PAGE 241 PART 5 John DONNAN, Sorbie, Wigtownshire, Scotland 1800 - 1934 To: Churchville, Monroe Co, NY PAGE 242 This family of Donnan came to my attention thru an article in the LeRoy, news paper of March 1934, telling of the murder of Duncan Grant Donnan, of Morris, NY. JOHN DONNAN, Sorbie, Wigtownshire, Scotland TO: Marrgaret Douglas There were six children born to them: John, Adam, Isabel, Margaret, Catherine and Jane Here again we see the familiar names that were given the children of families in Soctland and have continued on down to the present generations. Sorbie is in the southern part of Wigtowshire, not so far from Wigtown, both continue to be abiding places for Donnans. We are indebted to Mr. Wallace G. Donnan, 221 Bronson Avenue, Rochester, NY for much of the information obtained in this connection. Again we would like to go to Scotland with all the data obtained in connection with our own particular family and a score of other Donnan families that came to America and Canada. There is no question but that we are all connected, the more I learn of them, the more I am convinced this is the case. MARRIAGE: ADAM DONNAN, Sorbie, Wigtownshire, Scotland TO: Agnes Murray, Sorbie, Wigtownshire, Scotland There were nine children born to them: Christina S., Margaret Jane, Zopher Willard, Helen McGuffie, Murray Simpson, Duncan Grant, Murray Simpson, Douglas Hay and Wallace G. Adam, second child of Mr. and Mrs. Donnan, Sorbie, Scotland was born in 1823, educated in the schools of Scotland, another ambitious laddie who came to America in 1850 and settled near Churchville, Monroe County, NY. This made four distinct families of Donnans in this section of the State: my Uncle Andrew Donnan, near Piffard, Livingston County, John, Andrew and David, sons of Alexander Donnan, Galway, NY who settled in Livingston County; (their mother was a sister of my grandmother.) Then Samuel, James and William, sons of John Donnan, Ballynahinch,. Ireland, who came to America in 1858 and settled in the northwestern part of Genesee County, NY. Adam met and wooed Agnes Murray of Sorbie, Scotland, who was educated there; (a good Scotch name also). She too, was willing to come to America. They settled on a farm near Churchville, NY and remained in that community, interested in the PAGE 243 welfare of others, noble characters, were a power for good. Mr. Donnan died in 1900 and Mrs. Donnan in 1905, both havig lived longer than the allotted time of man. Interment was in the cemetery at Churchville, Monroe County. NY. Adam's older brother John left home in the 1840s and they always thought he came to America, but never heard from him. This is another link in the chain that is found wanting and may still be available. There were four sisters, Isabel and Margaret died in Scotland and were buried in the farmly plot. Catherine married Mr. Kretch of Scotland, and Jane married Mr. Anniger of Scotland and both couples came to America and settled in Potage, Columbia County, Wisconsin, a good farming section and a large railroad center. I have nothing on their vocation or children (if any) They are buried in the cemetery at Portage. If any of you go there, look up the family history and kindly report to me so I can add it to the facts already obtained. MARGARET JANE DONNAN, second child of Agnes, born at Churchville, NY. in 1852 was a bright girl and doing nicely in her school work, three of them going together, but in 1860 she was taken sick, and in spite of the best of care was called to her eternal home. ZOPHER WILLARD DONNAN, third child of Agnes, born July 29, 1854 was just starting school with the two older ones when he was taken sick and on November 11, 1860 he was called. HELEN MoGUFFIE DONNAN, fourth child of Agnes, born February 10, 1856, in his 5th year, ready for school, but alas, he too was taken sick and died October 29, 1860 MURRAY SIMPS0N DONNAN, fifth child of Agnes, born March 25, 1858 and died Oct. 27, 1860; buried in the family plot at Churchville and the other three who died in 1860 were all laid away In the same plot, a year filled with sorrow and only for faih in the promise that we will meet again could we stand such afflictions. MARRIAGE: CHRISTINA S. DONNAN, Churchville, Monroe Co., NY TO: William Shepard, Churchville, NY There were thirteen children born to them: Norman Kellogg, Edgar, Archie, Agnes, Orin, Bertha, Martha, Robert, Donald, Ruth, Nettie, William and Mattie Christina, first child of Agnes was born December 16, 1850, educated in the schools of Churchville as was William Shepard, who she fell in love with, married him and they settled in the same section of the country, a thrifty influential family and why not, the energy of fifteen people in one household. PAGE 244 At the time of