St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-09-08
AN ESTiMABLE LADY.
The Death of Mrs. Hugh 8. Don.
aldson at Winnipeg.

Ahe Dedtn Oh MIS-. HuSn y. Done
aldson at Winnipeg.
Ali old settlers will remember Capt.
Donaldson, who figured extensively In
the early history of MinneSota's terri
torial affairs. The captain then lived
at Pembina, and was a contemporary of
Joe ROlette. He served in the Mime
sofa legislature, and was clerk of the
senate, or, as it was then called, the
council. The captain was great favor
lite with everybody in the era In which
he was MinnesOtan, and was ia
military known among his associates as
''Don.' He moved across the border
many years ago. and has since been a
citizen of Manitoba. The sympathies
of many an old comrade of tho dear old
disOrderly days OF the frontier will be
extended to him in his bereavement,
and none with more heartfelt sentiment
than the present director of the GLOBE.
We take the following announce
ment of the death of Mrs. Donaldson
from the Manitoba Morning Free Press
of Sept. 5:
An item in Monday mornings Free
Press announced the death Of Mrs. II.
5. Donaldson, which occurred yestcr-
day afternoon at her residence, KEN
nedy street. 1t had been known to her
relatives and friends for some time past,
that her days were numbered. All that
medical skill could accomplish had been
done and the dread verdict, mo hope"
delivered. 1t only remained to her de-
voted husband to smooth as much as
possible the rugged path whose end she
was so painfully approaching and his
tender, unremltting care enabled her to
bear patiently and bravery the crneI
agony with which deaths agent afflicted
her. Her peaceful passing away was a
merciful release from the dreary hours
of pain which had been so lOug her Dor
ton.
The deceased was born in British CO.
lumbia i'll 1928. Her father, John e.
HarIiott, chief factor in the Hudson
Bay company's service, was a promi-
nent figure in the early history of the
cOmpany'S transactions in the North
west. A pioneer in the further west
and north. he established many lmpOr-
tant trading posts, and opened up to
profitable business operations vast
tract of unknown and uueXpIored cOun-
try. Her mother, a daughter of Chief
Factor PruGen, was lost to her under
most tragic circumstances when she
was yet babe i'll arms. The family
were crossing the Rocky mountains, en-
route from British Columbia to Fort
Pitt by way of YelIoWhead pass. One
morning Mrs. Pruden arose early, and,
attracted by the mountain scenery,
wandered away FROM the camp. From
that moment no trace of her was ever
found. Diligent search failed 10 dis.
cover her fate, one Of the many dread
mysteries which the Western plains
and mountains hold locked in their
mighty bosomS. Chief Factor Harriott
was for many years in charge of the
Saskatchewan district, with headquar-
tiers at Fort Pitt. where the deceased
passed her girlhOOd. At an early age
she married Chief Trader John Rowand,
who came to Red river settlement from
the West i'll 1858 and built Silver
Heights, where they resided till 1865,
when MIR. Rowand die0, leaving five
children, john, Margaret, afterwards
Mrs. John MacTavish; Adelaide, Mrs.
John Baisillie; Louisa, Mrs. James
Bannatyne. and E. K. L. Rowand, who
is the sole survivor. In 1871 the de-
ceased lady married Capt. Hugh $.
Donaldson. In the years which pre-.
coded the Riel rebellion 1850, before
the Red river settlement was invaded
by immigration and its social fabric
changed by Eastern ideas and manners
the deceased was IL leader in the hospi-
table, unconventional little circle OF
society which had been formed in tbs
UtOpian community scattered along the
banks Of the Red River of the North
Those of the newcomers" who had the
privilege OF being welcomed into tha
delightful social group will remember
with mingled pleasure and regret tha
pleasant sight presented by Mrs. Don
aldson, Mrs. MacTavioh and Mrs. Bal
sIllie when, more like three sisters than
mother and daughters, they appeared
at some entertainment or party-nOne
was complete without them-theiI
charming personality ana grace of man
ner were delight to all who met them.