The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-04-14
PATRIOTIC FAMILY.
The DOumaItis Their Noble Record
and their Faithful Service 10 Inc
Country.

Country.
Abbeville County can justly lay claim tt
MANY scores of patriotic sOnS-many whose
allegiance and loyalty TO their country's cause
has been sealed with their LIES olood.
In this respect she stands second to no Other
county in the state.
Well might the noble mothers OF thls grant
old county look with pride upon their oraS'
and chiyaIrous sons, and eXclalm 10 the ian
guage Of the Spartan mothers: Ihese al'
our Jewels"
ing that not only are their persons, ,neil
honor and regulations zealously guarded ano
protected: but as we'll the honor and glory o
their country's flag by such true ana ioya
sons, and these can never with lmpunltS os
assailed while a true son of Aboeville remain
to defend the cause. ,or,or,
Let any laudable enterprise or moveinen
be set on foot looking 10 the advancement "
the material Interest OF the STATE or PIUiiJi PHI
tion Of her honor or renown, anu Son ~ rron,
ways find sons OF Aooe'iie !"
ranks. .,o,,,a, inrists
soldiers and patriots OF when SCUM SaioIiimne
aay GoSntT Voc occupy m most conspicuous places:
Rnt while We bow with due and un1elgneo
respect to the many worthy anu ga!iauI sons
of this-our dear old county-at tLe sai,e ~,
lime with no desire or intention to make IN
vidious or discriminating distlnctlonS, We
are prompted TO make mention OF one iamlly
in narticlilar whose members nave contriout
ed no little 10 the good name ehey1Ie and PcoantV
This we are inclined to do because OF the faet
that by long and intimate acquaintance WIN
many OF those connected thereWtn we kno"
whereof we speak, and feel that what we
shall have TO say is nothing more than thai
To which they are justly due.
n is of the Donnald family OF Whlcn we
propose to speak-a family 10 Wnlch nign'
be aptly applied the distinguishing appelia
tion ~ Patriotic Family.
When the annals OF Abbeville County are
written, let it go down In history that MAJOR
John Donnald, who came 10 thls county
from, the north of Island about the beginning
nf the present century, and settled In the VI
cinity OF Donnaldsville, in this county, from
whom the town Of Donnalds takes It's name
contributed his full quote OF enc S' an5 M
more Than double that number OF hls grand
sons went promptly TO the front either as Sol.
dIers in the Mexican War or In the late War
In Is4s when the United States became in.
volyed in wsr with Mexico, two OF MS sons
Robert and David Lewis Donnald. ana tne
only grandson which he had at that ume OF
Sufficient age, John Donnald Hill, son OF the
late William Hill, and brother OF our present
honored Judge Of Probate, were among the
first to respond TO the call for volunteers 10
defend their country's nag.
THE three went out as privates In captain
Marshall's company from this county, young
buoyant and full Of bright prospects, pul
alast one of their number was destined never
more to set foot upon his native SOIL. John
Donnad Hill, being but mere stIlpiihg' ing ,he ,he
hardships and privationS OF camp lie, the
long and tedious marches, together wath the
debilitating effects Of tropical climate prov
ed too much for his tender years and the splr
1t OF this gallant youth passea EuE oi eW;ne NJ
ON the day OF 1S4T, where lie was buried In Q
soldiers grave by comrades In arms. and
his dust now minges with that OF foreign
Robert and David Lewis Donnald both sur
viyed the war, and after the close OF hostilitles
returned to their fathers home In this county
David Lewis, while In service, was promot
ed from the ranK 70 apd ane %ss aWapded gold
medal by the State of South Carolina FOL
meritorious conduct.
Roberts health was So wrecked oy hard'
ships and exposure during that campaign
that he lived only few years after MS re-
turn home. SO much then for the part taken
by members of the Donnald family In the
The next call to duty in defense OF their
countrys rights was that necessitated oy the
late Civil war. .,, ).
their country in that m memorable struggle was
this same David Lewis Donnald, who had by
this time reached the age Of about forty
wears, and was in the enjoyment or a pleasant
home surrounded by q devoted ana loving
wife. and a number OF interesting chiidren; .,
He went out as first lieutenant OF Co. b, I'd
s. c. Rifles. In short time he was promoted
To captaincy of his company, aud from that
to Lieutenant Colonel OF regiment, which po.
sltion he held at the time OF the surrender,
although for q great deal OF the time he was
in command Of the regiment. He was three
times severely wounded-once in the battle
around Richmond, again at the Wilderness
and also at Deep Bottom below Richmona.
From these wounds he never fully recovered,
but suffered more or less during the balance
of his life, which terminated suddenly In 1871
10 the town OF Williamson, Anderson Coun-
ty. South Carolina.
served in the late war-William and John
Donnald, Jr.,-the latter died in Virginia
from the effect OF wound received IN
battle.
swered to the call OF duty in their country 6
peril, we would mention Judge r. Z. Hill, j.
l.. Hill, Hon. William +. Barmore, George
Hugh and James Brownlee (the last three sac
rifcing tn cir lives upon their country's altar.
John Lewis Donnald, noble and gallan,
youth, the idol of his fathers heart, a genera
favoriIe also with his relatives and acquaint-
ances.w was cruelty and wantonly slain 10 camE
near Richmond by the hands of an unknown
murderer, in a moment when he least ex
pected that harm was intended 10 him.
John Rosar Donnald the oldest son OF Johr
Donnald, Jr., who died from the effect OF
wound received in battle was also in ser
vice in the civil war. There may have beer
others whose names we can't now recall.
a more generous hearted, hospitable apc
and one whose upright, pure and honorable
character left more lasting influence on the
community in which he lived would be hare
to find.
but an exemplary Christian, whose luminous
light radiated his walk In all his transaction
with his fellow-man. The writer OF TINS re
calls with pleasure the many happy hours
spent beneath his hospitabe roof at socia
and 'estal gatherings in the good old day
of the past.
In conclusion, a llow me to say that no mar
has given to this country more e,Td worthy ne de
while his offsprings in the way OF children
grand and great grand children-at this time
number perhaps hundreds, we have yet tt
hear Of one OF them bringing re2roaSch, Sa,oa9 n29or
BY THE EDITOR.
The Press and Banner publishes the above
article with pleasure. We hope TO have othe
articles on this and other families in the coun
ty. In order that any friend may supply TIT
omissions in the above sketch. we will hole
the above In type for reasonable time, 81
that all additions may be made, and wher
the record Is more complete we may repro
duce the whole in one issue.
For instance: This story notes chiefly tht
military record OF the Donnald family, which
while being all that could be desired in tina
line, falls to mention the important par
which this family has acted In the less excit
ing but none the less trying scenes Of daily
life.
John Donnald, the head Of the Donnalc
family came from Ireland without money
but by industry, frugality and excellent iudg
ment, he accumulated large fortune. HI
was good citizen in every way, and lent hi
influence for the moral and spiritual welfare
OF his neighbors.
IA Lady Friend" makes no mention o
Samuel Donnald, who was a son OF Maj
John Donnald. Samuel Donnald was TO
many years merchant at the cross roads
he owned the land upon which the town o
ran through his land, and the town wa
named nv the railroad in honor of Samue