Source: From Hancock Clarion, 2 Sept. 1893:

HEADLINE: HER CUP FULL: Mrs. Jane Davison, Formerly of Hawesville, Loses a Husband and Four Sons -- All Die unnatural Deaths.

It is with deep sorrow that we receive the sad news of the death of Lem D. Davison by drowning Saturday at St. Joe, Mo. He was well and favorably known in this county. He was born near Utility and was about 36 years old. All through boyhood years we had the good fortune to be an associate of his, and there never was a boy truer to his friends. He had spendid educational advantages and when he reached the years of manhood, he was an accomplished polished gentleman. We did not learn whether the drowning was accidental or not, but he with a party were out boating and we cannot say just how it happened. Our greatest sympathy goes out to Mrs. Jane Davison, his mother, who lives with the Maxey family in Kansas. She certainly has had more than her share of trouble. Her husband, Hardin Davison carried a bomb concealed in a basket of eggs into the store house of Jno. R. Duncan -- his purpose being to kill William Sterett, who was sitting by the stove. He set the basket down, and walked out waiting a few minutes, the bomb failed to go off, and he went back into the room. Just as he stepped into the room the bomb exploded tearing one end of the building out, and seriously wounding Mr. Davison. In his severe suffering he took an overdose of laudanum which ended his life. His oldest son, William was shot near Patesville by the Home guards, and his son James used his musket to club a dog, which went off killing him. Nathaniel was killed by the Owensboro police, and now comes the very sad event of Lemuel's death. Henry is the only one of the boys now living and he is engaged in the hardware business at Wellington, Kansas. Mr. Jane Davison once said to the writer, "Is it possible that I shall live to see all my boys come to death by violence?"

Frieda Patrick Davison
Dean of the Library
University of South Carolina Upstate
800 University Way
Spartanburg, SC 29303