DONALDSON, Henry A., St. John the Baptist Parish, Louisiana
Submitted for the LA GenWeb Archives by Mike Miller, Apr 1998

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Louisiana: Comprising Sketches of Parishes, Towns, Events, Institutions, and
Persons, Arranged in Cyclopedic Form (volume 3), pp. 515-516. Edited by
Alc‚e Fortier, Lit.D. Published in 1914, by Century Historical Association.
Donaldson, Henry A., of Reserve, St. John parish, was born in that vicinity
April 5, 1887, and is a son of Dr. Louis T. and Antoinette (Vignes)
Donaldson, the former of whom was born in St. James parish and the latter in
the same region as was the son. The paternal grandparents, Valsin and
Armanline (Gravois) Donaldson were natives, respectively, of St. James and
St. Charles parishes, but lived at Edgard, where the husband employed his
slaves in making brick and cultivating a farm. He died in 1892 at the age of
90 years. His wife died in 1891, at the age of 78. The paternal great-
grandfather, John Donaldson, came to Louisiana from Georgia and located in
St. James parish at a very early date. He married Manon Rome, a native of
that region. The maternal great-grandfather, Armand Gravois, came to
Louisiana from Canada with a party of early settlers. He married Erasie
Hotard, who was born in St. Charles. The ancestors of the Donaldson family
in Louisiana were of Irish origin, while those of the Vignes family came
originally from France. Dr. Louis T. Donaldson, who has long been active as
a practicing physician of St. John parish, is a graduate M. D. of the
University of Louisiana (now Tulane) and served 2 years as interne at the
New Orleans Charity hospital. He graduated in the class of 1879, which
included, among others, Dr. Rudolph Matas, and Drs. Parham, McCutcheon,
Vance, Gabert, Elmore, Hanson, Kennedy and Dunlap, several of whom have
risen to distinction in the medical profession. Dr. Donaldson has been in
practice at Reserve since 1882, also owning a farm there, and being a
stockholder and director in the Bank of St. John. He has been health officer
of the parish the past 7 years. Dr. Donaldson was married Sept. 17, 1883.
His wife is a daughter of Adrain and Claire (Basset) Vignes, both of whom
were natives of France, but were married in Louisiana, where the former
followed the business of a planter and merchant. He died in 1903, at the age
of 78 years, as a result of injuries accidentally received in alighting from
a street car in New Orleans. His wife died in 1890, at the age of 67 years.
Nine children were born to Dr. Louis T. Donaldson and wife, as follow: Louis
T., Jr., also a graduate in medicine at Tulane university, now practising
medicine at Hahnville, and married to Edna Gabert; Sidney was educated at
Jefferson college and is now doing clerical work at Louisville, Ky.; Henry
A., the subject of this sketch; Guy Rudolph received the degree of A. B. at
Jefferson college and afterward studied French under Prof. Alce‚ Fortier.
Later he was a student in mechanical engineering at Tulane university; Caire
Marie was educated at Sacred Heart academy, convent, and at Picard
institute, New Orleans; Adrain Vignes died in childhood; Antoinette
Armantine attended Sacred Heart academy, Picard institute and Miss Brest's
private school, New Orleans; Rosa attended Picard institute and Miss Brest's
school; and Armand, the last two now attending the public school at Reserve.
Henry A. Donaldson received his earlier education at a private school in the
vicinity of his home. He then matriculated at Jefferson college, where he
passed 6 years as a student. Later he entered the New Orleans College of
Pharmacy, (now affiliated with Loyola university), from which be received
the degree of Master of Pharmacy with the class of 1905. Shortly after his
graduation he became connected with the business of the Rapides Drug Co., at
Alexandria, but after 18 months at that place accepted a position as
pharmacist for L'Heureux at Reserve. In 1908 he purchased the business of
his employer and has continued this to the present, making many
improvements, enlarging the capacities of the business and extending his
trade. He now handles a complete line of drugs and druggists' sundries and
does a general prescription business. In 1908 Mr. Donaldson was appointed
postmaster at Reserve and has discharged the duties of that office to this
time. He has taken civil service examination and passed successfully. He is
affiliated with the democratic party, and is a member of the Catholic
church, Woodmen of the World and Knights of the Maccabees. June 1, 1910,
Henry A. Donaldson was married to Denise Maurin, daughter of Fortune and
Desire (Bossier) Maurin, of Reserve, where the father has long conducted a
wholesale produce and baker business. He was born in France, but his wife is
a native of the parish in which the family now live. Two children have been
born to Mr. and Mrs. Donaldson, viz.: Beulah and Henry, Jr. The last-named
died in infancy.
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