LUTHER A. DONNELL, Deceased.
The yeomanry of Decatur County have furnished few names that will be longer remembered than that of Luthur A. Donnell. He was born in Kentucky in the year 1809, and came with his father, Thomas Donnell, Sr., to this county in 1823. His wife was Jane R. Braden, daughter of William and Ufama Braden, who settled in Fugit Township in 1822.* [*The Braden family is one of the most prominent of the early settlers in Decatur County. The present generation is quite numerous, with an extensive connection, by inter-marriage, with other families. All of these people are among the most worthy citizens of to-day.]
Mr. Donnell's marriage with this lady took place on the Christmas of 1828. They were the parents of three children: - Euphemia, now Mrs, William M. Hamilton, of Clarksburg.
- Robert, died in infancy.
- W. A., editor and proprietor of the Decatur News. See special biography.
Luthur A. Donnell was educated in the free faith of his fathers, whose creed included as liberal an acquirement of lore as a given situation would admit of. In his particular case, the situation was limited indeed. At the age of fourteen years, he found himself confronted by all the obstacles, both material and social, which an unbroken forest could present. Yet, through the instrumentality of the church and secular schools of the day, he managed to gain sufficient knowledge of books and men to become a successful business man, and one of the clearest thinkers of the circle which surrounded him. That he was in advance of the times in which the active period of his life was passed has been abundantly proven by the events which have transpired since April, 1861. He was a farmer and stock-raiser. As such, his operations were widely extended and successfully conducted. This made it necessary to employ a force of laborers quite unusual in those days. He often labored in the field with his men, and his pleasant manner of managing them, together with the interest manifested in their welfare, made him popular with those who knew him as an employer. He was, like his kindred before him, a firm supporter of all that tended to make men better. In the organization and maintenance of the Presbyterian Church at Clarksburg, he was the leading spirit for many years. He was an Elder in that society from the time of its organization until his death. As an advisor, he was moderate, but firm, with no tendency toward "stern judgment." Whatever he engaged in was sure to receive his whole attention. He had little sympathy for any one who was too much bound up in the consideration of "policy" to express an honest opinion. The temperance cause received his hearty support, but the anti-slavery movement aroused the entire energies of his nature, and ultimately called upon him to make great sacrifices of time, money, and even social position, to demonstrate to the world that he was true in practice to the principles he proclaimed.
In November, 1848, he was arrested, tried and convicted for the violation of the laws of Indiana, for the protection of slave property. This was a test case, and resulted in the entire over¬turning of the act, as being unconstitutional and void. Another suit, was brought by the owner of the slave property to recover the value of his slaves.. This was tried in the United States District Court at Indianapolis, and terminated in a judgment against Mr. Donnell, which, with costs, amounted to about $3,000. For details of this case, see title, "A Fugitive Slave Case," in another deipartment of this work. He was a compeer of such men as Levi Coffin, Daniel Worth, William Beard, and other well-known anti-slavery men of his time. The reader of to-day must understand that to be an Abolitionist in those days, was to call forth the most profound contempt from all classes who were opposed to the movement. In many places, it was as much as one's life was worth to be known as such.
When the law creating one Trustee to each township was enacted, Mr. Donnell was chosen to that office for Fugit, and, under his direction, the schools and other public business of the township assumed a vigorous growth. He continued to fill that office until he removed from the township. In politics, he was, as may be inferred, originally a Whig, but voted for James G. Burney in 1840, as the candidate of the Liberty party. He steadfastly adhered to the principles of that party until it was merged with the Free-Soil party in 1854 to 1856. When the Republican party was formed, h© became a firm supporter of its doctrines, embracing, as they did, all that he had contended for in the past. He contributed more, perhaps, by his influence and exertion, than any other man in Fugit Township, toward the building-up of that party here. During the late civil war, he contributed largely of his time and money to the support of the Government, by encouraging enlistments, caring for soldiers' families, and in raising and paying bounties to those who remained in the field. It has been remarked that he was a rigid temperance man. With him, this was something more than precept. No tippling shop ever attempted to open its doors in Clarksburg that did not find Mr. Donnell's voice and influence raised against it, and effectually, too. To this day, it is claimed that this firm stand taken by him has largely produced the happy freedom from such dens which characterize that village at present.
Being an energetic business man, he accumulated quite an amount of property. In the latter years of his life, he was forced to abandon active business pursuits on account of failing health. He removed to Greensburg and resided there a few years previous to his death, which occurred January 16, 1868. He left one son, W, A. Donnell, and one daughter, besides his beloved wife, to mourn their loss.
Mrs. Donnell now resides with her daughter, Mrs. William M. Hamilton, of Clarksburg. Mrs. Donnell remarked, after her husband's death, that, "In all our journey through life together, he never gave me one cross or unkind word." She was a woman who sympathized with her husband in all the affairs of his life, and encouraged and comforted him in the various trials and anxieties through which he was called upon to pass. Her household was a model of frugality, wrought out by her own industry and economy, and no needy person was ever turned from her doors empty-handed if she could contribute to their wants. She is greatly esteemed by a galaxy of friends and acquaintances, who appreciate her worth. In the providence of Him who orders all things, it fell to their lot to have the care and guardianship of orphan children at different times. To say that these children were kindly and affectionately cared for by Mr. and Mrs. Donnell but faintly expresses the truth of the matter. She is now (1882) seventy-two years of age, and the habits of her prime are as conspicuous in her character as they were a quarter of a century ago, when she, with her philanthropic husband, labored for the Christian enlightenment and happiness of both bond and free.
