Effingham County IL Archives Biographies.....Donaldson, Joseph 1831 - 
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Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 October 20, 2011, 10:53 pm

Source: See below
Author: Lake City Publishing Co.

JOSEPH DONALDSON is a retired farmer and Justice of the Peace of Mason. He is
numbered among Effingham County's leading citizens and well deserves
representation in this volume. A native of Petersburg, Boone County, Ky., he was
born July 19, 1831, and is a son of Andrew and Catherine (Baxter) Donaldson,
both of whom were natives of Virginia. The father was of Scotch descent, and the
mother of German lineage. Joseph spent his boyhood days under the parental roof
and in his youth attended the public schools of Petersburg, where he acquired a
good English education. On the 25th of April, 1854, he left Carrollton, Ky., and
went to New York, expecting to go to California by boat, but found that all the
accommodations were taken, and together with about eight hundred others, he was
disappointed in securing passage.

  In company with six other young men, Mr. Donaldson determined to go overland,
and, after making preparations for the journey, they started forthwith. On
reaching Salt Lake City one of the party secured a clerkship at that place, but
the others continued on their way and reached their destination on the 10th of
September. Our subject spent five years in California, and thence went to
British America, where he remained nine months. Returning by way of the Isthmus
route, he arrived home in January, 1861. During his absence at Vancouver's
Island Mr. Donaldson saw Gen. Scott for the first time. A dispute had arisen
between Great Britain and the United States concerning the boundary line, and
the General, knowing the exact position of the boundary line, was there to
decide the matter. The next time our subject saw Gen. Scott the latter was at
Carrollton, Ky., on a mail boat, and it was while he was candidate for the
Presidency of the United States.

  As before stated, our subject returned home in 1861, and on the 30th of August
of that year he married Miss Elizabeth, daughter of George and Catherine
(Menish) Bowling, who were natives of Virginia. They had three children, but
Andrew J., their eldest child and only son, died in infancy. Catherine became
the wife of William Weston, a blacksmith of Stewardson, Ill., and died March 6,
1881. Jennie became the wife of Bird Sisson, of Mason, and they had two
children, Earl Eugene and Joseph A. The latter died at the age of three years.
Mrs. Sisson was called to the home beyond February 13, 1889.

  Soon after his marriage Mr. Donaldson bade good-bye to his bride and entered
the service of his country as one of the boys in blue of Company C, Eleventh
Indiana Infantry, in which he served three years. On the expiration of that time
he returned home and aided in organizing a company, which enlisted for a year,
but was discharged after six months, for the war then ended. This company became
Company C, of the One Hundred and Fiftieth Indiana Regiment. During both terms
of service Mr. Donaldson was under Col. Marsh B. Taylor, and was in the First
Brigade and First Division of Hancock's Corps. He participated in the battles of
Harper's Ferry, Winchester, Halltown, and many other important engagements, he
was always found at his post of duty, and was a faithful and gallant defender of
the Union.

  When the war was over, Mr. Donaldson returned to Carrollton, Ky., where he
remained until 1868, when he removed to Effingham County, Ill. The next six
years of his life were spent on a farm in Union Township. He had previously come
here in 1862, but made no permanent location. His farm, which contained eighty
acres, he sold in 1874, and removed to the village of Mason, where he engaged in
coopering, which business he followed until the improved machinery made hand
work unnecessary. Abandoning that pursuit, he has since lived a retired life.

  Mr. Donaldson held the office of City Marshal and Street Commissioner for
several years, and is now Justice of the Peace. His public duties have ever been
discharged with a promptness and fidelity that have won him the commendation of
all concerned. In politics he is a Democrat, and socially is a member of Mason
Lodge No. 217, A. F. & A. M., and Mason Chapter No. 76, R. A. M. Himself and
wife belong to the Eastern Star, and they are also members of the Methodist
Church. Mr. Donaldson likewise holds membership with Ransom Post No. 99, G. A.
R. The Squire is one of the substantial citizens of Mason, and is now resting in
the enjoyment of a competence which has been acquired through his own efforts.
He has lived a quiet, unassuming life, yet he has won the esteem and confidence
of all with whom he has been brought in contact. He was true to his country in
her hour of peril, and is alike true to every trust reposed in him.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

Portrait and Biographical Record of Effingham, Jasper and Richland Counties
Chicago: Lake City Publishing Co.
1893

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