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HON. JAMES G.
DONNELL
Hon.
James G. Donnell, ex-county judge and grocer of Fredericktown, is a
native of Paducah, McCracken Co., Ky., born in 1839, and is the son of
Dr. Leander N. and Rebecca (Ewing) Donnell.
The father was born in Wilson County, Tenn., in 1814 and was of
Scotch descent.
He received his medical education at Louisville, Ky., and
afterward commenced practicing at Aberdeen, Miss., but soon removed to
Paducah, Ky.
In 1855 he removed to St. Louis, Mo., and in 1857 to Hickory Co.,
Mo., where he was residing at the beginning of the war.
Being a sympathizer of the Southern cause he entered the
Confederate Army as a surgeon and devoted his services to the cause for
four years.
After cessation of hostilities he settled at Fredericktown, Mo.,
and continued his practice until his death, which occurred in June 1880.
Dr. Donnell was a skillful physician and surgeon, and when he
died the county lost a good citizen and one of its best physicians. His
wife was a native of Logan County, Ky., born in 1813 and died in 1887.
She was the mother of five children: Adelia (widow of Noah
Williams), Mary L., Georgia A., Hattie B. (teacher by profession) and
James G.
The latter is the eldest child and was educated in Paducah, Ky.
In 1855 he came to Missouri and located at St. Louis, where he
entered a real estate office, but failing health caused him to leave the
city.
He went to Southwest Missouri and was there at the breaking out
of the war.
In 1861 he enlisted in the Confederate Army and fought at
Lexington, Wilson’s Creek, Carthage, Pea Ridge and Cold Camp.
In 1863 he was captured, was taken to Syracuse and at the end of
twenty-five days was paroled.
He then engaged in teaching and followed this profession two
years in Jefferson County, Mo.
In 1864 he married Miss Mary E. Cole, a native of Jefferson
County, Mo., and the daughter of A. H. Cole.
Mr. Donnell resided in Jefferson County until 1868 when he sold
out and moved to Fredericktown.
He here bought and sold stock for nine years, doing a large and
extensive business.
He is a shrew business man and has met with excellent success.
Mrs. Donnell died in 1868 and in 1872 he married Miss Nannie
Hill, who was a native of St. Francois County, Mo.
To this marriage was born one child:
Charles.
Mr. Donnell lost his second wife in 1874 and in 1877 he married
Mrs. Kittie J. Roberts, a cousin of the first wife and daughter of W. L.
Lemaster.
In politics Mr. Donnell is a Democrat, and in 1882 he was elected
county judge of the first District of Madison County.
In 1884 he was elected to the Thirty-third General Assembly of
the State of Missouri, was chairman of the committee on roads and
highways, and served his constituents faithfully and well. He has always
taken and active part in County, State and National affairs. In 1878 he
commenced merchandising in Fredericktown and has since been engaged in
the business.
He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, also of the A. O. U.
W., and his wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South.
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