THE DONALDSON FAMILY. A biographical record of the pioneer residents of Washington county would be incomplete, were not prominent mention made of the Donaldson family of Robinson township, who have been intimately connected with every movement tending to the advancement of the interests and welfare of the community at large. The first member of this prominent family, of which we have a record, was one James Donaldson, who came from Ireland to America in early pioneer times. He settled on a farm in Washington county, and accumulated considerable property. He left the following children: Thomas, Andrew, John, Richard, and four daughters, the names of two of them being Elizabeth and Jane. Andrew Donaldson, the second son in the above named family, was born in 1789, and reared in Washington county, attending school at the log schoolhouse with its slab benches, puncheon floor, greased paper in lieu of window panes, and other primitive contrivances which served to answer the purposes of our modern articles of school furniture. In early manhood he married Miss Jane McBurney, who was born May 23, 1793, daughter of John McBurney, a resident of this county. They began wedded life on a farm located midway between Bavington and North Star, where they lived about twenty-nine years and reared children as follows: Sally, Jane, Mary Ann, Elizabeth (deceased), Esther (deceased), James, John M., Margaret, Thomas and one deceased in infancy. Andrew Donaldson was a counselor and adviser of the Democratic party, and held several township offices. In religious faith he was for many years a member and ruling elder of the Associate Reformed Church, which afterward became a part of the Robinson United Presbyterian Church. He died in 1843, in his fifty-fourth year, deeply mourned by the entire community.
JAMES DONALDSON was born October 25, 1828, on the old homestead in this county, receiving in the country schools the basis of an education which he afterward acquired by private study of all available and useful books. On March 27, 1851, he was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Bigger (also a resident of this county), born October 25, 1826, a daughter of Samuel Bigger, whose father, Thomas Bigger, came from Ireland in early pioneer days. James and Elizabeth (Bigger) Donaldson after marriage settled on the Crawford farm where they still remain. They have had children as follows: Andrew, Samuel Bigger, Jane E., Thomas R., Matthew J. and John M., of whom Samuel B. is married to Miss Jean Newell, daughter of Rev. John Newell, D. D., of Allegheny County, Penn. Mr. Donaldson has been a very successful business man, for one who began life in comparatively ordinary circumstances, and he now owns over 230 acres of very fine land, upon which a beautiful dwelling has been erected. He is an ardent member of the Democratic party. He was the candidate of the Democratic party for Assembly: first in 1868, and was defeated by fourteen votes; again, in 1872, he was candidate of same party for same office, but was again defeated, his District being largely Republican. It may be here added that at the time Mr. Craig was nominated Mr. Donaldson's name was selected by the conferees of his own county in connection with the nomination for Congress, but he refused to allow it to go before the meeting of conferees, whereupon Mr. Craig's name was selected and made the unanimous choice of the convention. He has served many years as justice of the peace, and has held several township offices. Being a popular and much respected citizen, a genial gentleman and sympathetic friend, Mr. Donaldson is frequently asked for counsel and advice by many of his acquaintances. He possesses deep religious views, a strong personality, and has been a consistent member and liberal supporter of the Robinson United Presbyterian Church.
JOHN M. DONALDSON was born July 25, 1831, on the farm of his father, and grew to manhood, assisting with the farm duties. In 1855 he was married to Miss Martha M. Bigger, and then settled on the farm where they are now living, which in connection with 109 acres presented to them by Mrs. Donaldson makes them a home of 279 acres. To this union the following children have been born: Andrew, born February 18, 1856; Jane M., born August 20, 1857; Thomas B., born July 28, 1859; Sarah C., born April 16, 1861; Mary E., born January 28, 1864; Emmett T. (deceased), born August 26, 1865; Elizabeth H., born March 3, 1867; James W., born February 16, 1869; Margaret B., born February 23, 1870; Richard M., born April 27, 1873, and Holland H., born August 16, 1876. In politics Mr. Donaldson has always been a strong member of the Democratic party, and cast his first vote for Franklin Pierce. He has been an active worker and elder in the United Presbyterian Church for twenty-five years, and is a citizen of whom any community might well be proud.
Text taken from page 386 of:
Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893).Transcribed June 1997 by Neil and Marilyn Morton of Oswego, IL as part of the Beers Project.
Published June 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.[ [Back to Beers Table of Contents] [Back to Beers Project Page]