March 1, 1921 On Tuesday afternoon, Feb. 22, 1921, Robert James Donnan, in a more than usually cheerful mood left his home west of Ewart; bound for Grinnell. He arrived safely, but while transacting business in the office of J. J. Mullin, he suddenly collapsed, and in a moment he was gone. It was a shock to the community in which he had lived so long. But he himself felt sure his end was approaching. He had selected the songs that he wanted sung at his funeral, and the portion of scripture he wanted to be read. He was born in Rock Island County, Illinois, May 24, 1863, and came to Poweshiek County, Iowa, with his parents in 1870. He was married in 1898, to Miss Elizabeth Parker, who still lives to mourn his loss. Three children are still living; Velma Donnan, Mrs. Clarence Phipps, and John Donnan. One daughter Maxine died in infancy. There is one grandchild, little Dorothy May Phipps. He also leaves one brother, and four sisters; William Morrison Donnan of Tintah, Minn., Mary Jane Donnan, Susanna Donnan, Mrs. Lizzie Beattie, of Casey, Iowa, and Mrs. Anna Rutherford. Four brothers had passed on before. He professed conversion in Friend's revival meeting several years ago. Those who were the nearest to him say that they know he believed in Christ, and that all is well with him now. The funeral was held in the United Presbyterian church of Ewart, in charge of the pastor, Rev. R. E. Lackey, assisted by Rev. W. W. Woodburn, of Grinnell. The songs he had selected were sung by Mrs. Nettie Braley, Mrs. Gertrude Jacobs and Gus Wasson. The Scripture lesson was the one he had selected. The attendance was so large that many had to stand during the entire service. ---------------- 1-15-1915 Obituary David Donnan David Campbell Donnan was born in Rock Island county, Ill., May 3, 1868 and departed this life December 23, 1914, after a lingering illness of some months aged 46 years, 7 months and 20 days. He was the son of John and Jane Donnan. He was the fifth son, three brothers preceded him in death. He leaves to mourn his loss four sisters and two brothers; Mary Jane, Susanna, Robert James, William M., Lizzie Beattie, Anna M. Rutherford. In the spring of 1870 he moved with his parents from Rock Island county, Ill., to Iowa. He was a generous, kindhearted man. He expressed himself often during the last days of his illness that he was willing and ready to go and at times would refer to his conversion a few years ago at a revival meeting held at Blue Point. For several years he had made his home with his sisters, Mary J. and Susan Donnan. He selected the hymns that he wanted sung at his funeral and also the scripture text, Matt.7-1 and his pallbearers. The funeral was conducted by Rev. E. M. Gregson, of New Sharon, at Ewart, Saturday, December 26 at 2 p. m. and the remains were laid to rest in the Ewart cemetery there to await the resurrection morn. ---------------- BEATTIE, Mrs. Elizabeth Dounan, b Rock Island, Illinois 12 February 1864, daughter of John and Jane Donnan. Came to Grinnell in 1867, m June 1885 to Lee, son of Charles Allen of Grinnell. In May 1900 married John Beattie. Children: Mrs. Rebecca Egger; David; John; Louis; Gene; and Sam. Hugh William, deceased. Died in Adair, Iowa April 1, 1942. Poweshiek County, Iowa Obituary Abstracts of Pioneer Settlers http://www.rootsweb.com/~iapowesh/POWobitsettlersA-B.html ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The below articles are for other Donnan relatives, not directly related to the Morrisons, but related to Jane Morrison Donnan's husband. DONNAN, Mrs. Nancy, mother of Mrs. W. A. McGONAGIL of Moline, IL., died Tuesday at Ewart, Poweshiek Co., Ia, aged 65yr. Burial will be in the Homestead Cemetery, Rural township, Rock Island Co., IL, beside her husband who died in Ewart 20 yrs ago. Mr. and Mrs. DONNAN were early settlers of Rural township, coming here from Ireland in about 1847-48. They were among those who established the U. P. Church at Homestead Cemetery. Their daughter, Mrs. McGONAGIL, was probably the first white child born in what is now Rural township. Two sisters of Mrs. McGONAGIL, also survive. (Moline Review Dispatch, Friday, 9 Oct. 1891) ---------------- DONNAN, JAMES---Pleasant Twp---pg 775. Section 20, P.O. Ewart. Born in Rock Island county, Illinois, September 13, 1854. Was there raised to manhood and educated. He attended the Davenport Business College and secured a commercial education. In March, 1876, he came to Poweshiek county with his mother and sisters and located where he now resides. He was married October 20, 1879, to Miss Ella D. Cummings, of Pleasant township (formerly of Cedar county, Iowa). Mrs. Donnan makes a specialty of dairying, and her choice brand of butter has attained considerable reputation. Mr. Donnan has started in life under very favorable auspices, and being a man of tact and industry his success is inevitable. He is an active member of the United Presbyterian Church of Ewart and is one of its elders. ---------------- Part of Header Missing 4 -7 someone wrote 1935 then crossed out the 1935 Away at Ewart 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 at his funeral, Sabbath afternoon. The church was completely filled, and enough people could not get in to have it filled 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 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 old 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 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 of 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 then 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, 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 Parrish, Hesper Mikel and Charles Gerard sang two beautiful and appropriate songs. The solo by Mrs. Gordon Farley was appreciated. Mrs. Alma McMeekin was at piano.