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Isaac Markley Donaldson was born at Lancaster, Pennsylvania, January 16, 1854, and died at the home of his daughter near Orienta, Oklahoma, July 29, 1943, at the age of 89 years, 7 months, and 13 days.
He was the youngest of eleven children. During the early part of his life the family continued to live in Pennsylvania where he grew up and attended such schools as were available, much the same as other children of the neighborhood.
When about eighteen years of age he moved with his parents to Logansport, Indiana. He was a steady industrious individual and rapidly took on the activities and responsibilities that came so naturally to the men who were building up that new coutry seventy years ago. Four years later, in 1876, still at Logansport, he was married to Marietta Josephine Tomer. To this union ten children were born, six boys and four girls. Three boys and two girls have preceded him in death.
He was thirty-five years old when he and his family came from Longansport to Topeka, Kansas, in 1889. The Santa Fe Railway, with Topeka as its headquarters, was rapidly extending the lines into the Southwest and soon Mr. Donaldson was transferred to Wellington, Kansas. He was employed in the railroad shops, and continued in his work for the Santa Fe for seventeen years.
At the opening of the Cherokee Strip in 1893 he made the run into northern Oklahoma, locating at Manchester. From there the family moved to Aline, Oklahoma. All this time he was engaged in his trade of blacksmithing which he had acquired during his work in the Santa Fe shops. In 1908 he moved his shop to Orienta, Oklahoma, and brought his family here to make their home. They lived in Orienta ten years before moving to Cleo Springs. Mr. Donaldson's health had now begun to fail and he could no longer keep up the active work in which he had been engaged for so many years. And Mrs. Donaldson's health was failing more rapidly than his.
After three years in Cleo Springs they both returned to Aline to the home of their daughter, Mrs. Gertrude Hall. There on December 6th, 1923, Mrs. Donaldson died. His five living children all had established homes of their own, so Mr. Donaldson was the only one left. From that time on his home has been with his two daughters, Mrs. Phoebe Baker and Mrs. Hazel David, living first with one and then with the other. But since the death of his daughter Phoebe two years ago he has been constantly wih his daughter, Mrs. Hazel David near Orienta, and it was here that he eventually passed away. Mr. Donaldson was a man well known for his kindness and his readiness to be helpful to those around him. During the past several years he has been quite feeble in a physical way, but has always retained his cheerful patient disposition. He had been a member of the Methodist Church since he was fourteen years old.
He had the privilege of living longer than most men do, and the satisfaction of being ready to go when he was called.
He is survived by three sons and two daughters: Harry Donaldson, Hollister, Missouri; Dawson Donaldson, Maple City, Kansas; Mrs. Gertrude Hall, Manteca, California; Mrs. Hazel David, Orienta, Oklahoma; and Ray Donaldson, whose address is unknown. It is entirely possible that Ray is no longer living. Also there are sixteen grandchildren, and thirteen great-grandcildren, besides many friends who will truly miss him.
Fairview Republican, Aug. 5, 1943
Submitted by: Pat Weaver Major Co. Genealogical Society