George Davidson
Inducted In
1972
George Davidson, who came to Canada in 1835 and bought and improved 200 acres of partially cleared land at Winterbourne, had several claims to distinction. He became the first sheriff of Waterloo County (1853-1881), the first postmaster of Berlin (1842) and was one of three men who, in the old schoolhouse adjacent to the village hall, organized St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Berlin.
At New Aberdeen, six miles to the southwest of Berlin, he bought a farm of 500 acres, built a sawmill and a grist mill, and opened a store. He later returned to Berlin where he performed his duties as sheriff. He was also a township and County councillor and a school trustee.
Davidson’s church interests led to the organization of Chalmers Church, Winterbourne, in 1837, and the holding of mission services in Berlin. He was also Lieutenant-Colonel of the 2nd Battery, Waterloo Militia.