Local History: The Donner Family in Central Illinois (Yes, THAT Donner Family)
- Terri
- 4 days ago
- 10 min read
Did you know that the Donners lived in Central Illinois in the years leading up to the ill-fated journey to California? Terri explores the connections the Donners had to Central Illinois.
The Donner Family in Central Illinois
Most people are familiar with the disastrous wagon train of homesteaders stranded in the Sierra Nevada mountain range in 1846-47. The group of almost 90 was made up of 16 Donner family members, and many of them died in what has become known as “Donner’s Pass.” Did you know, however, that the Donners lived in Central Illinois in the years leading up to the ill-fated journey to California? One of their brothers even lived in DeWitt County for a number of years. The primary focus of this blog will be about our former neighbors.
The patriarch of the Illinois Donner family was George Donner, born in 1752. His place of birth is debatable, but he was living in Rowan County, North Carolina, when he served as a private in the new United States Army. This earned him a place in the Daughters of the American Revolution Patriot database, and there are more than a dozen lineages linked to his name. Family lore advises us that he carried home a 3-pound cannon ball as a souvenir, and in the late 1800’s, it was in possession of his grandson Jonathan Donner of DeWitt Township. George married Mary Huff around 1777, and they had eight children that we know of, all born in Rowan County. The Donners, like countless other families after the Revolution, headed west. The 1810 United States Federal Census finds them living in Jessamine County, Kentucky, and in 1820, Jefferson County, Indiana. By 1830, George and nearly all his adult children and their families were living in Illinois. Census records indicate the population of Illinois tripled between 1830 and 1840, and the Donners were part of that surge.
It looks like George’s son, George Jr., was the first to arrive on the Illinois prairie. George Donner, Jr., was born around 1784, though some family histories list Jacob as the first son. (Their uncle, in a 1795 Rowan County will, leaves a sum of money to "my nephew George Donner, oldest son of my brother George Donner," putting that discrepancy to rest.) A local history book indicates that George was an early settler of Springfield Township in Sangamon County, and there is a land patent in his name dated August 1, 1826, for 80 acres. This parcel, at that time, was located about a mile and a half east of the settlement of Springfield, which would not become the state capitol for another 13 years. Today, part of the eastern edge of Springfield city limits spills into this parcel, and the I55-I72 interchange crosses its southeast corner. George’s first wife probably died in Indiana, and George married widow Mary Tennent, maiden name Blue, in Sangamon County in 1829. It is not known when his brother Jacob joined him here, but he was married in Sangamon County in 1835 to Elizabeth Blue Hook, a widow with two sons, sister of George’s wife, who was about 17 years his junior. In 1838, the two families decided to try out Texas, but after just one year, they returned to Sangamon County. George’s wife Mary died around this time, and in 1839 he married a third time to Tamsen Dozier, who was roughly 17 years younger than he.
In 1846, George and Jacob decided to set out for California. George’s family consisted of his wife Tamsen and their three daughters, all age 6 and under, plus his two daughters with second wife Mary, ages 12 and 14. (All five children from George’s first wife were adults and did not join the homesteaders.) Jacob’s party included his wife Elizabeth, his step-sons Solomon and William Hook, age about 14 and 12, respectively, and their additional five children ranging in age from 1 to 9. Those who survived the ordeal at Donner’s pass were Solomon Hook, George Donner III and Mary Donner from Jacob’s family, and all five of George’s daughters, Elitha, Leanna, Frances, Georgia and Eliza. Details about the Donner party and the tragic events in the mountain pass are readily available online.
Meanwhile, back in Sangamon County, George Donner, Sr., entered 80 acres in Clear Lake Township, patent dated February 22, 1835. This parcel is located close to what is now the I72 exit for Mechanicsburg Road. At that time, this area was referred to as German Prairie due to scattered settlers of German descent. In the 1840 Census, his name appears as head of household, age 80-89, and one female, also age 80-89, which implies his wife Mary is still living. It is unknown when Mary died, but George’s date of death is recorded as June 27, 1844, probably derived from probate records. In nearby Oak Hill Cemetery of Clear Lake, a memorial marker has been dedicated to George that includes a Sons of the American Revolution medallion. It also memorializes his wife Mary, son George, Jr. and his three wives, though we know George and his third wife Tamsen are laid to rest in California, and the interment locations of the others are unknown. Three of George’s daughters raised families in Sangamon County and are buried near the village of Thayer, south of Springfield: Mary Ann Dick, Lydia Walters and Susanna Organ. (Daughter Elizabeth Walters died in Indiana in 1836, and son John died in Oregon in 1879, age 90.)
