John Donaldson.
(Originally Spelled Danneldson.)
John Donaldson was born in Berkeley County, Virginia, in 1769. His father moved to Kentucky and settled in Clark County, near Strode's Station. The fort being besieged by the Indians, Colonel Donaldson's father, in passing by a port-hole while inside of the fort, was killed by a shot fired by an Indian through the hole.
His mother subsequently married Colonel John Fleming, for whom Fleming County and Flemingsburg, its county seat, were named, and who in 1790 established Fleming's Station.
Colonel Fleming engaged in the pursuit of the Indians who had attacked Strode's Station, and at Battle Run, near the Upper Blue Licks, in Fleming County, in an engagement with the Indians was badly wounded, but escaped almost miraculously. An Indian approached Colonel Fleming, supposing him to be badly wounded, and fired, but when he had reached a distance of some six or eight feet from him, Colonel Fleming shot him dead and the Indian lay on the opposite side of the log from which Colonel Fleming was lying. His mare, which was a favorite, came running up, and in response to her nfaster's whistle she came to his side. Colonel Fleming was barely able to throw himself over her back like a bag, and was carried by the faithful animal out of the fight. Colonel Fleming died in 1794.
Colonel Donaldson represented Clark County in the legislature in 1803 and 1817.
He lived on the road between Paris and Winchester, about six miles from Winchester, owned a large farm there, and died in 1829. He was a general in the Kentucky militia.
Some fifteen years since his remains were removed to Flemingsburg and buried in the cemetery there. A headstone has been erected, on which is the following inscription:
Sacred to the memory of General John Donaldson, who was bom in Berkley, Virginia, January 9th, A. D., 1769, and departed this life August 24th, A. D., 1829, aged sixty years, seven months and fifteen days. He was loved and respected, and died lamented.
Clark County, where he was residing during the War of 1812, made a most magnificent record. The county sent twelve companies into that war. More than nine hundred men, at various times, volunteered from the county for service in that conflict.
Colonel Donaldson was a man of fine presence, great intelligence, and always exhibited the very highest patriotism.
