BIO: William M. DONALDSON, Beaver County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Judy Banja & Joe Patterson Copyright 2005. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/beaver.html http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/beaver/bios/bbios.htm Index for this bio book. _________________________________________________________________ BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES. This Volume Contains Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens of Beaver County, Pennsylvania. Buffalo, N.Y., Chicago, Ill.: Biographical Publishing Company, 1899, pp. 207-211. _________________________________________________________________ WILLIAM M. DONALDSON, one of the foremost business men of Big Beaver township, Beaver county, Pa., has for some years discharged the multitudinous duties of general manager of the firm of H. Donaldson's Sons, manufacturers of white lead kegs, and general coopers, and in this capacity he has displayed unusual ability. He is also a member of the firm and the plant under his control is quite an extensive one, the daily output numbering 700 kegs of various sizes. He is a son of Henry and Ann (Proctor) Donaldson, and was born in Brooklyn, N. Y., January 25, 1849. His grandfather was Arthur Donaldson, who was of Scotch parentage. He was a cooper by trade and made that his life work. He died at an early age of cholera, when that dread disease was epidemic. He reared four sons: Joseph, a cooper by trade, who was a tank builder for war vessels during the war, but spent his last days in Connecticut in agricultural pursuits, dying in 1890; Henry, who was the father of William M.; George, who was engaged in coopering; and Elisha, also a cooper, in the employ of the Atlantic White Lead Company. Henry Donaldson was born in New York in 1816, and was educated in the public schools, receiving a good mental training despite the fact that his opportunities were very limited. Like his father and brothers, he undertook coopering and entered the employ of Christopher Tyler, a New York refiner, who established a refinery in Beaver county, having been given entire charge of the cooper 208 BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES plant. He held this position until the company was absorbed by the Standard Oil Company, and in 1878 he started in business for himself as a manufacturer of white lead kegs, which were then made entirely by hand. He was a very progressive man, and as new improvements appeared, he was among the first to adopt them and test their merit. He started a steam plant in 1879, and as his sons grew up they were instructed in the art of his trade, becoming as thorough workmen as himself. He died in 1890, after a long and prosperous life. His wife was Ann Proctor, who was born in England, and accompanied her parents to this country when she was yet a young girl. This union resulted in the following offspring: Henry M.; Edwin Miller; Jane A.; William M., the;subject hereof; Emma F. (Piper); Theresa E.; Marcus W.; and Edgar; the three last named are deceased. Henry M., who is a member of H. Donaldson's Sons, was born in Brooklyn, in 1845, and has always been engaged at his present occupation. He is a Prohibitionist, but was formerly a supporter of the Republican party. He is a school director and a member of the borough council. Fraternally, he is a member of the Masonic and Odd Fellows orders, and also of the Knights of Pythias. He married Ella McCowin, a daughter of Thompson McCowin, of Enon Valley, and they have four children: Harry, aged twenty years, who works in the shops; Maud, Ethel, and Hazel. Edwin Miller, another member of the firm of H. Donaldson's Sons, was born in Brooklyn, N. Y., in 1847, and was instructed in the public schools. He married Mary Davis, and they have three children: Gertrude, Charles, and Byron. Religiously, he is a member of the M. E. church. He is a Republican in politics, and is a member of the Odd Fellows order, and of the Knights of Pythias. Henry Donaldson was a very devout Christian and was connected with the Congregational church until 1873, when he became a member of the Darlington Presbyterian church and so continued until his death. He was an Abolitionist and a Republican, serving as burgess two terms, as school director, and as a member of the borough council. He was a member of the Odd Fellows order. William M. Donaldson removed to New Galilee in 1861, with his parents, and attended the public schools of New Castle, after which he entered the cooper shops of his father, with whom he was associated until the death of the latter. The works were left to the children, the three sons purchased the interests of their sisters, and the name was changed to H. Donaldson's Sons. William M. attends to the financial affairs of the firm, does the buying and selling, and has entire charge of the affairs of the plant. A great deal of responsibility attaches to the position, but he has been equal to its requirements as the prosperous condition of the establishment indicates. The business was first carried on in a little shop across the street from where the main building is now located, and the work was all done by hand. What a wonderful change has been wrought! The main building is a two-story BEAVER COUNTY 211 affair, and is so equipped with machinery that it is a difficult matter to pass through it. Its dimensions are 40x25 feet. On the second floor is the machinery for cutting, planing and manufacturing heads. The kegs for white lead are made of white oak and mostly contain 25 and 100 pounds; the firm also make kegs for cider, pickles and vinegar. The boiler room is an annex to the main building, and contains a 25-horse power boiler; on the first floor are machines for sawing to length, ripping to width, planing and jointing. The kegs are set up by hand and after the hoops are put on, they are taken to the pressing machine for drawing together. They are then put in lathes to be turned smooth, and are headed up and finished. The 100-pound kegs are made in the building across the road, whose dimensions are 26x 16 feet. A portion of this building is used as a store house. The firm employs a force of twenty men and turn out 700 kegs per day, shipping mostly to the Sterling White Lead Company, of New Kensington, Pa., and the W. W. Lawrence Paint and Enamel Company, of Pittsburg. Mr. Donaldson was united in marriage with Jemima Piper, a daughter of Edward and Emma (Proctor) Piper, both of whom were natives of England. Jemima was born in Brooklyn, N., Y., and her union with our subject resulted in the birth of the following children: William H.; Lillie M.; Elsie P.; Nellie P.; and Gladys M. William H. is an accomplished musician, and a graduate of Dana Musical Institute, of Warren, Ohio. He has superior talent in that line, and expects to make music his profession, a field in which he gives promise of attaining prominence as a director and composer. Lillie M. is a student of Darlington Academy, and Gladys M. was born in 1897. Religiously, Mr. Donaldson is a member of Darlington Presbyterian church, of which he was a trustee for six years. He is an independent Republican, and is auditor and also a member of the council and of the school board.