 1872 to 1884 he taught at the Collegiate Institute and the Business College in Salem, New Jersey
Salem, New Jersey
Salem is a city in Salem County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2010 Census, the city population was 5,146. It is the county seat of Salem County, the most rural county in the state of New Jersey. The name Salem is related to the Hebrew word shalom, meaning "peace".The town and...
.
Davidson then became an editor for a newspaper in Jersey City, New Jersey
Jersey City, New Jersey
Jersey City is the seat of Hudson County, New Jersey, United States.Part of the New York metropolitan area, Jersey City lies between the Hudson River and Upper New York Bay across from Lower Manhattan and the Hackensack River and Newark Bay...
, from 1884 to 1885. The newspaper was devoted to social and political reform. During most of his years in Salem, New Jersey, Davidson founded and produced the Qui Vive newspaper in the cause of temperance
Temperance movement
A temperance movement is a social movement urging reduced use of alcoholic beverages. Temperance movements may criticize excessive alcohol use, promote complete abstinence , or pressure the government to enact anti-alcohol legislation or complete prohibition of alcohol.-Temperance movement by...
. It was largely through the influence of this newspaper that his county he then lived in became the banner Prohibition county of New Jersey.
Davidson was principal of Leland & Gray Academy in Vermont from 1885 to June of 1886. He was then commandant
Commandant
Commandant is a senior title often given to the officer in charge of a large training establishment or academy. This usage is common in anglophone nations...
of the Morgan Park Academy
Morgan Park Academy
Morgan Park Academy is a coeducational, college preparatory, independent Pre-Kindergarten-12th grade day school located in the Morgan Park neighborhood on the south side of Chicago, Illinois. Founded in 1863, Morgan Park Academy was formerly known as Mt...
in Chicago from 1886 to 1887. He became their superintendent to the summer of 1888. He was also for many years president of the Sheridan Road Publishing Company and became its owner.
Davidson was an ardent Republican from 1860 until the fall of 1872. He became dissatisfied with the way of the Republican party was legalizing the liquor traffic by the license system. From 1872 until 1878 he was not allied with any particular political party. During those years he worked vigorously against liquor interests and in favor of political reforms. He switched in 1878 from being Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
to the viewpoints of a Prohibitionist. Davidson was commissioned a Colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
in the Illinois National guard in 1890.
Northwestern Military Academy
In the fall of 1888, he purchased Highland Hall at Highland ParkHighland Park, Illinois
Highland Park is a suburban municipality in Lake County, Illinois, United States, about north of downtown Chicago. As of 2009, the population is 33,492. Highland Park is one of several municipalities located on the North Shore of the Chicago Metropolitan Area.-Overview:Highland Park was founded...
on the north shore of Chicago
North Shore (Chicago)
The North Shore is a term that refers to the generally affluent suburbs north of Chicago, Illinois bordering the shore of Lake Michigan.- History :Europeans settled the area sparsely after an 1833 treaty with local Native Americans...
. Here he renovated the hotel and founded Northwestern Military Academy
Northwestern Military and Naval Academy
Northwestern Military Academy was a high school in Linn, Wisconsin which was founded by Harlan Page Davidson. Originally located in Highland Park, Illinois, the school was relocated to the town of Linn, Wisconsin on the south shore of Geneva Lake near the city of Lake Geneva in 1915 and was...
and became its president. Soon after the opening of the Academy it burned to the ground. Davidson rebuilt it and managed the Academy successfully where it became prosperous. In the early part of the twentieth century it became known as one of the best military institutions in the country.
In 1892 Davidson, then a Colonel, became president of Northwestern Military Academy when it was incorporated that year. In 1915 Northwestern Military Academy that he founded changed its name to Northwestern Military and Naval Academy
Northwestern Military and Naval Academy
Northwestern Military Academy was a high school in Linn, Wisconsin which was founded by Harlan Page Davidson. Originally located in Highland Park, Illinois, the school was relocated to the town of Linn, Wisconsin on the south shore of Geneva Lake near the city of Lake Geneva in 1915 and was...
. He was president of the Northwestern Summer Naval School since its beginning in 1902.
Degrees and honors
In 1871 the Lafayette CollegeLafayette College
Lafayette College is a private coeducational liberal arts and engineering college located in Easton, Pennsylvania, USA. The school, founded in 1826 by James Madison Porter,son of General Andrew Porter of Norristown and citizens of Easton, first began holding classes in 1832...
in Pennsylvania conferred upon him the Master of Arts
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
degree. In 1892, in recognition of his work as an educator, Norwich University conferred upon him the same degree. Davidson taught school for over fifty years.
Politics
Davidson has held several political positions and was elected an aldermanAlderman
An alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council member chosen by the elected members themselves rather than by popular vote, or a council...
of Highland Park for three successive terms. He was a candidate for Congress from the Seventh Illinois District in the year 1900. In 1904 Davidson was Prohibition candidate for Presidential elector.
Societies and clubs
Davidson was a member or associated with the following societies and clubs:- AZTJ Fraternity and the Athenian Society.
- Good Templar Society while he lived in Pennsylvania.
- Sons of Temperance in New Jersey.
- Grand Worthy Patriarch.
- American Academy of Political and Social ScienceAmerican Academy of Political and Social ScienceThe American Academy of Political and Social Science was founded in 1889 to promote progress in the social sciences. Sparked by Professor Edmund J. James and drawing from members of the faculty of the University of Pennsylvania, Swarthmore College, and Bryn Mawr College, the Academy sought to...
- American Institute of Civics
- National Geographic SocietyNational Geographic SocietyThe National Geographic Society , headquartered in Washington, D.C. in the United States, is one of the largest non-profit scientific and educational institutions in the world. Its interests include geography, archaeology and natural science, the promotion of environmental and historical...
- American Forestry AssociationAmerican Forestry AssociationThe American Forestry Association was formed in Chicago, Illinois in September 1875 by John Aston Warder. The current headquarters are in Washington, D.C.. The organization acts as a clearinghouse for environmental organizations working to preserve world tree growth. The "National Register of...
- National Municipal League
Family
His parents were Samuel Davidson and Lydia (Jackman) Davidson. He married Adelaide Sherman Lord on May 16, 1866. They had two children: Alice Sherman, who was born August 30, 1867, and Royal PageRoyal Page Davidson
Royal Page Davidson was an American educator and inventor.- Early life :Davidson was born in Somerville, New Jersey on October 9, 1870. His early basic education was in a country public school.- Mid life :...
, who was born October 8, 1870.
Sources
- Dodge, Grenville M. et al., Norwich University, 1819-1911; Her History, Her Graduates, Her Roll of Honor, The Capital Press (1911)
- Herringshaw, Thomas WilliamThomas William HerringshawThomas William Herringshaw was an American journalist, publisher, genealogist and biographical author, best known for editing and publishing biographical reference works.-Biography:...
, Herringshaw's American Statesman and Public Official Year-book 1907-1908, American Publishers’ Association 1907 - St. John's Military Academy, A History of Excellence: St. John's Northwestern Military Academy, Delafield, Wis., self-published (2002)
- Leonard, John William, Who's who in America 1903-1905, Marquis, 1903
- Marquis Who's Who, Who's was who in America 1897-1942, Vol 1