Donahey, Dan E. 1860-1916

DONAHEY, WOODS

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 4/26/2005 at 19:38:56

NEWTON RECORD, Newton, Iowa, Thursday, October 12, 1916, p. 1, c. 5
(Iowa State Hist. Lib., Jasper Co., IA , FS # 299-0)
DEATH OF DAN E. DONAHEY
Victim of Fatal Accident in Building the Great Tabernacle

The death of Mr. D. E. Donahey, which occurred at his home on South Third Avenue East, about 2 o'clock last Thursday morning, October 5th. was a great surprise to everybody and cast a shadow of sorrow over the entire community. On Tuesday afternoon, he fell from a scaffold on the interior of the tabernacle, as we related in the Record of last week, sustaining the fracture of a bone in his right thigh. While his injury was painful, it was not considered especially dangerous. A special nurse was installed in the home, and he seemed to be getting along nicely until nearly 2 o'clock Thursday morning, when the nurse noticed by his heavy breathing, that there was a change for the worse, and called the family. A physician was called, but before he arrived Mr. Donahey's heart ceased to beat and his spirit had taken its flight.

Mr. Donahey was one of our best citizens, and held in high esteem by everybody in the community. He was deeply interested in the Pratt revival meetings which are to begin this week in Newton, and on Sunday of last week in the Methodist Church when volunteers were called for, to assist on Tuesday in building the tabernacle, he was one of the first to respond. He had worked with a zeal peculiar to him, from early morn until about four o'clock, when he met with the fatal fall.

Funeral services were held in the M. E. church at 2 o'clock Sunday afternoon. There was a large attendance, many relatives and friends from the old home neighborhood near Kellogg coming for the sad service. Dr. W.H. Heppe, the pastor, delivered the discourse, full of comfort to the sorrowing friends, and paying a beautiful tribute to the life and character of Mr. Donahey. A quartette from the M. E. choir - Mrs. T. M. Rodgers, Mrs. Grace Allen, Mr. Richard Toedt, and Mr. O. F. Ecklund - sang appropriate hymns, accompanied by Mr. Max Westphal. There were many beautiful floral offerings from sympathizing friends. The pall bearers were Messrs. George Denniston, Dean Dennis, Harry Van Epps, O. G. Sloan, Nelson Grimes and Lewis Edge. a large concourse of friends accompanied the funeral cortege to the Newton cemetery, where the mortal remains of Mr. Donahey were laid to rest near his little daughter, and his parents who passed away several years ago. His age was nearly 67 years.

Daniel Elsworth Donahey was born in Holmes county, Ohio. January 4, 1860. He came with his parents, the late J. C. Donahey and wife, to Muscatine county, Iowa, in 1866. In 1883, when deceased was 23 years of age, the family came to Jasper county, locating on a farm south of Kellogg. On the 16th of February, 1887, Mr. Donahey was united in marriage with Miss Sarah M. Woods, by Rev. A. S. Loveall, pastor of Pleasant View M. E. chruch. Three children were born to them: Edith, the eldest, died in this city a few years ago; Mabel and Ray are still at home to comfort the mother in this great sorrow. Mr. Donahey is also survived by three brothers and one sister: James Donahey of Belle Fourch, South Dakota; Ed. S. Donahey, Redfield, South Dakota; Wm. Donahey of Chicago, and Miss Clementine Donahey of Freemont, Nebraska. All of them were here to attend the funeral excepting James. Mr. and Mrs. Donahey moved from the farm to Newton in 1902.

Mr. Donahey was converted and united with the Methodist chruch when he was but a young man, and remained faithful to his vows until transfered to the Church Triumphant. Newton has certainly lost a good citizen. The wife, children, brother and sister have the sympathy of the entire community in their great bereavement.

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