Temperance Estelle Davison

Temperance “Estelle” Davison, daughter of James McCluney Davison Jr. and Estella “Ella” Martin Tiller, was born on March 19, 1879 in Greene County, Georgia . There were four children born to the Davison family—James M. Davison, Joseph Robert Davison, Mary “Pearl” Davison, and Estelle, my 3rd cousin 3x removed. Our nearest common relatives are Robert L. Hobbs Sr. and Mary Marion Caldwell. 

Sadly, Estelle would never know her brother Joseph who died in 1877, two years before her birth. Nor would she know her father who died in Greene County on May 2, 1880 when Estelle was just one year old. Her father, age 46 at the time of his death, had probably been in ill health since suffering a “severe stroke of paralysis” in 1875. Both Joseph and James were buried in a family plot at Greensboro City Cemetery in Greensboro, Greene County, Georgia. You can’t miss the plot as you walk through the cemetery—just look for the large stone marked “Davison.” 

Davison plot, Greensboro City Cemetery

I have been unable to locate Estelle and her family in the 1880 census record and we know the 1890 census was lost due to a fire so I have a large gap in her early years. My best guess is they stayed in Greene County but I can’t prove that at this point.

On June 8, 1900, Estelle lived in Woodville, Greene County, Georgia, in a house full of extended family members. Her brother James, a lawyer, was head of the household. Estelle was 21 years old and working as a school teacher as was her 23-year-old sister Pearl. Estelle’s mother and maternal grandmother Temperance Tiller (I guess we now know where her first name came from) were also living in the home so it was a three-generational household. Ann H. Newsome, age 65, Temperance Tiller’s sister and Estelle’s aunt, was another member of the household. Two servants completed the household—Shadrack Ferrell (age 26) and Simon Daniel (age 23), both white males working as farm laborers. In 1901, Estelle and her sister Pearl, apparently quite popular, started showing up in society columns of the Atlanta newspapers. In July of that year, they hosted an “at home” for “Misses Crenshaw of Atlanta, and Durham of Woodville.” But it wasn’t long before the 1903 marriage of Pearl to Mercer Reynolds ended their fun times together. Sometime after Pearl’s wedding, she and her husband moved to Chattanooga, Hamilton County, Tennessee. In 1904, Estelle and her mother moved from Woodville to Greensboro. Two years after Pearl’s wedding, Estelle was engaged to George Alexander Merritt, son of John C. Merritt and Louisa F. Burke. The Atlanta Georgian published the announcement on June 2, 1906:

MERRITT-DAVISON – Mrs. Ella Davidson, of Greensboro, has announced the engagement and approaching marriage of her daughter, Estelle, to Mr. George A. Merritt, the wedding to take place at the Baptist church, Greensboro, on June 5. The young couple will leave immediately after the marriage ceremony for Tallulah Falls, to spend several weeks.

George, a lawyer and former councilman and mayor of Greensboro, was a widower with a 13-year-old daughter. His first wife, Lila O. Boswell, died nine days after the birth of their daughter, Lila Boswell Merritt, in 1893.

Estelle and George’s marriage took place in Greensboro on June 5, 1906. The Atlanta Georgian published an article detailing the wedding on June 7, 1906:

MERRITT-DAVISON – One of the most beautiful weddings which ever occurred in Greensboro, Ga., was that of Miss Temperance Estelle Davison to Colonel George A. Merritt Tuesday afternoon at 4 o’clock at the Baptist church in that city. Before the ceremony Miss Marie Barnhart sang “Harts and Flowers,” after which the bridal party entered to the strains of Mendelssohn’s wedding march, played by Miss Nellie Hall. 

The ribbon-bearers, little Misses Norme Little and Sammie Gheesling, with long ribbons of tulle formed an aisle, down which the bridal party walked. First, Miss Kate Evans and Mr. Wade Durham, of Woodville; Miss Carrie Davison and Dr. E. G. Adams, Miss Addie Copelan and Colonel J. P. Brown, Miss Willie May Tappan and Mr. Luther Smith. 

Then the little flowers girls, Sara Hall and Marion Park, immediately preceded the bride with her matron of honor, Mrs. Mercer Reynolds, down the middle aisle, while the maid of honor, Miss Frances Adams, going down the right and the best man, Colonel James Davison, with the groom, down the left aisle. 

