Donnan, James 1854-1925

DONNAN, HAMILTON, CUMMINGS, PORTER, MILLER, COX, WELLS, MCCORMICK, BRALEY

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 11/15/2012 at 11:02:00

Obituary dated April 7, 1925

Poweshiek county lost another of its pioneer settlers when James Donnan, of Ewart, died. He suffered much during his last days; but endured his sufferings with great patience and Christian fortitude. The esteem in which he was held was indicated by the very large attendance of his funeral, Sabbath afternoon. The church was completely filled, and enough people could not get in to have filled it again. The following obituary was read at the funeral:

James Donnan, in honor of whose memory we have met here today, was born in Rock Island county, Illinois, September 13, 1854. His age at the time of his death was therefore 70 years, six months and twenty days. He was the son of James and Nancy Hamilton Donnan. His childhood and youth were spent in the place of his birth.

When James was fourteen years of age, his father died, and he, being the only son in the family, took the place of both brother and father to his five fatherless sisters.

At the age of twenty-two he came to Iowa and settled on a farm near Ewart, where he lived nearly half a century, till he passed away April 3, 1925.

Three years after coming to Iowa, October 21, 1879, he was married to Miss Ellen D. Cummings, who has been his faithful companion for forty-six years, and who is still living to mourn his loss.

Into this family were born seven children: Mrs. Hattie Mable Porter, Mrs. Edna Jane Miller, of Los Angeles, California, Mrs. Bessie Ellen Cox, James Edward, Mrs. Mary Ann Wells, Gordon Alexander and William Earl. The loss of the three sons is still a tragic memory in the family, and in the whole community. The four daughters are all living to mourn the loss of a loving father. One of them however, Mrs. Bessie Cox, is not able to be present with us today. She lies seriously ill in the Community Hospital at Grinnell. He leaves also four of his five sisters: Mrs. William Cummings, of Montezuma; Mrs. William McCormick, Miss Lizzie Donnan and Mrs. Andrew McCormick, all of Ewart. Perhaps no one will miss him more than his two small relatives, Frank and Burton Braley, sons of Clifford and Nettie Braley.

He professed faith in Christ when quite young, and became a member of the Homestead United Presbyterian church, in Illinois. Coming to Iowa early in 1876, he was a charter member of the Ewart United Presbyterian church, and on May 4, 1876, he was elected one of the first elders of the congregation, which office he still held at the time of his death.

The funeral was held in the new U.P. church, conducted by Rev. R.E. Lackey assisted by Rev. E.W. Gregson. A quartette composed of G.E. Wasson, Edwin Parish, Hesper Mikel and Charles Gerard sang two beautiful and appropriate songs. The solo by Mrs. Gordon Farley was appreciated. Mrs. Alma McMeekin was at the piano.