Doner, Henry A. (1850-1925)

DONER

Posted By: Joyce Hickman (email)
Date: 8/18/2008 at 13:44:22

Henry A. Doner
Mar 6, 1850 - June 2, 1925

(From the 1883 History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, by J. H. Keatley, p.109, Hardin Twp.)
H. A. Doner, farmer, P. O. Council Bluffs. One of the most successful young men in Hardin Township is Mr. H. A. doner, who was born in Wayne County, Ohio, in 1850. He is the son of Henry and Amanda (Johnson) Doner. He is one of six brothers and thre sisters, one brother and one sister being dead. In August, 1851, his father moved from Ohio to Northeastern Indiana, then, after a stay of eleven years, moved back to Ohio, going to Defiance County; lived there three years, then sold out and came to Jasper County, Iowa, and lived there until in death in 1868. On account of these chanegs, Mr. Doner attended the common schools in Indiana, Ohio and Iowa. He has always followed his father's occupation - that of farming - and is a Republican in politics. His mother is now living in Mills County, Iowa. In 1871, he went to Bureau County, Ill., where he worked on a farm for about six years, and then came to Pottawattamie County, Iowa, and bought, in partnership with his brother, a quarter-section of land, part of which was improved to some extent. They then divided the land, each taking an eighty-acre lot. Since that time, Mr. H. A. Doner has added to his farm, till now it consists of 320 acres, all under cultivation, well stocked and considerably improved. In 1882, he was married to Laura Swarts, of Pottawattamie County. Her mother is dead, but her father lives in Mills County. She has one brother living, and one dead. Mr. Doner attributes his succe4ss in life to hard work, early and late, and a fixed determination to succeed. (From the 1882 History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa)

(From the 1891 Biographical History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, p.616)
HENRY A. DONER, a farmer residing on Section 29, Hardin Township, has been a resident of this county since 1876. He was born in Wayne County, Ohio, March 6, 1850, a son of Henry A. DONER, Sr., and the latter was a son of Jacob DONER, of Maryland and of Swiss ancestry. The maiden name of the mother of the subject of this sketch was Amanda JOHNSON. She also was a native of Wayne County, Ohio and her father was a native of Pennsylvania.
The subject of this sketch, the third born in his parents' family of six sons and three daughters, was a small boy when they removed to DeKalb County, Indiana. In a short time, they returned to Ohio, settling in Defiance County, and in 1867 they removed to Jasper County, where the father died the next year; the mother now lives at Silver City, Mills County, this state.
Mr. Doner was reared a farmer. From 1871 to 1876 he was a resident of Bureau County, Illinois, and then he came to Pottawattamie County and purchased a quarter section of land on section 36, Hardin Township. Since then, he has bought ore and now has altogether 439 acres of valuable land; 279 acres are in one body, on section 36, and on sections 29 and 30, where he resides, he has 160 acres. This is one of the best farms in the county. His dwelling, built in 1890, cost $2,500; and his barn, built in 1889, cost $1,500. Both are fine structures, in modern style. In his political views, Mr. Doner is a Republican. He has served on the School Board.