John Donahue 1836-1893

DONAHUE, SPRAGUE

Posted By: Volunteer
Date: 5/19/2006 at 08:24:58

Davenport Weekly Leader; Davenport, Scott, Iowa; Wednesday, May 8, 1893

DEATH OF JOHN DONAHUE
A Brief History of the Life of the Well Known Business Man.

At 6 a.m. Tuesday, occurred the death of John Donahue, at his home, 218 West Twelfth street. He had been ailing all winter, but not until the past two weeks did his illness take a serious turn, being in the nature of liver troubles, but death resulted from internal hemorrhage. He was well known, having for years been engaged in business in this city, and of late years dealing in marble, coal, etc., his office being at 211 Perry street, and his yards at the foot of that street.

John Donahue was born in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, April 26th, 1836, and spent his boyhood days in that vicinity. When a young man he came to Iowa and located at Burlington, where he learned the trade of a marble cutter. After going back to his old home in Pittsburg, he came to Davenport in the year 1860, and formed a co-partnership with Jas. K. McCosh, under the firm name of McCosh & Donahue. This firm did a general marble business for nearly 28 years, being dissolved in 1888, Mr. Donahue continuing in business for himself. In November, 1863, he was married to Miss Lizzie Sprague, of Ohio. He leaves besides his wife and son, two brothers who reside in Burlington, Iowa, a sister in Pittsburg, and one residing in the northwestern part of the state of Mississippi.

Mr. Donahue was a whole-souled man, of a jovial disposition and had many friends and acquaintances, who will unite with his relatives in mourning his loss. He was a member of the Masonic fraternity and of the Northwestern Masonic Aid Association. The funeral will probably occur on Thursday, but positive arrangements in that regard will not be perfected until the arrival of the brothers from Burlington, who are expected to reach the city today.