Untitled Document

JOSIAH E. DONAHOO

The occupation of stock breeding is a profitable one if carried on in a scientific manner, and as it is so closely allied with the business of farming, the two are con ducted together by many of the leading agriculturists of Rock Island county. Josiah E. Douahoo, one of the successful stockmen of Zuma township, was born July 3, 1802, in Zuma township, a son of John and Elizabeth E. (Sheppard) Donahoo, natives of Belinont county, Ohio, where the former was born May 3, 1823, and the latter September 29, 1827. Mr. Donahoo's grandparents were Justus Donahoo, who married a Miss McFadden of the same state, and Nathan and Eliza (Clark) Sheppard, also of Ohio. Mr. Sheppard brought his family to Coe township in 1852, securing a section of unimproved land, on which he died a few years later, while Ms widow survived him until March, 1894, and passed away in Canoe Creek township.

The parents of Mr. Donahoo were married in Belmont County, Ohio, May 18, 1844, and there John Donahoo was the proprietor of a wagon-making establishment and also assisted his father-in-law to operate a sawmill. In 1850 the family came to Illinois and secured 100 acres of timber and prairie land in Zuma township, and kept adding to it from time to time until there were 240 acres in the home farm, seventy-five acres in Zurna township and the balance in Coe township. In 1888 the parents retired from farm activities and went to Moline, where Mrs. Donahoo died March 4, 1905, after which Mr. Donahoo went to live with his son Josiah E., at whose home he died June 4, 1906. The children born to these worthy people were: William J., of California; Edward C., of Coe township; Amos W., of Moline. Ill.; Josiah E.; James A., of Moline; Mary L., Mrs. W. C. Loptien, of Moline; Amos W., of Moline, Ill.; Louella, Mrs. Charles Wake, of Moline; Josiah E.; Elma J., Mrs. Milton Coder, of Hampton: and Frances C. and Eliza J.; the last two died in infancy.

Josiah E. Donnhoo received his education in the district schools of Zuma township and the public and high schools of Sterling, Ill. He has always resided on the home farm, and as a young man he rented the 240-acre tract from his father, and after the parents' death he and his brother, Amos W., purchased the property from the heirs of the estate. Mr. Donahoo is now sole owner of the land and handles two carloads of stock annually, also doing general fanning to some extent in the line of raising hay and grain.

On December 28, 1887, Mr. Donahoo was married to Miss Minnie M. Reynolds, who was born in Coe township, a daughter of Joseph M. and Sarah A. (.Simpson) Reynolds, the former born October 15, 1824, at West Newton, Ia., and the latter November 15, 1836, near Mount Pleasant, Westmoreland county, Pa. They were married April 5. 1800. in Pennsylvania, and soon thereafter came to Coe township, Rock Island county, Ill., where they spent the remainder of their lives, Mrs. Reynolds passing away December 23. 1894, and her husband April 11, 1896. Mr. and Mrs. Reynolds had these children: a son who died in infancy; Eliza J., who married A. W. Donahoo; and Minnie M., who is the wife of Josiah E. Donahoo. Mr. and Mrs. Donahoo are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he has been a trustee since 1888 and steward since 1909. Since 1904 he has served as a school director and as trustee of the Port Byron academy. In his political views he is a republican.

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