Jim "King" Davidson

Notes:

Jim King Davidson, 82, died Sunday night in Hemphill, Texas. King was born near Milam, Texas, to Gheron and Irona Bragg Davidson. He grew up in Sabine County, then served nine years in the U.S. Air Force and was a Korean War veteran. Afterwards he attended the University of Texas at Austin and received a Bachelor of Science Degree in 1957 and a Master of Science in Aero-Space Engineering in 1961.

While working at NASA, King invented the weightless chamber in which the astronauts trained for the first moon landing. Later working with Bell Helicopter and LTV Lockheed Martin, he was on the team that developed the Osprey dual flight plane now used by the Marines and led the team that developed the Gazelle helicopter with the vertical tail prop.

King retired to his home in Sabine County in 1978, where he operated a heating and air/conditioning business for many years.

He is survived by his wife of 18 years, Ingrid Broughton Davidson, his daughters; Cheryl Crayton and her husband Donald of Conroe, Kelley Davidson of Portland, OR, his son Jay Davidson of Nacogdoches; his step-son Ebb Flynt and his wife Holly, his step-daughter Rebecca Flynt, and his cousin Billy Barlow and his wife Vernon Lee. King is also survived by his grandchildren; Michael and Katlyn, great grandchildren; Hunter and Kaylie. His step grandchildren; Grace, Katie and Conner.

King was preceded in death by his parents Theron and Irona Davidson, his daughter Castle Davidson, his sister Glenis King and his brother Bill Davidson.

There will be a private memorial service.

Notes:

Name: David Theron Davidson
Death Date: 15 Jun 1975
Death Place: Jasper, Jasper, Texas
Gender: Male
Race:
Death Age: 78 years
Estimated Birth Date: 1897
Birth Date:
Birthplace:
Marital Status: Married
Spouse's Name: Irona Davidson
Father's Name: David K. Davidson
Father's Birthplace:
Mother's Name: Mary Ellafair King
Mother's Birthplace:
Occupation: Farmer
Veteran of WW I
Place of Residence:
Cemetery:
Burial Place:
Burial Date:
Additional Relatives:
Film Number: 2243828
Digital Film Number: 4167851
Image Number: 85
Reference Number: 61164
Collection: Texas Deaths, 1890-1976


(Medical):See attached sources.

David married Willie Irona Bragg on 28 Aug 1919. Willie (daughter of Thomas Alfred Bragg and Frances "Fannie" Harriet Alford) was born on 22 Apr 1903 in Sabine County, Texas; died on 28 Aug 1990 in Sabine County, Texas; was buried in King Cemetery, Milam, Sabine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

David married Mary Ellafair Belle King on 6 Jan 1887 in Sabine County, Texas. Mary was born on 3 Dec 1861 in Texas; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

His tombstone was erected by WOW, and was inscribed "He died as he lived a Christian"

(Research):

Census Listings:

1910 Census
Texas, Sabine County, Pr 4
Enumerated 28 Apr 1910
SD 2 ED 134 Sheet 7B
108-112
Bragg, Thomas A Hd M W 34 m1 8 Tx Fl Fl Farmer
Bragg, Frances H Wf F W 36 m1 8 4/2 Tx La Miss
Bragg, Willie I Dtr F W 7 S Tx Tx Tx
Bragg, Mac R Son M W 2 S Tx Tx Tx

Thomas married Frances "Fannie" Harriet Alford on 15 Sep 1901. Frances (daughter of Rev. Needham Bryant Alford and Frances Ann Partin) was born on 27 Apr 1873 in Sabine County, Texas; died on 10 Jul 1927 in Hemphill, Sabine County, Texas; was buried in New Hope Cemetery, Milam, Sabine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Name: Fannie Strather
Death Date: 10 Jul 1927
Death Place: Hemphill, Sabine, Texas
Gender: Female
Race: White
Death Age: 54 years 2 months 13 days
Estimated Birth Date:
Birth Date: 27 Apr 1873
Birthplace: Texas
Marital Status: Married
Spouse's Name:
Father's Name: N. B. Alford
Father's Birthplace: La.
Mother's Name: Francis Partin
Mother's Birthplace: Miss.
Occupation: Housewife
Informant: Mack Bragg
Place of Residence:
Cemetery:
Burial Place: New Hope
Burial Date: 10 Jul 1927
Additional Relatives:
Film Number: 2114332
Digital Film Number: 4165164
Image Number: 2536
Reference Number: cn 24850
Collection: Texas Deaths, 1890-1976


(Research):
Census Listings:

1910 Census
Texas, Sabine County, JP 4
Enumerated 28 April 1910
SD 2 ED 134 Sheet 7B

108-112
Bragg, Thomas A Hd M W 38 M1 8 Tx Florida Florida Farmer Gen Farm
Bragg, Frances H Wf F W 36 M1 8 4/2 Tx La Miss
Bragg, Willie I Dtr F W 7 S Tx Tx Tx
Bragg, Mac R Son M W 2 S Tx Tx Tx

1920 Census
Texas, Sabine County, JP 1
10 Feb 1920
SD 326 ED 168 Sheet 32A, Stamped 125
624-646
Bragg, Fannie H Hd F W 46 Wd Tx La Miss Farmer Own Farm
Bragg, Charlie Nephew M W 26 S Tx Fla La Farm Laborer Home Farme
Davidson, Theron Son-in-law M W 23 M Tx Ga Ga Farmer Own Farm
Davidsion, Irona Dtr F W 16 M Tx Tx Tx Tx

Notes:

(Research):

Census Listings:

1850 Census
Texas, Sabine County, Sabine District
Enumerated 3 and 4 Oct 1850
Page 312
21-21
Jacob Crawford 58 M Farmer 10,0000 NC
Huldah Crawford 55 F North Carolina
Joseph M. Crawford 22 M Tenn
Elizabeth Crawford 17 F SC (wife of Joseph)
Mary Crawford 17 F Tenn
Mary Ann Crawford 10 F Tx
24-24
Solomon Davidson 38 M Farmer 500 Va
Christina Davidson 28 F NC
Predous Philip Davidson 6 M Tx
Joseph Thomas Davidson 3 M Tx
Willam B. Davidson 11/12 M Tx
Mary E Davidson 10/12 Tx

1860 Census
Texas, Sabine County, PO Milam
Enumerated 16 Jun 1860
Page 6
50-50
Solomon Davidson 48 M Faremer 1000 1225 VA
Christina Davidson 35 F Tenn
Pedres Davidson 14 M Tx
Joseph T Davidson 14 M Tx
David Davidson 1 M Tx


1870 Census
Texas, Sabine County, PO Brookeland
Enumerated 20 Aug 1870
Page 27
623
Davidson, Solomon 58 M W farmer 1000 1000 Va
Davidson, Christina 48 F W Keeping House NC
Davidson, David 12 M W Tx
624
PP and Melvina Davidson

Solomon married Christina Crawford about 1842. Christina (daughter of Jacob Crawford and Huldeth Luten) was born on 1 Jan 1822 in Tennessee; died about 1873 in Sabine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

According the "Sabine County Historical Sketches and Genealogical Records" by Edna McDaniel White and Blanche Finley Toole, William Bragg enlisted in the Confederate Army at Alexandria, Louisiana and served under Capt. T.J. Stafford, Vincent's Reg. Mounted Partisan Rangers, was taken prisoner at New Orleans May 26, 1865, and paroled June 3, 1865 at Alexandria.

His tombstone is inscribed with LA Cop Co G 1 LA Calvary, Confederate States Army.

(Research):
Census Information:

1880 Census
Texas, Sabine, Precinct 5
FHL Film #1255325 NA Film # T9-1325
Page 249A
William Bragg Self M M W 46 Ga Farmer Va Ga
Sarah Bragg Wf M F W 46 Ga Keeps House SC SC
Henry M. Bragg Son M W 21 Fl Works on Farm Ga Ga
Mary L. Bragg Dau S F W 17 La At Home Ga Ga
David B. Bragg Son S M W 12 Tx Works on Farm Ga Ga
Richard A. Bragg Son S M W 7 Tx Ga Ga
Thomas A. Bragg Son M W 5 Tx Ga Ga

1900 Census
Texas, Sabine, Milam
Enumerated 15 and 16 June 1900
SD 8 ED 71 Sheets 8 B and 9A
144-144
Bragg, William Head W M Dec 1833 66 M 12 Ga Va Ga
Bragg, Nancy C Wf W F Mach 1846 54 M 12 1/1 Tx Ga Ga
Bragg, Thomas A Son W M Nov 1878 24 S Tx Ga Ala Farmer
Bragg, Mary A Dtr W F Nov 1888 11 S Tx Ga Ala
Neal, Wm A Gr. Son W M Jun 1883 16 S Tx Tx Tx

William married Sarah Willie Register in 1854. Sarah was born about 1834 in Georgia; died about 1885; was buried in New Hope Cemetery, Milam, Sabine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Barbara Yancey Dore notes he married third a Dicey, Mrs. Graves, on 30 July 1906 in Sabine County. Dicey was the daughter of Julius C. Alford, and a cousin of his.

(Research):Census Listings:

1860 Census
Louisiana, Sabine Parish, Many
Enumerated 7 July 1860
Page 52
358-358
N.B. Alford 33 M Farmer $200 $1000 La
Ruthie Alford 30 F La
Alexander Alford 7 M La
George Alford 5 M La
Mary Alford 1 F La
Flora Norsis 23 M Farmer Laborur La
C.D. Carroll 34 M Farmer $850 $270 NC

1870 Census
Texas, Sabine County, Hemphill Beat No. 1
Enumerated 28 June 187
Page 5, Stamped 3
36-36
Alford, N.B. 42 M W Farmer $200 $800 La
Alford, Francis A 34 F W Keeping House Miss
Alford, Needham L 9 M W La
Alford, Ruth L 7 F W La
Alford, Samantha 4 F W Tx
Alford, Jesse 1 m W Tx
Ellen Steele 10 F W Orphan Tx
Susan Steele 8 F W Orphan Tx


1880 Federal Census

Household:
Name Relation Marital Status Gender Race Age Birthplace Oc
cupation Father's Birthplace Mother's Birthplace
Needham B. ALFORD Self M Male W 53 LA Farmer GA LA
Francies A. ALFORD Wife M Female W 45 MS Keeps House TN MS
Ellen Z. STEEL SDau S Female W 21 LA Farm Laborer KY TN
Susan N. STEEL SDau S Female W 18 LA Farm Laborer --- ---
Ruth A. STEEL Dau S Female W 16 LA Farm Laborer --- ---
Jessie P. ALFORD Son S Male W 9 TX At School --- ---
Francies H. ALFORD Dau S Female W 8 TX --- ---
Source Information:
Census Place Precinct 1, Sabine, Texas
Family History Library Film 1255325 NA Film Number T9- 1325 Page Number 234B

Needham + Frances Ann Partin. Frances (daughter of John C. Partin and Harriet McGrew) was born on 11 Nov 1834 in Mississippi; died on 20 Jan 1902 in Hemphill, Sabine County, Texas; was buried in Hemphill City Cemetery, Hemphill, Sabine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]