Last, but not least, we come to the “baby” of the family, Tobias Donner. Tobias was born in Rowan County, North Carolina, in 1798. He moved west with his father’s family until his marriage to Nancy Bettis in Indiana in 1820. (A biographical profile of their son Jonathan records her maiden name as King, so it’s possible she was a widow when married to Tobias, but she married as Nancy Bettis.) It is not known exactly when Tobias and Nancy came to Illinois, but son Jonathan, on later Census records, indicated he was born in Illinois in 1826. The first paper trail found for this family is the 1830 Census, where they are enumerated in Tazewell County along with four children. At that time, Tazewell County encompassed today’s Tazewell and parts of Mason, Logan, McLean, Woodford and Livingston counties and even a northwest portion of DeWitt County! The inhabitants were not listed by township, so it’s hard to say exactly where the Donners were living. A local history book says they came to DeWitt County in 1831, which was then Macon County. In the 1840 Census, they appear in DeWitt County, which would be the same place but now part of a new county (formed in 1839). By now they have a household consisting of eight children. Again, residences are not broken down by township, so their exact homeplace is unknown.
Land records hold the key to finding the Donner family on the map. A land patent dated January 4, 1836, shows that Tobias purchased the southeast quarter of section 14, township 20 north, range 4 east (now DeWitt Township) consisting of 160 acres for $200. That was a huge purchase for the time, when most settlers were struggling to gain ownership of half that much land. In 1837, he purchased another 80 acres in section 13, adjoining the property in section 14. On the original survey of this area, both properties were almost completely covered with timber. Salt Creek ran through the northwest corner of the original 160 acres. Today, it is covered by the east end of Clinton Lake and traversed by the Parnell Bridge near the intersection of Liberty and Kennedy Roads. Many years later, their son Jonathan loved to recount his memories growing up there. He said game of all kinds was plentiful, as were the Native Americans who lived nearby and preferred hunting there. (He must have been referring to the Grand Village of the Kickapoo that was centered north of Leroy in McLean County. It was burned by the US Army in 1832 and the Indians removed from Illinois, but countless numbers of them no doubt remained in the area.)
Tobias and Nancy had 6 children here in DeWitt County, but tragically, three of them died young. Sarah, born in 1831, died just a couple months after she turned 13. Elizabeth was born in 1834 and lived just nine months. James, born in 1842, was just 4 months of age when he passed. These three children are interred at the Barnes Cemetery, located less than a mile west of the Donner homestead. (This cemetery is on private property behind a field and is no longer accessible. Pictures were taken several years ago.)
If the Donners came to DeWitt County in 1831 and were here until after they buried their daughter Sarah at the end of February, 1845, then they lived here at least 14 years. By the 1850 Census, though, they are living in Menard County, but the township is not marked. This is where Tobias died on August 26, 1853. He wrote his will just the day before and left nearly everything – land, livestock and household goods – to his widow Nancy. He states in his will that he leaves 103 acres, but it does not give the exact location (more on that later). To his children Mary Ann, “Barbary” (Barbara), George, Nancy Jane and the heirs of his deceased daughter Louisa, he leaves $50 each. (Barbra, George and Nancy Jane are still minors.) He does not mention his adult sons Greenberry and Jonathan, but it is possible, if not likely, that he has already given them land of equal value. His will is signed with his “mark,” and he names widow Nancy as his executrix, who also signs with a mark. Sadly, Tobias’ burial place is unknown.