Christina's death in 1910, there were ten living children to whom the life long influence of both parents had meant much, and it was with sorrow in their hearts that they laid their bodies away in the cemetery at Churchville, MARRIAGE: KELLOGG SHEPARD, Churchville, NY TO: Gertrude Hart, Le Roy, NY. They have one son: Wendell Norman the first child of Christina, was born January 1, 1876 at Churchville NY, strong and ready to smile soon entered the school there which constituted his education. he entered into the activities of that section and was well met by the young people, even went over to LeRoy and fell in love with and married Gertrude Hart, who was educated in the schools there. Norman took up his work, Railroad Conductor, there where they are now living at Shortsville, NY. Wendell, their son graduated from the sohools there and entered Hobart College at Geneva, NY, graduating with an AB degree and is now Principa1 of the Shortsville High School of western New York. MARRIAGE: EDGAR SHEPARD, Churchville, NY TO: Mary Stoker, Rochester, NY They have two children: Doris and Lois. Edgar, second child of Christina, was born in 1878, educated in the home school and took up railroading as his vocation. It is quite truthfully said that a railroad man scarcely ever changes. He became an engineer on the Lehigh Valley Railroad where he rendered a valuable service. He married Mary Stoker on January 25, 1911 and they went to keeping house at Shortsville, NY. With their two daugters the home was a happy one, always glad to see their dad come in from his run. Mrs. Shepard died and was buried in the family cemetery. ARCHIE SHEPARD, third child of Christina. was born in 1880 and educated in the home school. He took to farming and is now with John Keenan, Caledonia, NY. (1934). He is of a quiet disposition and has never married. MARRIAGE: DORIS SHEPARD, Shortsville, NY TO: ????? Doris, first child of Mary was born in Shortsville where she reoeived her education. I have just learned that she is married to someone there and living in Shortsville, just north of Canandaigua on the main road through a good farming section of the state. MARRIAGE: AGNES SHEPARD, Churchville, NY TO: Chester Lace, Rochester, NY They have two children: Kathryn and Ruth Agnes, fourth child of Christina, born in Churchville, NY where she received her education. Meeting Chester proved fatal and they were married Oct. 14, 1912 PAGE 245 and started a new home in Rochester, NY where his work was. KATHRYN LACE, born August 5, 1913, educated there in Grade and High School then graduated from Park Avenue Hospital, Rochester, NY. RUTH LACE, born May 22, 1917 took to school where she made many friends but as to her vocation cannot say. Their address is 213 East Avenue, Rochester, NY. MARRIAGE:ORIN SHEPARD, Churchville, NY TO: Florence Foster, Smyrna, NY There were eleven children: Reginald, Harold, Donnan, Marion, Francis, Clarence, Ralph, Norman, Carl, Gerald and Robert Orin, fifth child of Christina was born June 6, 1885 at Churchville, NY a healthy chap ready for school in short order, he was interested in farming and took it up when through school. He married Florence Foster of Smyrna, NY who was educated in the schools there and fond of home life. They now have a farm north of LeRoy and combine with it the wholesale handling of hay and straw. This is a very busy household with thirteen people to feed, educate and clothe. I am indebted to Mr. Shepard for much of the data on this particular tree. REGINALD SHEPARD, born February 15, 1914 was educated in schools where they lived. HAROLD SHEPARD, born February 28, 1915 soon went along with him to school DONNAN SHEPARD, born July 10, 1916 soon proved a good companion. MARION SHEPARD, born August l6, 1917 proved a good companion for her three older brothers and it was a happy day when she started to school. FRANCIS SHEPARD, born April 4, 1919 had the older sister to cling to, thus reliveing the mother somewhat. CLARENCE SHEPARD, born July 4, 1922 will never forget Independence Day and is always ready to stand by the flag. RALPH SHEPARD, born January 26, 1925 has a patriotic spirit equal to his brother, even if he wasn't born on July 4th. NORMAN SHEPARD, born January 11, 1927 a sturdy chap ready for his part in life. CARL SHEPARD, born August 25, 1929 brought new life to the family circle. GERALD SHEPARD, born Septernber 15, 1931, certainly had associates at home, a school by itself. ROBERT SHEPARD, born December 2, 1932 will soon be ready to join the others at school. LeRoy High School being nearer, the older children are taking advantage of it. MARRIAGE: BERTHA SHEPARD, Churchville, NY. TO: Arthur L. Verney, LeRoy, NY They have two children: Charle and Agnes. PAGE 246 Bertha, sixth child of Christina was born September 6, 1887, educated in the school at Churchville, as well as at home under the guidance of her mother. She met repeatedly a young man who had decided to take up farming in which she acquiessed; so June 20, 1919 Bertha Shepard and Arthur L. Verney were married and bought a farm on the Randell Road, LeRoy, NY where they now live. They have two children who are being educated in the home school and at LeRoy High School. CHARLES VERNEY, born August 8, 1918; AGNES VERNEY, born June 20, 1922 Their address is LeRoy, NY R.F.D. MARRIAGE: MARTHA SHEPARD, Churchville, NY TO: Arthur E. Shelden, LeRoy, NY They have five children: Mary, Gordon, Mildred, William and ????? Martha, seventh child of Christina, was born September 9, 1896 and attended the district school. There being six older in the home, she came in for good care and had all the rough corners knocked off so she was ready to go out into the whirl of life. In this whirl she met Arthur and they fell in love and were married June 20, 1913 and settled in LeRoy, NY. Arthur took up the machinist trade and is now employed by the General Crushed Stone Company, LeRoy, NY. They have been blessed with four children who are bemg educated in the good schools of Le Roy. MARY SHELDEN, born November 16, 1915, GORDON SHELDEN, born November 1, 1916, MILDRED SHELDON, born August 16, 1918, WILLIAM SHELDEN, born July 25, 1922 I am indebted to Mrs. Shelden for much recent data MARRIAGE: ROBERT SHEPARD, Churchville, NY TO: Birdie Yeates, London, Ontario, Canada They have one child: Yale Robert, eighth child of Christina, was born in 1891 and had the association of seven older children which made it interesting for them for he was able to make his wants known. Educated in district school, High School and Mechanics. I think he must have had a mechanical mind for we now find him living in Detroit, Mich., where he married August 20, 1924 and went to housekeeping at 68 Stemson Street. The one child was born to them on June 5, 1925 and is being educated in the Detroit Schools. MARRIAGE: DONALD SHEPARD, Churchville, NY TO: Blanche Preston, Caledonia, NY They have one daughter, Genevieve Donald, ninth child of Christina, was born in 1891, educated in the home school PAGE 247 and took to mechanical work so learned the machinist trade. He married Blanche Preston of Caledonia on January 20, 1920 and they went to keeping house in Niagara Falls, where he is employed by a manfacturing company. Their daughter GENEVIEVE is being educated there in Grade and High School. MARRIAGE: RUTH SHEPARD, Churchville, NY TO: Dayton Seeley, Bergen, NY They have one child: Janet Ruth, tenth child of Christina, was born January 6, 1897 educated in home school and enjoyed social affairs of the community. She also fitted herself for home duties, which is often forgotten and always regretted. In society she met a young man from Bergen, NY and they agreed to agree, when Ruth Shepard and Dayton Seeley were married March 25, 1922 and went to keeping house at Bergen, NY, where he is employed by the Curtis Canning Company. JANET SEELY, born February 17, 1931 is being educated in the school there. NETTlE SHEPARD, born in 1874 at Churchville, NY was being educated when her call came in early life. She was buried in the cemetery at Riga Center, NY. WILLIAM SHEPARD, born in 1872 at Churchville, NY was being educated at the district school, was taken sick end died young. MATTIE SHEPARD, the youngest child born in 1870 at Churchville, appeared to be healthy, but sickness comes to the strong ones as well as the weak and she was called to her future home and her body placed in the family plot young in life. MARRIAGE: DUNCAN GRANT DONNAN, Churchville, NY TO: Lucy Ashley, Livingston County, NY There were no children. Duncan, sixth child of Agnes Morrow Donnan, was born April 21, 1860 at Churchville, NY educated in the school there and when of age started out for himself and took as a partner Lucy Ashley, and started house keeping at Mt. Morris, NY. where he was employed by the Mt. Morris Canning Co. At the time of his death February 24, 1934 was a foreman there, more than 50 years with the company. They were members of the Presbyterian Church and active in the Sunday School, thrifty, industrious, frugal people and it was said at times had large bills with him. On Saturday night he went to the barber shop to get his hair cut and late that evening was seen on Main Street on his way home. This was the last seen of him alive; four days later they discovered his battered frozen body at the bottom of a steep bank near the Geneseo Mt. Morris road, hands folded across his chest and his coat pulled up over a bruise on the back of his head. Authorities feel that he was murdered although Mrs. Donnan said he had less than $1.00 with him that night; nothing has as yet been found in connection with the affair. In the later part of July, 1934, Mrs. Donnan was taken sick and died during that month, burial of both was in the cemetery at Churchville, Monroe county. NY. MARRIAGE: MURRAY SIMPS0N DONNAN, Churchville, NY. TO: Isabelle Murray, Churchville, NY There were two children, Margaret and Florence PAGE 248 Murray the second one of this name (due to the death of an older brother), was born September 10, 1862 at Churchville, NY and went to school there. He was a happy go lucky chap, hale fellow well met, and fell in love with Isabelle Murray and they were married August 16, 1896 and went to keeping house in that community. MAGARET DONNAN, first child of Isabelle was born April 11, 1900 and attended home school, just starting on life's program when she was called to her reward, August 5, 1902. Interment in the family plot. FLORENCE DONNAN, second child was born October 28, 1897 and attended the home school, pleasing in manner, became popular in the community. She too was taken sick and on October 25, 1918 was called and her body placed in the family plot at Churchville, NY. Isabelle Murray Donnan's address in 1934 was 259 Adams Street, Rochester, NY. MARRIAGE: DOUGLAS HAY DONNAN, Churchville, NY, TO: Ada W. Dowling, New Hampshire There were no children. Douglas, 8th child of Agnes was born in 1860, educated in home school, of a quiet disposition, took up the mi1ling trade at Churchville and continued there during his life. Ada was a New Englander by birth, but when she took Douglas to be her wedded husband was delighted to settle in Churchville, and affiliate herself with its activities. This had been the center of the family names for years, so Douglas was well known, honored and respected. Mrs. Donnan died in September, 1928 closing a useful life here and prepared for the life to come; interment was at Churchville Cemetery. Douglas died May 19, 1915 and burial was in the same plot; he too had done his part in making that part of our beautiful state brighter and better. MARRIAGE: WALLACE G. DONNAN, Churchville, NY, TO: Agnes Flemming, Dundee, Scotland They have four children: Ethel B., Margaret J., Ada W. and Douglas S. Wallace, the youngest child of Agnes was born July 16, 1868 and had all the older ones to help look after him; what a time they had. He was educated in school there to fit him for the work that was to follow, remaining home for some time. During this time there were two Scotch lassies who came from Dundee, Scotland to this section of the state and Mrs. Donnan needing some additional help asked one of them, Agnes G. Flemming to come and work for them, and she accepted, coming in March of that year. Whether it was due to her ability to prepare delicious meals, her musical talents, or that she set her cap for Wallace, I cannot say, but about the same time the next year they were married and lived home. Then they moved to Dundee, NY (I suppose memories of Dundee, Scotland lingered in her mind), then to Rochester, NY. We met Agnes at their home 221 Bronson Ave. in August 1934 and were delighted with the Scotch brogue, other members of the family were out. They have a pleasant home, educated their children well and they have musical talents; are Presbyterians, Republicans and I understand Wallace is a good Mason and is employed at Eastmans Kodak Co., plate glass development department. PAGE 249 MARRIAGE: ETHEL B. DONNAN, Churchville, NY TO: Joseph De Ross, Rochester, NY Ethel first child of Agnes, was born in July 1908 at Churchville, NY, educated in the schools where they lived, then took a commerical course at Rochester Business Institute and is now with a prominent lawyer in Rochester. She had met a young man at different times, and in spite of his being French, and she Scotch, decided that both countries had been friendly in the past, at least most of the time, so, why not them be friendly all the time. They were married October 6, 1926 and at present they are living at her home 221 Bronson Avenue. Joseph is in the garage business in the city having a mechanical turn of mind. MAGARET J. DONNAN, second child was born at Churchville, NY educated in the school there, then entered the Rochester Business Institute, taking the commercial course and is now with the Telephone Co. at Rochester. ADA W. DONNAN, third child was born in December 1914 at Dundee, NY educated in the school there and in Rochester, NY. She is musical - in fact they all are. DOUGLAS S. DONNAN, the youngest child was born in June 1918 in Rochester, NY, is being educated there. A pleasant home, filled with a pleasant family that we were glad to call upon. "Silver Locks"