Davidson, James D. (James Dorman), 1808-1882

Lawyer and poet in Lexington, Va.

Lawyer, of Lexington, Va.

The son of Presbyterian minister Andrew Baker Davidson James, Dorman Davidson (1808-1882) was born in Rockbridge County, Virginia. James graduated from Washington College in 1828. After passing the bar in 1831, Davidson lived and practiced law in Lexington for half a century. In 1835, he handled the settlement of the estate of Colonel James McDowell, father of Davidson’s friend and future Virginia governor James McDowell, Jr. Davidson. The case set Davidson’s course as a specialist in estate settlement. Known as the “Country Lawyer,” Davidson was widely respected by the Virginia legal community and made friends from all walks of life.

Politically active, he was first a Whig, then a Democrat, and initially a staunch Unionist. At the request of Governor John Letcher, Davidson visited with President Abraham Lincoln, withdrawing his opposition to secession after seeing that the President would not compromise. During the war, Davidson organized the Rockbridge County Home Guard, acted as Commissary Agent for the Virginia troops, and represented Governor Letcher in his dealings with military forces. Three of Davidson’s sons with wife Hannah McDowell Greenlee Davidson, Greenlee, Frederick, and Albert, died fighting for the Confederacy. His brother Alexander H. Davidson lived in Indiana and was a general in the U. S. Army. After the war, Davidson acted as a diplomatic agent between occupying Federal forces and the citizens of his county. He also tried to revive the local economy by urging investment in West Virginia coal and lumber.

In addition to his legal career, Davidson served as trustee of Washington and Lee University from 1858 to 1882. A friend of Robert E. Lee and “Stonewall” Jackson, Davidson also led the establishment of memorials for the men in Lexington. Additionally, he contributed poems and short stories to the literary periodical The Mountain Laurel .

Source:

Kellar, Herbert A. “A Journey Through the South in 1836: Diary of James D. Davidson.” The Journal of Southern History . Vol. 1, No. 3 (August 1935): pp. 345-377.

The son of Presbyterian minister Andrew Baker Davidson James, Dorman Davidson (1808-1882) was born in Rockbridge County, Virginia. James graduated from Washington College in 1828. After passing the bar in 1831, Davidson lived and practiced law in Lexington for half a century. Politically active, he was first a Whig, then a Democrat, and initially a staunch Unionist. At the request of Governor John Letcher, Davidson visited with President Abraham Lincoln, withdrawing his opposition to secession after seeing that the President would not compromise. During the war, Davidson organized the Rockbridge County Home Guard, acted as Commissary Agent for the Virginia troops, and represented Governor Letcher in his dealings with military forces. Three of Davidson's sons with wife Hannah McDowell Greenlee Davidson, Greenlee, Frederick, and Albert, died fighting for the Confederacy. His brother Alexander H. Davidson lived in Indiana and was a general in the U. S. Army. After the war, Davidson acted as a diplomatic agent between occupying Federal forces and the citizens of his county. He also tried to revive the local economy by urging investment in West Virginia coal and lumber.

In addition to his legal career, Davidson served as trustee of Washington and Lee University from 1858 to 1882. A friend of Robert E. Lee and ⁰́₋Stonewall⁰́₊ Jackson, Davidson also led the establishment of memorials for the men in Lexington. Additionally, he contributed poems and short stories to the literary periodical The Mountain Laurel.