In the 1860 Census, Nancy Donner is now listed as head of household and is enumerated in Menard County, township 19 north range 6 west, which is known as Indian Creek Township. Now 61 years of age, her property value is listed at $3175 and she shares her home with 6 family members: grandson John Moraign age 17, granddaughter Sarah Parker age 13, son-in-law John Burns age 28, daughter Nancy Jane Burns age 22, and the Burns’ children Tobias age 3 and yet another Nancy, just one month old. There is no known record of Nancy Donner’s death or burial place. The last official records that include her appear to be in the form of two deeds written August 18, 1864. Here, we can finally figure out what land Tobias owned in Menard County. Nancy is listed with all her living adult children and their spouses as “party of the first part,” and they sell 40 acres in section 17 plus 23 acres in section 19 to one buyer and another 40 acres in section 18 to a second buyer, equaling 103 acres. This land is located about 3 and a half miles west of present-day Greenview and about half a mile east of the Sangamon River. The 23-acre parcel is on the river, likely a stand of trees valued for lumber. One can only presume that the family chose to sell the land and split the profits rather than waiting for Nancy’s death and going through probate. Nancy probably died before the 1870 Census came around.
Of Tobias and Nancy Donner’s children who lived to adulthood:
Greenberry, born 1822 in Indiana, died 1864 in Menard County. Married Mary Ann Scantling and had 7 children.
Louisa, born 1824 in Indiana, died 1852 in Menard County. Married Seward Moraign and had one child, them married Ezekiel McFarland and had two more.
Jonathan C., born 1826 in Sangamon County IL, died 1909 in Jefferson County Oklahoma. He was raised in DeWitt County, married Louisa Porter and lived here until about four years before his death, when he decided to move to Oklahoma. He was brought back to Maple Grove Cemetery near Farmer City for burial, then Louisa lived with relatives in Michigan until her death. She, too, was returned to Maple Grove Cemetery to be laid to rest beside her husband. They had two daughters, both of whom they outlived.
Mary Ann, born 1831 in Illinois, died 1906 in DeWitt County. Married Joseph Parker and had one child, then married Isaac Porter and had at least nine more. Mary Ann and Isaac Porter spent their married years in Menard, Piatt and DeWitt Counties. Both died in 1906 and are buried at Maple Grove Cemetery.
Barbara, born 1831 in Illinois, died 1913 in Fresno California. She married first Isaac Webb and had one daughter, then married James Olds and had five more girls. After James’ death in 1891, Barbara relocated to California where two of her adult daughters were living.
George Washington Donner, born 1837 in DeWitt County, died 1916 in Iowa. George joined the Union Army in Menard County, Company K, 114th Infantry, and served three years. He married Lydia Ambrose in Clark County Missouri, and they had eight children, six living to adulthood.
Nancy Jane, born 1839 in DeWitt County, died unknown. Nancy Jane married John Burns or Byrn or Byrne – almost impossible to sort out accurate records for this family. They appear as John and Nancy Burns in the 1880 Census for Pike County, Missouri, and it can be confirmed they had six children. A review of Nancy’s siblings’ obituaries suggests she died sometime before June of 1909.
Sources
History of the Early Settlers of Sangamon County, Centennial Record, John Carol
Power and Mrs. S. A. Power, Edwin A. Wilson & Co., Springfield IL, 1876
History of Sangamon County, IL, Interstate Publishing Company, Chicago, 1881
Illinois State Archives online (ilsos.gov)
United States Federal Census
Portrait and Biographical Album of DeWitt and Piatt Counties, Ill., Chapman
Brothers, Chicago, 1891
Daughters of the American Revolution (dar.org)
Terri Lemmel was born and raised in DeWitt County near Kenney. Upon completing her education at Clinton High School, she lived in Bloomington for several years before returning to Clinton in 1990. Her interest in genealogy was piqued in the mid-90s when she found unidentified obituaries in her late grandmother's scrapbook that family members could not identify. While she initially dabbled in the subject, it wasn't until her retirement in 2018 that she jumped in with both feet. Terri joined the Genealogical Society and has been serving as its President since 2022. Research is a passion of hers, and there are lots of interesting stories to uncover! You can find Terri in the DeWitt County Genealogical Society room at the Vespasian Warner Public Library every Thursday completing research and helping others with their family and local history research.
To learn more about the DeWitt County Genealogical Society, feel free to reach out to them via phone at 217-935-5174, email at dewittcgs@gmail.com, their website, or their Facebook page.
The Vespasian Warner Library, located at 310 N. