Biographical Memoirs of Wells County, Indiana, 1903. pp. 146-149.

W. A. DONALDSON.

Among all branches of history, there is none more instructive or more eagerly sought after than that which truthfully delineates the rise and progress of the state, county or community in which the reader lives. There is pleasure as well as profit to every intelligent mind in contemplating the struggles of the early settlers in every portion of the great west; how they encountered and successfully overcame every species of trial, hardship and danger to which men in that stirring period were subjected. But these things strike us more forcibly and fill our minds with more immediate interest when confined to our own locality where we can yet occasionally meet with some of the silver haired actors in those early scenes, men whose bravery in encountering the manifold troubles and misfortunes incident to frontier times has borne an important part towards making Indiana what it now is and whose acts, in connection with hundreds of others in the first settling of our vast domain, have compelled the world to acknowledge the Americans an invincible people. The early settlement of Wells County was marked by as much heroism and daring as characterized the frontier history of any other section of the state. Her pioneers were men of invincible courage, undaunted by no obstacle, and the results of their self-sacrificing labors are today seen in the wonderful achievements they wrought in laying the foundation upon which their successors have builded wisely and well. The great majority of these vetterans [sic] of the early day long since finished their work and are now sleeping the peaceful sleep which knows no waking on this side of the mystic stream of death. To meet and converse with the few living representatives of the pioneer period, those who came here as children or as very young men and women and are now fast approaching or have passed the allotted three score years and ten, stooped with age, venerable patriarchs mostly and their white haired companions and helpmeets, is one of the peculiar experiences and pleasing tasks which falls to the lot of the writers of these pages. To gather up the raveled and now mostly broken threads of the strange but simple stories of their lives, to catch the fleeting facts of their histories and hand them on to posterity, might well be the ambitious labor of any man's life. Among the oldest surviving pioneers of Wells County is the well known gentleman whose name furnishes the heading of this review. W. A. Donaldson came to Indiana nearly fifty-three years ago and from that time to the present his life has been very closely identified with the growth and development of Wells County. In his veins is mingled the blood of a long line of sturdy Scotch and Irish ancestors and he appears to have inherited many of the sterling characteristics which have made those nationalities noted among the people of the earth. From the most reliable information obtainable the first representatives of the Donaldson family to visit the United States was one Isaac Donaldson, who left the shores of his native Scotland early in the colonial period and found a home in eastern Pennsylvania when that part of the Keystone state was a wilderness infested by wild beasts and the scarcely less wild but more bloodthirsty red men. He became the father of three daughters and one son, the latter, James by name, the grandfather of the subject of this sketch. Not long after locating in Pennsylvania the French and Indian war broke out and in the long and arduous struggle which followed the elder Donaldson took a brave and active part. Joining a company of volunteers he participated in a number of bloody battles in one of which he lost his life, leaving his children to the care of his widow by whom they were reared to years of maturity.

James Donaldson grew to manhood in Pennsylvania and there married Martha Reynolds, whose people were also among the early pioneers of that state. To this marriage were born sons and daughters, among whom was Robert Donaldson, the father of the subject. The family achieved much more than local prominence in that several of the brothers of Robert became noted in different walks of life, among their descendants being a minister of distinction, successful architects, well-to-do farmers and others who rose to leading public positions in their own and other states. Robert Donaldson was reared to agricultural pursuits, but early in life turned his attention to carpentry and in due time became a skillful and successful builder. In 1850 he left Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, where he had previously lived, and came to Wells County, Indiana, settling in the deep woods of what is now the township of Lancaster, where he purchased land and began the task of its improvement. After erecting a small cabin of the most primitive pattern he addressed himself to the formidable work of clearing a farm, which in due season was accomplished. After the death of his first wife he moved to Ossian, where some time later he took a second companion, and after her death he migrated to Iowa, of which state he was also a pioneer. Mr. Donaldson spent the remainder of his days in Iowa, dying there a number of years ago respected by all who knew him. Reared according to the strict teaching of the Presbyterian church, he became a prominent member of that body and lived a life consistent with his religious profession. Gifted in music, he devoted his splendid talents to the worship of God and wherever he lived invariably led the singing in the churches with which he worshipped. He was a good man, just in all his dealings, kept himself unspotted from the world, and left to his descendants a character above reproach and a reputation for probity and godliness which they prize as a priceless heritage. Robert Donaldson was the father of five children, namely: James, Catherine, William A., Jane and Samuel.

