Andrew H. Davidson was born October 12, 1864 in the village of Skast, Schleswick, Holstein, the oldest son of a blacksmith. He left to avoid military service in the German army and came to Valley City, Dakota Territory in 1884 where he was welcomed by A. P. "Loui" Lauritsen and Gabriel Sorensen; both had come from Denmark. Gabriel was married to Andrew's cousin "Stina". Andrew was only twenty years old; he worked in a flour mill owned by Jim Sorensen near Daily, North Dakota, and attended school that first winter. He bought homestead rights for $75.00 to 160 acres near Hastings, North Dakota, from Loui Lauritsen, which was also near the Gabriel Sorensen homestead. He used oxen owned by Gabriel to break the sod; he built a sod house and barn. As soon as he earned enough money he sent for his sweetheart Lauretta Beck, born in Ribe, Denmark, February 3, 1865. Andrew and Lauretta were married April 4, 1887 and lived in the sod shanty until 1896. It was a temporary home for members of Andrew's family when they arrived from Denmark - Maren, Kristine and Peter in 1886 and his mother, stepfather, Marie, John, Otto and Hans in 1888.
Andrew bought a number of oxen and an 18' sod breaking plow with which he earned money breaking for other settlers. Wheat was hauled eighteen miles to Valley City during the winter months on a sled drawn by oxen traveling two miles an hour - it took all day and he would sleep in the livery barn with the team returning home the next day.
In 1896 Andrew moved to Valley City where he joined his brother in the Davidson Brothers Blacksmith Shop. He was a skilled blacksmith but found he liked the farm best. He sold the farm near Hastings and bought 560 aces in Green Township, part of the Lampman farm, in 1900.
He was active in the community and organized one of the first farmers clubs in North Dakota. As a result of club activities, a consolidated school was built in 1916, a band and baseball team were organized in 1914. The club joined in orders for fence posts, wire, silo, lumber and a pure bred Percheron stallion. Andrew served as president of the Green Township Farmers Club, as director of the Farmers Coop Elevator and the Middlewest Bank & Trust Co. In 1917 they moved to Valley City where the children attended school. After W.W. I depression and drought changed the conditions on North Dakota farms and in 1925 he lost the farm in Green Township. Lauretta died in 1929, Andrew continued to live in Valley City where Stina Sorensen made a home for him. He died in 1949.
Eight children were born to Andrew and Lauretta Davidson. The first four were born in the sod shanty. The children attended the rural one room school in District #40, Valley City, Valley City High School, State Normal School and North Dakota State University.
Eight children were born to this couple:
Harry married Mildred Parson in 1919. He served in W.W. I as a Lieutenant Army Pilot; he studied voice and taught singing. He died in 1960. His children are Phyllis, Lois, Joan and Andrew.
Alma died in 1903.
Jessie married Ole J. Kjelland, a Green Township farmer in 1915. She died of influenza in 1920 leaving two sons, James and Hamlin.
Arthur married Frances Zelda Eggert in 1922. He served in W.W. I in the Army Air Force as a Lieutenant Pilot. Children are Betty, Donald, Zelda. He left Green Township in 1923 after living in Wisconsin and Georgia. He went to the west coast where he was supervisor of construction for the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. He retired to Hemet, California.
Eda married Hans Hansen, a neighbor in Green Township in 1920. Their four children all graduated from North Dakota State University. Howard, Cordon, Warren, Richard and Rachel. Richard operates the home farm and is a County Commissioner. The family have been active in 4-H Club. Eda was a state officer in the Home Makers Club and a member of the Homemakers chorus. Hans died in 1961 and Eda died in 1965.
Walter married Martha Finney in 1929. He graduated from North Dakota State University and retired to Maryland after thirty-four years with the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Washington, D.C. Children are: John, who died while serving in the Navy in 1951, Janet and Karl.
Clarence married Dorothy Holcomb. Their children are Margaret Merrill and Audrey. He operated an auto repair service and retired in Hibbing, Minnesota.
Edna married Harold Bruns, a farmer of Noltimier Township. They have retired from the farm and live in Lakeland, Florida. Their two children are Douglas and Marlys.
Source: Barnes County History 1976 Page 54