Hon. W. G. Donnan 1834-1908

DONNAN

Posted By: Cheryl Locher Moonen (email)
Date: 2/24/2016 at 11:27:55

Dubuque Daily Times Journal, December 6, 1908

DEATH OF W. DONNAN
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PROMINENT CITIZEN OF
INDEPENDENCE, IOWA
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HE HAD HELD MANY POSITIONS
OF TRUST
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Was a Continuous Resident of That
City for a Period of
Fifty-Two Years
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Special to the Tomes Journal:
Independence, IA., Dec. 5, - Friday at his residence in this city occurred the death of Hon. W. G. Donnan, president of the First National Bank of Independence. He had been in failing health for several weeks, but only confined to his house for a short time. Deceased was one of the oldest and most highly respected citizens. He was born in Saratoga County, New York, in 1834. He received his education at Cambridge Academy, N. Y., and at Union College, Schenectady, N. Y. He graduated with a B. A. degree in 1856 and the same year settled in this city, where he was admitted to the bar in 1857. The same year he was elected treasurer and recorder of the county and re-elected. In 1862 he enlisted as a private in the Twenty-seventh Iowa Regiment Infantry. He was promoted to Second and First Lieutenant and breveted Captain and Major and served for some time as brigadier adjunct general. He received honorable mention by his brigadier commander in several official reports of battles and was honorably discharged at the close of the war. He was elected to the State Senate, serving in the Twelfth, Thirteenth, Twentieth and Twenty-First sessions. He was a member of the Forty-second and Forty-third congresses. It was through his efforts and those of the late Geo. W. Bemis that the hospital for the insane was located at this place. In 1883 he was chairman of the State Central Committee. He was a member of the G. A. R. and the Presbyterian Church and a Knight Templar. He was wholly of Scotch blood and possessed the sterling qualities of his nationality. He leaves a wife, one son, an adopted daughter and a brother to mourn his death. He was of commanding personality and for so many years has been a familiar figure upon the streets that he will be missed by a large circle of friends. He was a delegate in the republican national convention in 1884.