DAVID McDONNELL. Among the influential farmers of Hanover township, this gentleman deserves prominent mention. He is a son of Barnett McDonnell, whose father was Patrick Morgan McDonnell. The last mentioned ancestor was born in County Tyrone, Ireland, where he married, and reared two daughters, Martha Jane (Mrs. John Jackson, of Hanover township) and Eleanor (wife of John Davis of Morgan county, Ohio). About 1794 this family came to America, and with his limited savings, Patrick McDonnell purchased a small tract of land near King's creek in Hanover township. When the essential log cabin was erected, he began the work of felling the giant oaks. He served in the war of 1812, and participated in the historical Moravian massacre at Gnadenhutten, Tuscarawas Co., Ohio. The rude cabin was in due time supplanted by one more commodious, which is yet standing. He was a Catholic, but as there were no churches of that denomination in that wild country, his family were not reared in the Catholic faith. He and his wife lived to advanced ages, and are buried in the Florence cemetery. They were the parents of four children, the two youngest having been born in America, viz.: Barnett, of whom further mention is made, and one son who died in early childhood. Barnett McDonnell was born in 1796, in Hanover township, Washington Co., Penn., where he attended the subscription schools and worked on his father's farm. In early life he married Nancy Kimble, who was born near Hickory, in this county. She bore him five children, namely: Elizabeth, widow of David Logan; John, a blacksmith, died at Steubenville, Ohio, when about thirty years of age; William, was never married, and died on the old place; George, went to Iowa in 1850, and was a soldier in the Rebellion (he died of typhoid fever in Tennessee); and Martin L., a cabinet maker, drowned in the Ohio river, at Steubenville, Ohio. The mother of these children died and was buried at Florence. For his second wife Barnett McDonnell was married to Ruth Jackson, a daughter of Joseph and Hannah (Russell) Jackson, of Hanover township. Their children were: Rezin (a farmer of Hanover township), Jackson (deceased), Samuel (a shoemaker, went to California during the gold fever and died there), Alexander (a farmer of Hanover township), David (our subject), Nancy( widow of Caleb Gretzinger, of Hancock county, W. Va.) Hannah (wife of Asa Owings, of Missouri) and James (living in Texas). The father passed his whole life on the home farm where his parents had settled. He died July 3, 1877, and was followed by his widow in 1879. Both are buried in the Florence cemetery. He was a member of the United Presbyterian Church, his second wife being identified with the Methodist Episcopal Society. In politics he was a Democrat, having held various offices in Hanover township. David McDonnell was born March 25, 1838, on the old place which he owns. The old house in which he was born (built in 1812) is yet standing. He attended the schools of the day, also assisting with such work as could be done by a boy of his age. In early manhood he went to Steubenville, Ohio, to learn the trade of a shoemaker. After a short time he was transferred to Cadiz, Ohio, to complete his trade. Later he took a trip through the West, visiting the States of Iowa, Indiana and Illinois, but returning, resumed his trade at Cadiz Ohio, and finally located in Hanover township, Washington Co., Penn. He married Elizabeth A. Criss, June 25, 1862. She was born December 25, 1840, in Hanover township, a daughter of Henry and Mary (Ryland) Criss. The great-grandfather of Mrs. McDonnell (one John Criss) was born in Germany. Among his children was a son Jacob, who grew to manhood and reared a family of children, among whom was Henry Criss. The latter was born in 1815, and when a young man was married to Mary Ryland, a native of Maryland, who came to Washington county with her parents, Fredus and Elizabeth Ryland, when an infant. Mrs. McDonnell was the third in a family of eleven children born to Henry and Mary Criss. Mr. and Mrs. McDonnell began wedded life in Hanover township, where he followed his trade. On March 22, 1865, he enlisted at New Brighton, Penn., in Company E, One Hundred and Third P. V. I. His services were needed but a brief time, for as the command was en route to North Carolina, Johnston surrendered, and June 25, 1865, he was honorably discharged, and returned to his native county. He then located on a small tract of land lying one mile northwest of Florence, and there followed his trade, giving some attention to farming. By economy he prospered, and in 1879 moved to the old McDonnell homestead, where he was born and has since resided, devoting his entire attention to agriculture. Since he has taken possession of the old place it has undergone a wonderful change; a handsome new residence, furnished with natural gas for heating and lighting in every room of the house, makes a very convenient and pleasant home. Mr. McDonnell is a leading citizen, respected by all who have the pleasure of his acquaintance. In politics he is a Democrat, but not a strict partisan, as he has frequently voted for men of different political opinion, when he deemed them most worthy of the position. He has held various offices in the township with credit to himself and to the satisfaction of his constituents. Both he and his wife are members of the M. E. Church. The children of this family are Henry B., professor of chemistry in the State Agricultural College of Maryland; also a graduate of Pennsylvania State College, and College of Physicians and Surgeons, in Baltimore, Md. He married Miss Julia B. Magruder, of Baltimore. Wesley C. is an expert penman, and a teacher in the public schools, holding a State certificate. He is now studying music at Scio College, Ohio. Milton E. is a graduate of the Pennsylvania State College. Curtis C. is now attending college at College Park, near Washington, D. C. Fred V. is living at home.

Text taken from page 480 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/.

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