Samuel Donaldson, the pioneer settler in the United States, was born in Scotland, April 16, 1814, died April 22, 1891. He settled in Washington county, New York, near Argyle, where he continued to live until after his marriage and the birth of his two sons. He was a contractor and carried on that business in Argyle until his removal to Little Falls and later to Fultonville in 1859. Here he had a wider range for his activity, and soon became deeply engaged in canal, bridge and railroad construction. He was reliable and thoroughly competent to push to completion the largest of contracts, and made for himself an honorable name among the corporations and municipalities with construction contracts to bestow. His was a strong character and commanded respect. A block of buildings in Fultonville that he erected still bears the name Donaldson Block. He married in Argyle, Washington county, New York, Jane Barkley, born in Argyle, March 27, 1814, died February 24, 1894, daughter of James and Margaret (McDougall) Barkley, and granddaughter of Samuel Barkley, born in Ireland, July 5, 1757, died in New York state, February 17, 1831. He married Agnes Kerr and had sons William, see forward; James, Samuel and Henry Barkley. William, son of Samuel and Agnes (Kerr) Barkley, was born in Argyle, New York, where Samuel and family settled after their emigration to the United States. William Barkley married there, Margaret, daughter of Alexander McDougall, son of John McDougall, of Scotland, who came when a boy with his parents to the American colonies, settled in Washington county, New York, enlisted in the American army in August, 1775, and served all through the revolutionary war; died September 15, 1847, at the age of ninety-three years. It is through the patriotic service of John McDougall, of Scotland, that the Donaldsons gained admission to the Sons and Daughters of the Revolution. John McDougall married Jane McDougall; had seven children one of whom, Margaret, married James Barkley, father of Jane, wife of Samuel Donaldson.
Children of Samuel and Jane (Barkley) Donaldson: Three died in infancy:
- Charles A., see forward.
- Hon. Harvey J., born September 15, 1848; at Argyle, New York; resides at Ballston Spa, New York, where he is a well-known public man; he has received prominent political preferment and is a staunch Republican of the state; he has served in both houses of the legislature and is now one of the canal appraisers. He married (first) Mary L. Zeilley, born September 5, 1855, died June 6, 1883; no issue; married (second) Martha V. Beattie, of Albany, New York. One son, by second marriage, Russell, died in infancy.
(II) Charles A., eldest son of Samuel and Jane (Barkley) Donaldson, was born in Argyle, Washington county, New York, March 1, 1844, died at Fultonville, New York, September 15, 1899. He was educated in the public schools and graduated from the Albany Business College. He was associated in business with his father, and after the death of the latter succeeded him as head of the business. He possessed the same sterling qualities, and carried on his large contracting business successfully. He was a public-spirited, useful citizen, and like his father and brother a strong Republican politically. He manifested a deep concern for the welfare of his state and party, but never aspired to public office. Charles A. Donaldson retired from the contracting business after his father's death, turning his entire attention to his drug business, which he had established previously in Fultonville; he gave his attention to this as long as he was in active business. He was one of Fultonville's most progressive citizens, taking a deep interest in all things for the good of the community. He married in Fultonville, September 8, 1868, Julia A. Jones, born January 23, 1845, educated at the Emma Willard Female Seminary, Troy, New York, and previous to her marriage, a teacher. She survives her husband and resides in Fultonville, New York (see Jones). Children:
- Hattie, born June 21, 1869; married Theophilus A. Simpson, of Fultonville, New York.
- Nellie, born May 7, 1872; died December 30, 1894.
- Harvey A., born April 6, 1884; resides in Rome, New York; married Mary E. Galbraith, of Fultonville.
- Raymond, born March 23, 1886; married Carolynn M. Holliday, born October 22, 1885; he is a charter member of the Montgomery County Historical Association.
The Donaldsons are members of the Reformed church.
(The Jones Line)
Mrs. Julia A. (Jones) Donaldson is a lineal descendant of Edward William Jones, born in Wales, Great Britain, and the founder of his branch of the Jones family in the United States. He was brought to the United States with his parents, William C. and Ann C. Jones, who lived to an advanced age. He was a man of education, and after his settlement near Troy, New York, was a teacher in the schools, cultivating also his home farm. He married Betsey Chubb, born in Connecticut, died at Spiegletown, New York, in 1863. She was of strong religious temperament and devoted to the Baptist church. Children:
- Prentice L., married Julia Downey, both died in Troy at advanced ages, leaving issue;
- Stephen B., married Polly Johnson, both died in Troy, without issue;
- Ann, married Collins B. Baker, both died in Troy, leaving Carrie M., a resident of Hempstead, Long Island, unmarried.
- Morgan L., see forward;
- Mary L., born April, 1818, died May, 1903, unmarried.
Morgan L., son of Edward William and Betsey (Chubb) Jones, was born in Schaghticoke, New York, February 2, 1804, died in Fultonville, New York, May 24, 1887. He married Elizabeth Link, born in Half Moon, Saratoga county, New York, March 1, 1813, died June 19, 1888. Children:
- Collins P., born in Troy, New York, October 5, 1832; in 1861 he enlisted and in the first day's fight at Chickamauga, one of the bloodiest fights of the civil war, he was second in command of his regiment, holding rank of lieutenant colonel. His colonel was killed in the first day's battle and Lieutenant Colonel Jones was left in command. He gallantly led his troops into the thickest of the fight, and there met his death, face to the foe, September 19, 1863.
- Helen L., for many years a successful teacher in the public schools. She resides with her sister, Mrs. Donaldson.
- Arthur O., born December 6, 1837, died October 18, 1906; he was a veteran of the One Hundred and Fifty-third Regiment, New York Volunteer Infantry, serving three years in the civil war and seeing hard service; he married Anna Brown, deceased; child, Helen, deceased.
- William, born in Fultonville, May 8, 1840; married Lydia Kinne, born May 8, 1841; child: Harry Kinne, married Edith Davis, of Illinois, and has Helen, Esther and Merridith; this family reside in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
- Julia A., married Charles A. Donaldson.
- Leander S., born in Fultonville, June 4, 1849; resides in Battle Creek, Michigan; married Alice V. Smith, of Illinois; she died November, 1899; children:
- Guy, now of Schenectady, New York;
- Marcia A.;
- Nellie W., married Rev. Charles J. Davis, whom she survives, a resident of Gloversville, New York;
- Roy B.;
- Clyde S.;
- Virgil.