Bio of DONALDSON, William (b.1849), Hennepin Co., MN
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EXTRACTED FROM: History of Minneapolis, Gateway to the Northwest; 
Chicago-Minneapolis, The S J Clarke Publishing Co, 1923; Edited by: Rev. 
Marion Daniel Shutter, D.D., LL.D.; Volume I - Shutter (Historical); 
volume II - Biographical; volume III - Biographical
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WILLIAM DONALDSON - Vol II, pg 98-102
The year 1882 witnessed the advent of William Donaldson into mercantile circles
in Minneapolis and in all this history there is no record which is more truly
that of a self-made man, one who carved out his own career and as the architect
of his fortune builded wisely and well. Throughout his life obstacles and
difficulties seemed but to serve as an impetus for renewed effort on his part
and his life history illustrates what can be accomplished when there is a will
to dare and to do.
Scotland is often spoken of as the land of poetry and song, the land of mountain
crag and glen, but it is just as much the land of industrial and commercial
capability, for from that country have come some of the most prominent and
successful business men that the world has known. It was there that William
Donaldson was born, in the little village of Milnthort in Kinross-shire. June
16, 1849. There he spent his boyhood days in a beautiful upland country midway
between Edinburgh and Perth, where for many generations his ancestors had lived
closely associated with industrial activity of that locality and at all times
making the best of the opportunities that came to them. The father of William
Donaldson was John Donaldson and his mother bore the maiden name of Mary
Steedman. The marriage resulted in the birth of four children. In the support of
his family John Donaldson engaged in the manufacture of fine shawls. The eldest
son of the family, William, attended the village school, where he displayed
special aptitude in his studies, his thoroughness and concentration enabling him
to make excellent progress in his school work. In his early life he and his
father discussed his future career and agreed that he should become a merchant,
so that when he had arrived at his majority he was apprenticed to a draper in
his home town for a term of four years, his labors to bring him the munificent
reward of three shillings per week! During that four years' period of indenture
he was advanced from apprentice to clerk in a dry goods store in Glasgow, where
he was given a salary of forty pounds per year. He remained in that position for
eight years and was promoted from time to time until he was occupying a place of
large responsibility in connection with the business and was receiving a
proportionately increased salary.
It was while thus employed that Mr. Donaldson was married in Glasgow in 1873 to
Miss Mary Turner and they became the parents of five children: John, now a
resident of California; George, of Minneapolis; Elizabeth Fleming, the wife of
F. H. Carpenter of Minneapolis; and Mary Steedman and Williamina, both deceased.
The older son, John Donaldson, served with distinction in the Spanish-American
war in the Philippines and was promoted to lieutenant. He received special
mention in dispatches and during the battle of Manila, when the captain of his
company failed in his duty, Lieutenant Donaldson took command, leading the boys
to their position and meriting the high praise which his act received. He was
promoted, with Dr. Ritchie, to take charge of hospital supplies.
With the birth of their children and the consequent family cares Mr. Donaldson
felt a desire to improve his financial conditions by taking up merchandising on
his own account. He had steadily progressed in his native country but he began
to feel that the opportunities offered in America were superior to those to be
enjoyed in Scotland, as most favorable reports had reached him concerning
business conditions in the new world. Accordingly, in 1877 he accepted a
position with a Scotch dry goods house in Providence, Rhode Island, a house that
was doing business over a broad territory, selling at both wholesale and retail.
It was thus that Mr. Donaldson was introduced to commercial circles in the
United States. He remained for four years in the east and in 1881 made his way
to St. Paul, where he launched his western business career as a salesman for
Auerbach, Finch, Van Slyke & Company, for which firm he solicited business in
both St. Paul and Minneapolis. This was a step toward the fulfillment of his
hopes, which found their realization in the establishment of a business of his
own in 1882. At that date he rented a small store at No. 309 Nicollet avenue and
purchased a stock of furnishing goods for both men and women. Later he secured
business space in the Glass block, which had recently been erected by Colton &
Company and when a few months later the Coltons failed and Samuel Grousock
purchased their stock, he placed Mr. Donaldson in charge of the establishment.
The new manager made a success of the business and in April, 1884, he purchased
the interests of his employer and was once more actively engaged in trade for
himself. Increasing his stock he entered the dry goods field, determined to win,
and bent every energy toward the accomplishment of this result. He prospered
from the beginning and the steady increase of his trade made it necessary for
him to secure greater space. Accordingly the old building was torn down and the
main building of what is now known as the Glass block was erected. This was
further enlarged in 1891 by the erection of an annex on Sixth street. The
development of the business was very rapid, for the new enterprise was based
upon a foundation which Insured success. An extensive line of goods was carried
and included everything that the latest markets of the world afforded. Moreover,
the utmost care was exercised not only in the purchase of goods but in the
personnel of the house and in the treatment accorded patrons and constantly the
business expanded until the number of employes had reached nine hundred, while
twelve buyers represented the firm in New York and branch offices were
maintained in New York, Manchester, England, and Paris. A contemporary
biographer wrote of Mr. Donaldson as one who rose "from the humble position of
draper's apprentice to the exalted one of merchant prince. He advanced from the
first position which he held in Scotland to the honored one which he gained for
himself in Minneapolis through his industry and integrity, his genius for
administration and organization, his human sympathy and his broad understanding.