The ceremony was performed by Rev. A. F. O. Kelley.

The bridesmaids wore pink and white dresses with pink sashes and white hats and carried arms full of pink and white sweet peas. The matron and maid of honor wore white dresses and hats and carried pink and white sweet peas. The bride’s beautiful wedding gown was of soft white point d’esprit over taffeta, made princesse, with a great deal of hand work on the corsage. Her going-away gown was of gray voll made with an eton coat, which she wore over a lingerie blouse. 

Mrs. Merritt is the youngest daughter of Mrs. Ella Davison and is greatly admired. 

Colonel Merritt is one of the best known lawyers in the county and has many friends throughout the state.

The young couple left on the afternoon train for Tallulah Falls, where they will spend several weeks. 

Among the out-of-town guests present were: Mr. Wade Durham, Mrs. William Cartwright, Mrs. R. E. Davison, Mr. Jim Armstrong, Mrs. Floyd, Mr. J .H. Bowles, Mrs. C. C. Davison, Miss Annie Davison, Misses Young, of Woodville; Mrs. J. B. Davison, of Atlanta; Mr. and Mrs. Ed Lewis, Misses Annie Lou Tappan, Carrie Merritt, Mr. and Mrs. Charlie Merritt, of Siloam; Mr. and Mrs. Genie Merritt, of White Plains; Misses Newsome, Hart, Sibley, Mrs. Richards, Mrs. Elizabeth Thornton, of Union Point; Mrs. Charlie Sanders, Mrs. Lelch, Miss Colclough, Miss Calloway, of Penfield.

Merritt-Davison marriage license

On June 9, 1906, The Atlanta Georgian published an article detailing a shower held for Estelle the Friday before the wedding:

Last Friday afternoon, Misses Kate and Jennie Evans entertained at a miscellaneous shower in honor of Miss Estelle Davison, whose marriage to Mr. G. A. Merritt was the social event of the week. The house was decorated with quantities of pink and white sweet peas, palms and ferns. Punch was served in the hall by Misses Mary Asbury and Lila Merritt. When the guests were assembled, they were each given a little book in which to write a recipe for the bride’s future use. After they were written, they were collected and presented to Miss Davison by Miss Jennie Evans. Ices were served during the afternoon. About fifty young ladies enjoyed the Misses Evans’ hospitality.

Later that summer, Estelle found herself pregnant and on April 30, 1907, gave birth to a son they named George Alexander Merritt Jr. Estelle’s mother moved to Chattanooga in 1909 to live with Pearl. That same year, Estelle emersed herself in the church and the Young Matron’s club, and often took short trips visiting friends and family. She gathered friends at her house on a Saturday afternoon in June 1909 for dominoes. She entertained friends on December 1, 1909 with a Thanksgiving themed dinner. 

In 1912, Estelle, pregnant with her second child, died suddenly at home in Greensboro on September 24. The baby, a daughter, lived long enough to be listed as a survivor in Estelle’s obituary, but then sadly died herself. The Atlanta Constitution reported Estelle’s death on September 25, 1912 but made no mention of an infant daughter:

Mortuary, Mrs. G.A. Merritt, Greensboro. Greensboro, Ga., September 24.-(Special.) Mrs. George Merritt, wife of Colonel G. A. Merritt, prominent lawyer and member of the state legislature, died very suddenly at her home here this morning. Mrs. Merritt was one of the most popular young matrons of the city. She is survived by her husband, one young son, her mother, Mrs. Sarah Davison; one brother, Colonel James Davison, of Greensboro; and one sister, Mrs. Mercer Reynolds, of Chattanooga, Tenn. The funeral will take place from the Methodist church, of which she was a devoted member, tomorrow afternoon at 3 o’clock. Interment at City cemetery.

Estelle’s half uncle, Alexander Hamilton Davison, was a prominent member of the Athens, Clarke County, Georgia community. With that said, The Athens Banner reported Estelle’s death on September 25, 1912, with no mention of her daughter:

Funeral Yesterday Neice [sic] of Mr. A. H. Davison. Mr. A. H. Davison leaves this morning for Greensboro to be present at the funeral and burial of his neice [sic], Mrs. George Merritt, whose death occurred there at her home yesterday morning. Mrs. Merritt is survived by her husband, one little son of three years, her mother, Mrs. Ella Davison, a sister, Mrs. Reynolds of Chattanooga, Tenn. And one brother Mr. James Davison, of Greensboro. The funeral will be conducted today at 11 o’clock.