William A. Donaldson, of this review, was a son by his father's first wife, who bore the maiden name of Ann Felton. He was born in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, on the 19th of August, 1833, and at she age of sixteen accompanied his parents to Indiana, growing to mature years in the county of Wells. Before leaving the home of his childhood he attended at intervals such schools as the community afforded, but after coming to the new home in the wilderness his assistance was required in clearing and developing the farm, consequently there was little time at his disposal to devote to educational discipline. He grew up strong of limb and lithe of body and while still a youth in his teens had become so inured to vigorous exercise with the axe and other implements as to be able to do a man's work at all kinds of manual labor.

Mr. Donaldson remained with his parents until 1855, on August 9 of which year he was united in marriage to Miss Eliza Karns and began farming upon his own responsibility. Mrs. Donaldson is the daughter of Michael and Lucinda (Mann) Karns and was born in Ohio in the year 1834. She was brought to Wells County as early as 1842 and grew to young womanhood near Ossian, later moving to Bluffton. She was educated in the common schools and for one term prior to her marriage taught in the Bluffton school, earning the reputation of a capable and popular teacher.

Mr. and Mrs. Donaldson set up their first domestic establishment on the Donaldson homestead and nothing occurred to disturb or mar the serenity of their lives until the approaching clouds of the great Civil war. When the struggle began, Mr. Donaldson, with true patriotic fervor, laid aside the implements of husbandry and tendered his services to his country. Enlisting at Wabash on the 22nd day of August, 1862, in Company G, One Hundred and First Indiana Infantry, he proceeded to Indianapolis, thence to the front, his regiment joining the force under Rosecrans in time to take part in the celebrated pursuit of Bragg through Tennessee and Kentucky. His first engagement of any note was the bloody battle at Perryville, where his command faced the enemy in the thickest of the fight after which, by reason of sickness brought on by exposure and overexertion he was sent to the hospital for treatment. So completely broken down was he that five months elapsed before he was able to rejoin his command and no sooner had he done so than he was discharged as being entirely unfit for active service. Returning home in March, 1863, Mr. Donaldson resumed farming, cheered by the delusive hope that a few months spent thus would so improve his health as to enable him again to join his regiment and assist in crushing the rebellion. To his great disappointment his ailment did not yield easily to treatment and he was obliged to forego the pleasure of participating in the final overthrow of the cause of the Confederacy. He has never entirely recovered from the disability contracted while in the service and still suffers therefrom, although able to look after his farm and manage successfully his various business interests.

Mr. Donaldson continued agricultural pursuits with most gratifying result until October, 1897, meantime purchasing the old family homestead of one hundred and twenty acres, of which he made one of the best farms in the county of Wells. As a farmer he easily ranked with the most enterprising and successful in the township of Lancaster, bringing his place to a high state of tillage and carrying on his labors by the most approved methods of modern agriculture. By reason of advancing age and increasing infirmities he finally concluded to abandon active labor and spend the rest of his life in the enjoyment of the well earned fruits of many years of honest toil; accordingly in the year 1897, he turned his place over to the care of others, purchased a comfortable home in Bluffton and since that time has been living in honorable retirement.

Mr. and Mrs. Donaldson have been blessed with eight children, the oldest of whom, William W., died in infancy; Lucy, whose birth occurred on the 11th of April, 1858, died in the year 1880; Frank, born July 1, 1860, married Bessie Ward and is engaged in business in the state of Iowa; Luella, the next in order of birth, died when an infant; Samuel, born June 20, 1867, was one of the county's successful teachers and departed this life in November, 1887; Carrie, born August 14, 1869, is the wife of Alexander Brickley and lives in Lancaster township on the old homestead; Jennie was born June 3, 1873, and died in January, 1899; she was a graduate of the Ossian high school, a popular teacher and a young lady of refinement and varied culture; Lewis, born August 9, 1875, is now substituting on a rural mail route with a promise of a regular route to be established soon. Mr. Donaldson spared no pains in providing his children with the best educational advantages obtainable and they in turn profited by his efforts in their behalf. He has always been a friend of whatever tended to benefit the community, materially, intellectually and socially, and in matters religious. like his ancestors before him, he has adhered strictly to the Presbyterian creed, holding the responsible position of ruling elder in the congregation to which he now belongs. While an ardent Republican and earnest in the expression of his opinions, he has never been an active partisan, much less an aspirant for public distinction or official honors. Fraternally he is a member of Lew Dailey Post No. 33, G. A. R., and is now holding the office of junior vice commander in that organization, his wife being an active worker in the Woman's Relief Corps. Mr. and Mrs. Donaldson are among the old and highly respected citizens of Wells County, and have seen the county developed from a primitive condition to its present advanced state of prosperity and civilization. In numerous ways they have contributed to the many remarkable changes that have taken place within the last half century and now in the evening of life, after having borne the burden and heat of the day, they are passing toward the twilight and the journey’s end, loved and revered by their children and honored by a large circle of friends, all of whom wish the venerable couple many more years in which to bless the world with their presence.