| Notes |
- SCHUYLKIL COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA, by J. H. Beers & Co.
DANIEL DONNE, now living retired at Pottsville. Pa., has been a life-
long resident of Schuylkill county. He was born in the borough of Port Car-
bon June 24, 1840, and is of English stock, being a son of Henry S. Donne,
grandson of Stephen Donne, and a direct descendant of John Donne, an English poet and divine, born at London in 1573, who died there March 31, 1631.
According to the Century Cyclopedia of Names, "He studied at Oxford and
Lincoln's Inn, and in 1596 was appointed secretary to Sir Thomas Egerton,
keeper of the great seal, which office he lost about 1600 by a clandestine marriage with the lord keeper's niece. In 1610 he published a work entitled
'Pseudo-Martyr,' which procured for him the favor of James I., who persuaded him to take holy orders in 161 5, made him a royal chaplain in the same year, and in 1621 appointed him to the deanery of St. Paul's. Besides his poems, a collective edition of which appeared in 1633, and his theological writings, the most notable of his works is "Biathanatodz, A Declaration of that Paradoxe or Thesis, That Self-homicide is not so naturally a sin, that it may never be otherwise,' etc. (1644)."
The grandfather of Daniel Donne was a native of England, and like most of his family, in the government service. He died in that country. His children were: Stephen Henry and Henry Stephen, twins, the former of whom died in India, and Elizabeth, Mrs. Roberts, who died in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Henry Stephen Donne, father of Daniel Donne, was born in England and
came to America in 1825, locating in New York City. He was engaged as a
traveling salesman. It was not long before he returned to England, but in
1828 he again came to America, settling at Port Carbon, Schuylkill Co., Pa.,
where he became a coal shipper on the canal, following this business during the rest of his active life. He died in 1876 at Locust Valley, Schuylkill Co., Pa., at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Charles Seddon, when seventy-five years
old. His wife, Martha (Davis), a native of Wales, died at Port Carbon. They
were the parents of five children: Ann, deceased, who was the wife of Charles Seddon: Daniel; Phoebe, deceased; Frances, deceased, wife of Edward Seddon; and James, who is living at Pottsville.
Daniel Donne was educated in the public schools of Port Carbon. When
a boy he began to work with his father and later for a few years was employed
in the mines. Then, for about twelve years, he was a workman in the Benjamin Haywood Rolling Mills at Palo Alto, Schuylkill county, after which he
was with C. M. Atkins and Zach. Boyer, eventually becoming a partner in the
ownership of the Mount Carbon Rolling Mills, the concern being known as
the Mount Carbon Rolling Mill Company. His associates in this enterprise
were John E. Winecoop, Isaac Conner and Alex. Goven. The product was
what is known as puddle bar, and over one hundred hands were employed.
Mr. Donne was associated with this business until 1879, when he turned his
attention to the grocery trade, and was also in the coal washing business at
Middleport with Elwood T. Priest, being in this line for about six years, until 1898. Afterwards he continued in the grocery business at Palo Alto until 1907, in which year he removed to Pottsville, where he has since been living
retired. His home is at No. 401 South Centre street.
Early in the Civil war, in August, 1861, Mr. Donne enlisted for three years
in Company G, 48th Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, which was
attached to the 1st Brigade, 2d Division, 9th Army Corps. He was promoted
to corporal at Fredericksburg in 1862 and to sergeant in 1864, being discharged with this rank at Harrisburg, Pa., July 17, 1865. In December, 1863, he had reenlisted, while in camp at Blain's Cross Roads, Tenn. During his long service he took an active part in many important engagements, and on
three occasions received slight wounds ? at the battle of Bull Run, at Fredericksburg, and in front of Petersburg. Mr. Donne still keeps up his Civil war associations as a member of Gowen Post, No. 23, G. A. R., of which he is a
past commander. In 1896 he attended the national encampment of the Grand
Army of the Republic at St. Paul, Minn., as delegate, and he was also a
delegate to the national encampments at Los Angeles, Cal. (1912), Chattanooga, Tenn. (1913), and Detroit, Mich. (1914). He was also a member and past officer of Miners Lodge, No. 20, I. O. O. F. His religious connection is with the Episcopal Church. While living at Palo Alto Mr. Donne was active in the affairs of the local government, holding various public positions. As councilman, member of the school board for four years (and secretary of
that body), assessor, tax collector and auditor, he promoted the interests of
the borough so faithfully that he was made chief burgess, holding that office
for four years. On political questions he was a Republican. Though he has
lived retired since settling at Pottsville, he is well known there, by reason of his various activities in public and business life, and he held the esteem of all with whom he came in contact.
In the year 1865 Mr. Donne married Sarah A. Bassett, daughter of William
and Caroline (Randall) Bassett. Nine children were born to this union, as
follows: William H., in August, 1866 (deceased): Daniel, Dec. 30, 1867
(deceased) ; Caroline M., April 21, 1869 (married William H. Shuman, Jr.,
a grocer of Pottsville, Pa., and they have two children, Harold E. and Daniel
O.) ; Phoebe A., Dec. 6, 1870 (deceased) ; Martha F., Oct. 7, 1875 (deceased) ; Philip P. B., Dec. 8, 1876 (deceased); Minnie L., April, 1880 (deceased);
Clay W., Nov. 24, 1882 (married Helen Wammelsdorf, and they have seven
children, Daniel, Grace, Charles, Philip, Eleanor, Sarah and Helen Jean) ;
and James F., July 4, 1887 (deceased). The mother of this family died
Aug. 26, 1907, and is buried in the Odd Fellows cemetery. Mr. Donne has
lived retired since that year. In September, 1912, he made a trip to California.
|
Bassett Family Association Database
1840 - 1927 (86 years)