Donahey, J. C. 1832-1907

DONAHEY, UHL

Posted By: Barbara Hug (email)
Date: 2/24/2005 at 00:58:38

Many gathered at the J. C. Donahey home this afternoon at two o’clock to attend the last funeral rites of an esteemed man and respected citizen. The services were conducted by Rev. J. C. Willits, of Oskaloosa, and the interment was in the Newton Cemetery.

J. C. Donahey was born in Harrison County, Ohio, November 2nd, 1832. When he was eleven years of age his father died and soon after, with his mother, he went to Jefferson County in his native state, where they lived until he was seventeen years of age, when she passed away. Mr. Donahey then became a member of an uncle’s home until he was of age.

He was married to Miss Elizabeth Uhl March 13, 1856, in Holmes County, Ohio. Ten years after their marriage, 1866, Mr. and Mrs. Donahey moved to Muscatine County, Iowa.

While residing there, Mr. Donahey represented his county in the nineteenth general assembly at Des Moines.

In the year 1883 they came to Jasper County and lived a number of years on a farm, until 1892, when they moved to Newton and have been in the house the family now occupies on North Mechanic Street. While he was on the farm Mr. Donahey served six years on the board of supervisors of the county.

Ever since he was a young man Mr. Donahey has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and always a conscientious, earnest worker, a faithful man in all things. He was honored by his friends and neighbors and loved in the home.

He leaves besides his wife, who has been somewhat of an invalid for years, one daughter and four sons, J. H. of Gearing, Neb., E. S. of Redfield, South Dakota, W. S. of Des Moines, D. E., who lives on East South Street, and Clementina, who is at home. All the children were here to attend the funeral. ~ The Newton Daily News, Friday, March 29, 1907, Page 1, Column 4

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NEWTON JOURNAL, Newton, Iowa, April 3, 1907, p. 1, c. 3.
Another Old Citizen Gone
Died, at the Sanitorium in Newton, Tuesday evening, March 26, 1907, of apoplexy, Mr. John C. Donahey, aged 74 years, 4 months and 24 days.

In the death of Mr. John C. Donahey another of our oldest, most respected and best citizens have been called from earth to his eternal home. He was one of those men who made friends and kept them by his genial personality, - who was honest in all obligations, - who was true to home, family, church , state and nation, - who believed in all things calculated to upbuild the community, and promote morality and religion, - who lived in the world that his living would be of benefit and an example worthy of imitation to those who live after him, - who met all responsibilities that came to him with firmness and accepted them as a duty to be faithfully performed.

John C. Donahey was born in Harrison county, Ohio, Nov. 2, 1832. His father died in 1839 and his mother in 1849. He then lived with his uncle in Jefferson county until he was 21, when he went to Holmes county, where he worked as a carpenter. He came to Muscatine county, Iowa, in 1866; to a farm in Bueana Vista township, Jasper county, in 1883; and to Newton in 1892, where he has since resided. He was married in Holmes county, Ohio., March 13, 1856, to Miss Eliza Uhl. To this union six children were born, one dying in infancy. Four sons and one daughter, who with the mother survive him, and all of whom were present at the funeral. The children are J. H. of Gearing, Neb., Ed. S. of Redfield, S. D. , W. S. of Des Moines, D. E. and Clementine of Newton.

Mr. Donahey was a member of the 19th General Assembly of Iowa, was a sergeant in Co. L. 166th Ohio National Guard, a member of the Jasper County Board of Supervisors for six years, and a member of the Methodist Church from early manhood, in all of which he was true to his obligations, serving with great acceptance.

Mr. Donahey had been a strong, healthy man, but of last few years has suffered from a physical debility that gave him great pain. To remove this he went to the Newton Sanitorium, where last week he was operated upon by Dr. Litteg, of the Iowa City University, one of the most expert surgeons of the state. The operations was a most successful one, and the patient so far rallied under it, that until a few minutes before his death he was visiting with friends and was merry with them. After their departure the nurse noticed that he was gasping for breath, and in a few minutes life was extinct.

The funeral was held from the house at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, Rev. Willits officiating, and the body interred in the Newton Cemetery.

Originally submitted on June 30, 1997 by
Betty Fudge, afudge@mwci.net