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Below is a family biography included in The History of Phelps County, Missouri published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1889.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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Daniel Donahoe, dealer in general merchandise at Rolla, was born in Queens County, Ireland, on the 1st day of November, 1842. He immigrated to the United States with his parents in 1853, and located in Franklin County, Mo. His father, William Donahoe, was a contractor on the Missouri Pacific Railroad at the time that road was under construction between St. Louis and Kirkwood. He afterward followed agricultural pursuits in Franklin County, where he died on the 18th of January, 1878, at the age of sixty-five years. His mother, Sarah (Walsh) Donahoe, was also a native of Queens County, Ireland. She died at her home in Franklin County on the 9th of December, 1885, at the age of seventy-two years. Daniel Donahoe was the eldest of six children, four of whom are dead, and the other, William, is now an engineer on the St. Louis & San Francisco Railroad. Judge Donahoe, as he is now popularly known, commenced railroading on the Missouri Pacific Railroad at the breaking out of the war, in 1861. He continued on this road only one year, when he was transferred to what was then known as the Southwest Branch of the Missouri Pacific Railroad, but is now known as the St. Louis & San Francisco Railroad. He continued to run on this road for eight years, and was conductor on the first time table freight train that was run over the road. In 1869 Mr. Donahoe gave up railroading and located in Lebanon, Mo., where he engaged in merchandising. On the 5th of July, 1870, he married Miss Mary Ann Murray, daughter of Patrick and Mary Murray. This lady was born in St. Louis on the 11th of November, 1851, and was nineteen years of age at the time of her marriage. She is agreeable and courteous in personal character and conversation, generous and frank in disposition, and in fine has always been a blessing and a comfort to her husband, her children, and all around her. Six children were the result of this union: Katie Marie, Mary Anna, William Patrick, Daniel Francis, Sarah Blanche and Cornelius Murray. The same year of his marriage Mr. Donahoe became a resident of Rolla, where the following year he resumed merchandising, at which business he has since continued. In politics he is a Democrat; was a member of the city council of Rolla for six years, having been elected to this position three times in succession. In December, 1882, he was appointed by Gov. Crittenden judge of the county court, to fill a vacancy caused by the death of R. H. Flannigan. He performed his duty so well that in 1884 he was elected by a rousing majority, and in 1886 was re-elected to the same position. It is conceded by all that Judge Donahoe is a skillful financier and a strictly honest man. It was during his term of office that the $25,000 debt of Phelps County was liquidated without increasing the rate of taxation, a result that could only be accomplished by economy and good management in the members of the court. As a public servant Judge Donahoe justly deserves the confidence which has been placed in him by the people of Phelps County. Himself and family are members of the Catholic Church.

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This family biography is one of 71 biographies included in The History of Phelps County, Missouri published in 1889.  For the complete description, click here: Phelps County, Missouri History, Genealogy, and Maps

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To view a map of Phelps County, Missouri: Phelps County, Missouri Map

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