BIO:  Eli McDonell, York County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Kathy Francis

Copyright 2006.  All rights reserved.
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History of York County, Pennsylvania.  John Gibson, Historical Editor.
Chicago: F. A. Battey Publishing Co., 1886.
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Part II, Biographical Sketches, Shrewsbury Township, Pg 178

ELI MCDONELL was born in Shrewsbury, February 18, 1835.  He is the second son of twelve 
children of Hamilton and Sarah (Beck) McDonell.  At the age of twelve years he entered the 
employment of Myers & Small, merchants, of Shrewsbury, and continued until February 1, 1859, 
when he entered the establishment of Lewis Wagner, hardware merchant at Baltimore, remaining 
until July of the same year, when he returned to Shrewsbury, and, September 8, 1859, embarked 
in the general merchandise business which he has continued to the present.  He carries a stock 
of $6,000, doing a business of $18,000 in dry goods, notions, groceries, boots and shoes, hats 
and caps, glass, queensware, etc.  He was married, May 2, 1872, to Justie E. Berg, daughter of 
Rev. Andrew Berg, a citizen of Shrewsbury.  They have four children:  Emory C., Annie, Elsie 
and Mabel.  Mr. McDonell and wife are members of the Lutheran Church.  He has been treasurer of 
the Sunday-school since 1859; treasurer of the church since 1865; treasurer of the Shrewsbury & 
Rail Road Turnpike Company, since 1878, and is a director in the Shrewsbury Savings 
Institution; was postmaster during Lincoln’s administration, and served one term as town 
councilman and one term as school director.  He is a member of Shrewsbury Lodge No. 423, A. F. 
& A. M., and of Mount Vernon Lodge, No. 143, I. O. O. F.; has passed all the chairs in the 
latter, and is treasurer of same.