DR. JOHN B. DONALDSON, a physician of Canonsburg, is a descendant of David Donaldson (I), who lived in Antrm, Ireland (near Castle O'Neil), until June 6, 1771, when with his son David (II), he sailed to America, and settled in Cecil County, Md. In 1792 David (II) moved to Washington county, Penna., where the family has since resided. He was the father of eleven children--eight girls and three boys-- Robert, David (III) and William. The latter moved to Allegheny county, Penn., and died there in 1863. He had three sons: Henry, William and David (IV), the latter of whom was the father of the subject of this sketch. David Donaldson was born in Allegheny county, Penna., and coming to Washington county, attended Jefferson College, Canonsburg, graduating in 1845. He began to practice his profession in West Virgina, and then moved to Allegheny county. He was married to Ellen, daughter of John Boyce, who died in 1884, aged seventy-five years. To David and Ellen Donaldson five children were born, viz: John B., Anne M., Ulysses, Robert and Harry. After their marriage, the parents resided in Allegheny, thence moving Bridgeville, where the father died of heart disease November 20, 1883, while in a buggy, on his way to visit a patient. The wife and mother had died in 1872 of typhoid fever. The father was an active republican in politics; in church matters he and his wife he and his wife were Presbyterians. Dr. John B. Donaldson was born in August, 1848, in Marshall county, W. Va. His early education was obtained in the common schools, and he afterward attended the old Bethel Academy in Allegheny county. He then read medicine with his father for some time, and in 1872 graduated from the Cleveland Medical College. He commenced practicing at Pittsburgh, Allegheny county, where he remained for one year, then moved to Bridgeville, and in 1878 settled in Canonsburg, this county , where he has continued to practice his profession. giving special attention to diseases of the throat and nose. On October 31, 1872, he married Elizabeth Foster, daughter of Walter Foster, of Pittsburgh, Penn., the ceremony taking place in Bridgeville, where the bride's father then lived. The following children have been born to their union: Walter Foster, Nellie Boyce, Maria S., John Paul, Samuel Foster and David Halsey (David VI). In politics Dr. Donaldson is a Republician; in 1888 he was elected to the State Legislature, and has also served in various minor offices. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and in religious faith is a menber of the Presbyterian Church.

Text taken from page 175 of: Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893). Transcribed January 1997 by Rhea Nagorski of Plano, TX as part of the Beers Project. Published January 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.

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