I only found one news article that mentioned the baby, published by The Atlanta Semi-weekly Journal on September 27:

Mrs. E. A. Merritt Dies at Greensboro (Special Dispatch to The Journal.). GREENSBORO, Ga., Sept. 25.—Mrs. Estelle Davison Merritt, wife of Hon. George A. Merritt, died Tuesday morning at her home in this city, after a very brief illness. Mrs. Merritt was one of the most popular and beloved young matrons in the state. She was prominent in both club and church work.

The deceased is survived by her husband, a little son, G. A., Jr., a baby girl a few hours old and step-daughter, Miss Lila Merritt, besides a mother, a brother, Hon. James Davison, and a sister, Mrs. Mercer Reynolds, of Chattanooga, Tenn.

The funeral occurred Wednesday afternoon at the Methodist church. Rev. W. H. Mackey officiating.

As reported in the Atlanta Georgian on September 25, Estelle, age 33, was buried in plot B-4, 20’x20’ at Greensboro City Cemetery on September 25:

Greensboro Matron Dies. Greensboro, Ga., Sept. 25—The body of Mrs. Estelle Davison Merritt, wife of G. A. Merritt, who died at the family home in this city yesterday after a brief illness, was buried this afternoon from the Methodist church. Mrs. Merritt was prominent in club and church work. She is survived by her husband, a young son, G. A. Merritt Jr., a step daughter, Miss Lila Merritt, her mother, a brother, Colonel James Davison, and a sister, Mrs. Mercer Reynolds, of Chattanooga, Tenn.

Although none of the news articles mention it, the baby daughter who died hours after Estelle, was apparently buried with her mother. 

Family and friends came from several cities throughout Georgia—Madison, Atlanta, Woodville, Athens, and Greensboro to name a few—as well as from Chattanooga, Tennessee, to attend the funeral. 

Estelle’s husband took his own life in January 1916. News reports suggested he was “unbalanced” due to finances, but perhaps losing two wives and an infant daughter had something to do with it.

References

• Col. James Davison suffers stroke, The Constitution, Atlanta, Georgia, August 6, 1875.
• Dominoes, The Atlanta Constitution, Atlanta, Georgia, June 13, 1909.
• Funeral Yesterday Neice [sic] of Mr. A. H. Davison, The Athens Banner, Athens, Georgia, September 25, 1912
• Funeral, The Augusta Daily Herald, Augusta, Georgia, September 29, 1912.
• G. A. Merritt, Prominent Greene County Official, Ex-Legislator, Suicides, The Atlanta Constitution, Atlanta, Georgia, January 14, 1916.
• Georgia Comprising Sketches of Counties, Towns, Events, Institutions, and Persons, vol. 2, 1906.
• Greensboro Matron Died, Atlanta Georgian, Atlanta, Georgia, September 25, 1912.
• Greensboro news, The Atlanta Constitution, Atlanta, Georgia, November 27, 1904.
• Greensboro, GA., The Atlanta Constitution, Atlanta, Georgia, October 3, 1909.
• MERRITT-DAVISON, The Atlanta Georgian, Atlanta, Georgia, June 2 and 5, 1906.
• Misses Estelle and Pearl Davison, The Atlanta Constitution, Atlanta, Georgia, July 29, 1901.
• Mortuary, Mrs. G. A. Merritt, The Atlanta Constitution, September 25, 1912.
• Mrs. E. A. Merritt Dies at Greensboro, Atlanta Semi-weekly Journal, Atlanta, Georgia, September 27, 1912.
• Mrs. Ella M. Davison obituary, Chattanooga Daily Times, Chattanooga, Tennessee, December 30, 1929.
• Thanksgiving Idea, Atlanta Georgian and News, Atlanta, Georgia, December 3, 1909.
• U.S. Federal Census, Woodville, Greene County, Georgia, 1900.
• Wedding shower, The Atlanta Georgian, Atlanta, Georgia, June 9, 1906.
• Young Matron’s Club, The Atlanta Constitution, Atlanta, Georgia, August 1 and November 21, 1909.