JEFFERSON DONAVAN
Page 372
JEFFERSON DONAVAN
Page 372
|
JEFFERSON DONAVAN. Few words are needed in introducing Mr. Donavan to the people of Mason County, as his name has been familiar to the majority of them for many years. He is a man of fine character, and of that firmness of will and unerring judgment that have gained for him the esteem and confidence of all with whom he has had dealing. Formerly numbered among the agriculturists if the county, he now resides, in Mason City, where he gives his attention to the supervision of his extensive interests. Near the city of Urbana, in Champaign County, Ohio, the subject of this sketch was born in 1829. He is of direct Irish descent, his grandfather, Robert Donavan, having been born in the Emerald Isle, whence he emigrated to America, landing upon the shores of this country October 12, 1741. Robert Donavan, our subject's father, was born in Pennsylvania and became an early settler of Champaign County, Ohio. His death occurred upon his farm near Urbana in 1850. He was a Democrat in politics, as were all of his family. The mother of our subject was Rachel, daughter of Samuel Cox, one of the heroes of the Revolutionary War. She was born in Franklin County, Pa., and passed away in Champaign County, Ohio, in 1872, at the age of eighty-four. Jefferson Donavan spent the years of his boyhood in Champaign County, where he gained the rudiments of his education in the common schools and afterward prosecuted his studies in the Urbana Academy for a period of two years. In 1848 he came to Mason County and commenced farming, first upon a small scale and later upon a more extensive plan. To his original purchase he added land until his possessions were extensive and valuable. In connection with the raising of grain he engaged in feeding and shipping live stock, a branch of agriculture in which he met with flattering success. For some years Mr. Donavan has resided in Mason City, but still owns his farm and personally superintends it management. His is the owner of eight hundred and eight-five acres of valuable land in Mason and Logan Counties, seven hundred and sixty acres in Dakota and six hundred and forty-eight acres in Texas, and in addition owns some valuable residence property in Austin, Tex., and Mason City. In religious matters he supports the doctrines of the Presbyterian Church and has served as a Trustee for some time. The home of Mr. Donavan indicates in a marked manner the qualities of character which have shown conspicuously in all the relations of life. The lady who became his wife on the 2d of July, 1861, was Miss Matilda, daughter of Alexander R. Chestnut, a native of Chillicothe, Ohio, and one of the early settlers of Illinois. Mr. Donavan is a man of prominence in his locality and is numbered among the influential and enthusiastic Republicans of the county. The union of Mr. And Mrs. Donavan has been blessed by the birth of five children, all of whom died young but one son, Alex R., an intelligent and manly lad, in whom rest the fondest hopes of the parents. |