Sonoma-Napa County CA Archives Biographies.....McDonnell, William 1825 - 
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Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com March 3, 2006, 10:34 pm

Author: Alley, Bowen & Co. (1880)

McDonnell, William. A native of Missouri; born April 29, 1825 When quite young
his parents moved to New York city, where he was reared and educated. In 1841 he
moved, in company with his parents, to Lee county, Illinois. In 1844 William
left his parents and proceeded to Jo Daviess county, and labored at farming and
lead mining until 1846, when he crossed the plains to California with ox-teams.
After spending about one month near Dr. Bales' mill, in Napa county, he enlisted
in the Mexican war under General Fremont. After serving six months, he returned
to Napa valley, where he remained until 1850, when he came to this county and
settled on the ranch where he now resides. For fifteen years Mr. McDonnell acted
as guide to the Geysers, and was one of the first pleasure seekers to that noted
and romantic region. He married in October, 1849, Miss Eleanor Graves, who was
born in Illinois, July 28, 1831. Mrs. McDonnell, four sisters and a brother were
in company with the unfortunate Donner party, and barely escaped with their
lives. They have six children: Annie, Charles, Mary N., Henry, Nellie and Louisa J.

Additional Comments:
Washington Township

Extracted from:

HISTORY
—OF-
SONOMA COUNTY,
-INCLUDING ITS—
Geology, Topooraphy, Mountains, Valleys and Streams;
—TOGETHER WITH—
A Full and Particular Record of the Spanish Grants; Its Early History and
Settlement, Compiled from the Most Authentic Sources; the Names of Original
Spanish and American Pioneers; a full Political History, Comprising the Tabular
Statements of Elections and Office-holders since the Formation of the County;
Separate Histories of each Township, Showing the Advancement of Grape and Grain
 Growing Interests, and Pisciculture;
ALSO, INCIDENTS OF PIONEER LIFE; THE RAISING OF THE BEAR FLAG; AND BIOGRAPHICAL
SKETCHES OF EARLY AND PROMINENT SETTLERS AND REPRESENTATIVE MEN;
—AND OF ITS—
Cities, Towns, Churches, Schools, Secret Societies, Etc., Etc.
ILLUSTRATED.
SAN FRANCISCO:
ALLEY, BOWEN & CO., PUBLISHERS.
1880.


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