It is not generally known that Howard Township has a centenarian. Irving Dickens, a colored man living southeast of Sugar Grove Church, is said to be 103 years old. He was born in North Carolina in 1797, and has lived contemporary with John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Madison, Monroe, Jackson, Clay, Calhoun, Webster, in fact, all our Presidents and best statesmen except Washington. He had lived 66 years a slave, when the glad news of Abraham Lincoln’s emancipation proclamation struck off his chains. Although so aged he talks intelligently, and is quite active. He makes a hand nearly every day husking corn, and plowed corn last summer. Once a month he drives to Greencastle to attend the meeting of the Primitive Baptist Church, of which he is a member. Neighbor to him lives Lewis Lyons, who wears a silver plate in his skull, the result of a cruel blow from a slaveholder. These men and Mrs. Dickens have experienced many phases of slave described in ‘Uncle Tom’s Cabin. - Rockville Tribune, 05 December 1900

Another minister who has a large place in the history of the Association is the Rev. A. H. Dooley. He was born in Kentucky in 1829; when he was ten years of age his parents moved into Parke county, Indiana, near a place called The Narrows of Sugar Creek. Through all the years of his childhood he had deep convictions as to his sin fullness of heart and his great need of salvation; but, for one thing, the church of the neighborhood was a Predestinarian church, and he could not bring himself to accept its distinguishing doctrines, although it was the church to which his father and mother belonged. And when, after some years, he found reason to hope that he was a Christian, it was only after a long struggle that he found courage to confess Christ before men. Finally in 1850, while visiting relatives in Boone county, he found the opportunity and offered himself for membership in a missionary Baptist church; he was accepted and baptized forthwith. During nearly all the time of his conviction for sin and need of a Savior he also had the conviction that it was his duty to give himself to the work of the Christian ministry. He and Miss Mary T. Connelly were married in 1852, and his wife joined the church with him in 1853. While engaged in teaching and farming, ever and anon the duty of giving himself to the work of the ministry was with him. The Rev. P. T. Palmer, a prominent minister of that part of the state, soon interpreted his feelings, when the two met, and encouraged him strongly to make the start. In 1854 he moved to Boone county and was soon compelled to listen to the voice that was calling him into the ministry. He was ordained at the request of the Elizaville church in 1867, and has from that time till old age forbade it, given his time and strength to the work of the ministry, and has been successful far beyond the average. Most of his service was in Monticello Association; he was pastor, in turn, of many of the churches composing it and was often honored with the moderatorship of the Association. He has interested himself in collecting the data and writing the history of at least two of the churches he served—Elizaville and Burnett's Creek—and also the history of Monticello Association. He also often wrote most interesting historical sketches for the denominational papers. From these sources and an autobiography written in his later years most of the facts of this sketch were found. Early in life he took a positive stand against the use of alcoholic beverages and against the use of tobacco, and now in his old age he can with double effect warn young men against the use of both. He is still able to go about among the churches occasionally, and nothing gives him as much satisfaction as to see the churches prospering, and his own denomination reaching forward towards larger things.  - Indiana Baptist History, 1798-1908,  By William Taylor Stott, Page 271, 272

DONALDSON

O. C. DONALDSON, long identified with mercantile interests in Webster City as a dealer in boots and shoes, was regarded as one of the honored and representative men of this community.  He was born in Emmitsburg, near Baltimore, Maryland, April 21, 1830, and comes of a family of English lineage.  His parents were Fielding and Catherine (McAllister) Donaldson, and the latter was a native of one of the eastern states.  She belonged to one of the old families of the country, and her father was a hero of the Revolution who valiantly fought for independence.  Fielding Donaldson, the father of our subject, was a very successful business man and accumulated much wealth, but he assumed certain debts of honor and died in only medium financial circumstances, passing away when our subject was but a boy.  Both he and his wife held membership in the Presbyterian church, and the latter died in 1850.  They had five children, but the only survivor is Charles Donaldson, who makes his home in Fairfield, Iowa.  O. C. Donaldson pursued his education in the schools of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania and after completing a literary course took up the study of medicine.  At the age of twenty years he removed to Uniontown, Pennsylvania, where he engaged in practicing, making his home in that place until 1858, when attracted by the business opportunities of the west, he came to Iowa and arrived in Fort Dodge at the time of the great land sale, which is one of the memorable events in the history of that place.  Subsequently he took up his abode in Iowa City.  On the 17th of September, 1870, he was united in marriage to Mary S. Sinnett, whose birth occurred upon a farm in Parke county, Indiana, June 27, 1842, her parents being Samuel and Susan L. (Higley) Sinnett.  The former was born in Dublin, Ireland, on St. Patrick's Day about 1818; the latter was a native of Marcellus, New York.  They were married in Tioga county, New York, and there Mr. Sinnett engaged in farming until his removal to Parke county, Indiana, where he continued his agricultural work, making his home in that place for three years.  They then removed to Muscatine, Iowa, where he remodeled a home that has been erected for fifty years.  There he engaged in farming, owning and operating land two miles from the business section of Muscatine.  In early life he was a Jackson Democrat, but afterward became identified with the Greenback party.  His religious faith was that of the Presbyterian church, and he died in November, 1900 while his wife passed away in November, 1898, both being laid to rest in the cemetery in Muscatine.  Unto Mr. and Mrs. Sinnett were born eight children, the eldest being Mary S., now Mrs. Donaldson.  Jennie S. resides upon the old homestead farm in Muscatine.  Georgia A. is the wife of Russell B. George, of Chicago, Illinois.  Isabella is also living on the home place in Muscatine and Samuel T., the next member of the family, carries on the work of the home farm.  Charles E. married Miss Cora Freeman, and resides in Muscatine.  John Harris, died at the age of twenty-eight years.  The youngest of the family died in infancy.  Unto Mr. and Mrs. Donaldson were born four children:  Oscar F., born in Iowa City, January 20, 1872, married Miss Ella Camron, of Webster City, Iowa, where he still resides.  They have one son, Ralph Fielding born in September, 1901.  Oscar is filling the position of bookkeeper for the Litchfield Manufacturing Company.  Mary C., born April 4, 1873, died July 31, 1889.  Sarah, born in Iowa City, August 13, 1876, resides with her mother.  Samuel S., the youngest, born in Webster City, July 27, 1879 died on the 15th of December of the same year.  After the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Donaldson they removed to Iowa City, where he carried on business until 1878, when he came to Webster City, and established a boot and shoe store here.  He soon secured a good trade, which increased with the growth of the town, and as his reliable business methods became known to the public.  Success attended his efforts as the years passed by and he acquired a comfortable competence through the legitimate channels of trade.  In early life he was a Republican, but when the Greenback movement was organized he joined the ranks of the new party.  He always refused to hold office, although he never failed to loyally support his honest convictions.  He was a member of the Congregational church, and by his friends was spoken of as a "grand good man," so honorable was his life and so true was he to all the duties and obligations that devolved upon him in the home, in business or in citizenship.  He died April 3, 1892, and was buried in the cemetery at Webster City, but although ten years have since passed he is not forgotten, his memory being still enshrined in the hearts of many friends.  Mrs. Donaldson is now living in a comfortable modern home at No. 1204 South Superior street, and is one of the highly esteemed ladies of Webster City.  -  A Biographical record of Hamilton County, Iowa , New York: S. J. Clarke Pub. Co., 1902, Submitted by Sharon Wick