J. M. K. DONALDSON. As the lives of our leaders in literature, politics, and religion have imparted inspiration to humanity and civilization, so will the record of conscientious, energetic and successful men from the common ranks of life be of infinite value both to their contemporaries and descendants. Especially is this an evident fact, when we read or write the biographies of our early pioneers, whose history is filled with the romance of “truth stranger than fiction.” Jacob Donaldson was born in 1763, in Ireland, and came to America in early manhood, locating in Washington county, Penn. He was married to a Miss McKinney, and first settled on a farm in Hopewell township, thence moving to the farm in Mt. Pleasant township, which is yet owned by his descendants. He was a member of the Seceder Church at Hickory, this county, afterward uniting with the U. P. Church. In April, 1850, he moved to the village of Hickory, where he died in August of the same year, having been preceded by his wife, who had borne him children as follows: William (settled in Somerset township, this county), James (deceased, settled in Buffalo township), Richard (a tailor of Hickory, afterward bought a farm in Cecil township, and was killed while on his way home from Noblestown), Andrew (resided in Mt. Pleasant township), Isaac (lived in Mt. Pleasant township), Margaret (deceased on the farm of her brother, J. M.) and Mary (deceased wife of James Ackleson, Hanover township). Andrew Donaldson was born in 1802, in Hopewell township, this county, and passed his early boyhood on the place of his birth, afterward moving to Mt. Pleasant township. In early life he was united in marriage with Ellen Wilson, a native of Cross Creek township, where the young people lived a few years, finally settling on a farm in Mt. Pleasant township. Their children were as follows: Esther (wife of A. V. McGuyin), Eleanor L. (married to Leman McCarrell), J. M. K. (whose name opens this sketch), Sarah Jane (wife of W. W. McCarrell), and W. W. (living on the home farm), all of whom are living in Mt. Pleasant township. The father and mother were first members of the Union Church at West Middletown, then joined the Presbyterian Church at Buffalo, finally uniting with the Society in Mt. Prospect. He died in 1880, on the old homestead where his widow is yet living. J. M. K. Donaldson was born March 5, 1843, in Mt. Pleasant township, this county, receiving his elementary education in the district schools, and then attending the Academy at Buffalo Village for three terms. In October, 1869, he married Margaret McDowell. Her grandfather, James McDowell, was born in Lancaster county, Penn., and coming to Mt. Pleasant township, this county, when a young man, was married to Mary McKnight. They settled on a farm in Mt. Pleasant township, an he died in 1815, followed by his widow in 1853. They attended the U. P. Church at Cross Roads, then known as Union Church, Chartiers township. John McDowell was born in 1811, on the home farm in Mt. Pleasant township, where his boyhood was passed. In 1837, he married Miss Margaret Miller, who was born in 1810, in Chartiers township. They were members of Mt. Prospect Presbyterian Church. He died in August, 1886, having been preceded in 1866 by his wife, who had borne him eight children, one of whom is deceased. Those yet living are James W. (an attorney in Washington, Penn.), Jacob F. (living in Mt. Pleasant township), Margaret (Mrs. Donaldson), Rebecca (wife of James Agnew), John (living in Canonsburg, this county), Sadie P. and Lizzie. J. M. K. and Margaret (McDowell) Donaldson located on a place in Mt. Pleasant township, and in February, 1875, moved to the farm they now occupy, containing 140 acres of good land. He has made many improvements, having erected a pleasant dwelling and a good barn, 60x40 feet. He is an active member of the Democratic party, which he has served as a member of the school board, also as judge of elections. Mr. and Mrs. Donaldson are members of the Mt. Prospect Presbyterian Church, of which he is treasurer. They have two children: J. Alfred and Margaret M.

Text taken from page 356 of: Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893). Transcribed March 1997 by LuShelle Fletcher of Grand Island, NE as part of the Beers Project. Published March 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.

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