Biographical & Genealogical History of Appanoose & Monroe Counties, Iowa

New York, Lewis Publishing Co. 1903

Wesley Donegan page 194

Among Iowa’s native sons residing in Monroe county is Wesley Donegan, who was born in Jefferson county, this state, on the 18^th of February, 1842, his parents being John and Margery

( Roberts ) Donegan, both of whom were natives of Ohio. The father died in Monroe county at the age of eighty-six years and thus a life of usefulness and uprightness was ended. His wife, however, passed away in Jefferson county in 1848, when her son Wesley was a little lad of six years. The family had been established in this state in 1836, at which time John Donegan became a resident of Burlington, Iowa, and three years later he went to Jefferson county, where he resided continuously until 1853. In that year, attracted by the discovery of gold in California, he made his way to the Pacific slope and for twenty years resided in that section of the country. To him and his wife were born ten children, of whom three are yet living.

Wesley Donegan may well be termed a self-made man, for all that he has in life has been acquired through his own efforts and he has not only a competence, but has developed a character which is in every way worthy of respect. When only eleven years of age he was bound out, and for two years worked with a man whose services he had entered. He then ran away and from the age of thirteen years was employed as a farm hand by the day or month, working in the fields from early morning until evening. After the inauguration of the Civil war, believing that his first duty was to his country, he joined the army in August, 1862, and was assigned with Company A, Tenth Illinois Cavalry, under the command of Captain Anderson. He then served until June, 1865, and was discharged by reason of the expiration of his term and also of the close of the war. Investigation into his war record shows that he was a loyal defender of the Union, faithfully performing his duty whether it called him into the thickest of the fight or stationed him upon the lonely picket line. He was always with his company and regiment in the various battles in which the command engaged, with the exception of a period when he was on detached service, and although frequently ill and unfit for duty he always reported each day.

At the close of his military service Mr. Donegan returned to Illinois and in the fall of 1865 came to Iowa, settling first near Eddyville, in Monroe county, where he worked by the month. When his earnings enabled him to make investment in property he purchased a tract of land in Mahaska county, which was partly improved. He then further continued his arrangement for a home of his own by his marriage, which was celebrated February 6, 1870, the lady of his choice being Miss Mary P. Templeton, who was born upon the farm where she is now living, a daughter of Adolphus D. and Mary ( McGlothlen ) Templeton. One of her paternal uncles was the first recorder and treasurer of Monroe county. Her father was born in Indiana and about 1843, when Iowa was still a territory, came to this section of the state, his death occurring on the farm across the road from our subject’s home when he was seventy-six years of age. His wife, who was also born in Indiana, died at the age of eighty-one years. In their family were ten children, of whom four are yet living.

To our subject and his wife have been born eight children, five of whom yet survive, namely: John A., who is married and has two children; David H., a resident of Colorado; Mary Grace, Laura May, and Viola Pearl, all at home. They have been provided with the educational advantages of the schools of this locality and the members of the household are widely and favorably known in this locality.

After his marriage Mr. Donegan carried on farming in Bluff Creek township, Monroe county, for one year and subsequently spent two years in Mahaska county, Iowa, after which he removed to Colorado, where for ten years he conducted a ranch. On the expiration of that decade he again came to Iowa, but later spent a winter in Kansas, and then once more established his home in Monroe county on the old Templeton farm of two hundred and thirty-eight acres, which has since been his place of residence, where his time and attention have been devoted to its further cultivation and development.

Aside from his farm work Mr. Donegan has been quite prominent in local political affairs and has filled a number of offices. He has been a staunch Democrat since casting his first presidential vote for Seymour, and while living in Colorado he served as county assessor for one term of two years. He maintains relations with his old army comrades through his membership in Wilcox Post No. 138, G.A.R., of Eddyville, and while not a member of any church, he attends the services of various denominations and has contributed to their support. With interest in his county and its progress, he has co-operated in much work for the general good and at the same time has carried on his personal business affairs in a manner that has made his work successful, returning to him a satisfactory income.

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