Minneapolis people were always glad of his success and proud of the man and in
the olden days when he was climbing the ladder of success so rapidly they
delighted in calling him the 'merchant prince.' No man was more loved by his
employes, no man was ever more respected by his business friends and associates,
no man was ever more welcome in the social circles in which he moved than was
William Donaldson. His constructive genius was part of the history of
Minneapolis."
Notable as was Mr. Donaldson's success in the upbuilding of a mammoth commercial
enterprise, he yet found time and opportunity to devote to the interests and
welfare of his adopted city. He was alert to the needs and opportunities of
Minneapolis and he withheld his aid and cooperation from no project that he
deemed of civic worth and benefit. In the Business Men's Union of Minneapolis he
was a prominent figure and for a long time acted as chairman of its executive
committee. He became a very active member of the Caledonian Society and was the
first leader of the organization in Minneapolis, being closely associated in
this work with David Forgan, a prominent Chicago banker. Mr. Donaldson was long
a helpful and zealous member of the Westminster Presbyterian church and for many
years served as a trustee. He was instrumental in selling the old church edifice
at the corner of Nicollet avenue and Seventh street, where the Dayton store is
now located and in securing the new location for the church at Sixth street and
Nicollet avenue, where he assisted in laying the corner stone of the more modern
structure. His entire life was guided by his Christian faith, in which he passed
away in July, 1897. In an analyzation of the character and life work of Mr.
Donaldson we note many of the characteristics which have marked the Scotch
nation for many centuries -the perseverance, reliability, energy and
unconquerable determination to pursue a course that has been marked out. It was
those sterling qualities which gained for him success, made him one of the
substantial and valued citizens of Minneapolis. While he possessed the strongly
marked Scotch qualities he became a most loyal American citizen, in true
sympathy with the purposes of the republic and was long known not only as a most
prominent merchant of Minneapolis but also as one of her best, brightest and
most distinguished men.
At his death many touching tributes to his worth were made by leading men
throughout the state, and the Humane Society, of which he was a member, passed
the following resolutions:
"Whereas, it has pleased Him who doeth all things well to take from earth our
esteemed member and friend; therefore, be it
Resolved, That we, members of the Minneapolis Humane Society, here assembled,
deeply deplore the early demise of this honored citizen, who was ever ready and
glad to extend a helping hand in the work of this and every kindred
organization.
Resolved, That the sympathy of this body be extended to the bereaved family, and
that a copy of these resolutions be forwarded to them, and that they be spread
upon the records."
The board of trustees of the Westminster church adopted the following tribute in
memoriam:
"We, the trustees of Westminster church of Minneapolis, desire to testify in
suitable and enduring form our great sorrow and sense of loss, which has come to
us by the death of William Donaldson, one of our associates of this board, which
occurred at Colorado Beach, California, on the 29th of last month.
"Born in Scotland and educated in the schools of his native land and in
mercantile pursuits as well, Mr. Donaldson, with his family, came to Minneapolis
about twenty years ago, and this has ever since continued to be his home. His
sturdy Scotch character, keen judgment, correct and efficient business methods
and loyal devotion to his calling, soon brought him to the forefront amongst our
most active, sagacious and successful business men, and for more than a decade
the business house of which he was the master spirit has been a leader and a
vital force in commercial circles.
"But it is not of these that we wish specially to bear testimony, but of his
great worth as a man. Uniting with our church soon after coming among us, he has
ever since been a most faithful friend and an earnest, generous and efficient
coworker and helper with us, generously giving of his time and his means for the
support and upbuilding of our church and its various lines of charitable and
mission work. Nor were his good works limited by any church boundaries, but the
needy and deserving among individuals and works of charity in our whole
community were, in modest but effective ways, made to feel the beneficence of
his generosity and helpfulness.
"For the last five years, he has been an active member of this board and it is
here that we are made to feel with special keenness the loss and the sorrow of
this sad bereavement. Ever faithful to duty, we had come to rely upon him as
sound in judgment, wise in counsel and a safe guide in all matters requiring our
solution and action. A courteous Christian gentleman, a true friend, the memory
of his association with us is a pleasant one.
"The Providence which has, at the meridian of his life and usefulness, removed
him from among us, is inscrutable to the natural eye, but, viewing it with the
eye of faith and hope and knowing that He who ordered it knoweth best and doeth
all things well, we shall try to feel, as well as to say: 'Thy will; not ours.'
"To the family of our deceased brother we extend our most heartfelt sympathy and
prayers. May He who is the Father of us all be the comfort and support of all in
this sad bereavement."