John was raised and educated in County Down, Ireland. His father, James was a farmer there. I don't know if they lived near the Morrisons in Ireland or not. John came to the US in 1849 and settled in Rock Island County, Illinois. He farmed there and operated a successful brick-yard until about 1870 when he moved to Poweshiek County. By 1880, John's Poweshiek Co. farm was 680 acres (which is really huge for that time), 480 of which were improved. His 1880 biography also noted, ``His vineyard is large and productive, and will compare formably [sic -- DJN] with any in the township.'' John and family were members and liberal supporters of the Presbyterian Church.
According to Poweshiek County history books, there were some other Donnan families there who had also come from Rock Island county. One article mentioned that there were several protestant Irish families who moved from Rock Island County, Illinois to part of Poweshiek County. The Donnans were founding members of the Homestead Presbyterian Church in Rural Twp, Rock Island Co., Illinois.
Sources for this individual: @S70@ @S68@ @S1850@ @S67@ @S69@ @S31@ @S887@
