O. C. DAVIDSON, one of the representative business men of Florence county, and one who has been actively engaged in developing the great iron mines of that region, is a native of Fort Howard, Wis., born June 22, 1857.   His parents were Thomas and Tobina Barent Davidson, natives of Norway, who came to Milwaukee, Wis., August 3, 1848, and two years, later removed to Fort Howard, Wis.  He was a carpenter and cabinet maker by trade, an occupation he followed, also for years running on the river.  To Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Davidson were born seven children, of whom the following three are yet living:  D. J. and Mary, of Green Bay, Wis., and 0. C., the subject of this sketch.   The parents are now living retired in Green Bay.

O. C. Davidson grew to manhood at Fort Howard, and in the schools of that place received his education.  He entered the employ of the First National Bank at Green Bay, Wis., and there remained eight years and six months, after which, about 1882, he went to Norway, Mich., where he engaged in the mining business, in which he has since continued with little exception, having been for two years in the meantime in the Kellogg National Bank of Green Bay, Wis.   He became superintendent of the Brier Hill Iron Mine at Norway, Mich., and in 1886 removed to Florence, Wis., having been made superintendent of the Florence Mining Co., which position he held until January, 1889, when he was made superintendent of the Commonwealth Iron Co. Since the establishment of the State Bank at Florence, in January, 1891, Mr. Davidson has served as its president; its cashier is E. E. Wilcox, and vice-president, P. McGovern.

In 1889 our subject was united in marriage, at Bessemer, Mich., with Charlotte S., daughter of William E.  and Elizabeth (Sargeant) Dickinson, who were natives of New York City and Boston, respectively; in their family were six children besides Mrs. Davidson, as follows: Edmond E., Harold, Frank, William E., Christine and Lucetta; (William E. was abducted in 1882, when five years of age, and though big rewards have been offered, the family have never received any news of him).   Mr. and Mrs. Davidson have had three children, namely: Ward F., Harold 0. and Norman H.  Mr. Davidson in politics is a Republican.  He is chairman of Commonwealth township and chairman of the county board, which latter position he has held for four terms, since 1889, still serving in that capacity. The large enterprise of which he is superintendent has been in operation for fifteen years, and the total number of gross tons of ore that have been shipped from their mines from 1880 to 1895, inclusive, are 1,637,897.  They employ at present 300 men.  The relations that Mr. Davidson sustains in an official capacity to the people of the county and township, and his prominence in the large mining company and banking house of Florence, evidence his standing in business circles and his popularity among his fellow townsmen.  Mr. Davidson is a member of Washington Lodge, No. 21, F. & A. M., of Green Bay, and of Pochequette Lodge, No. 26, K. of P., Green Bay.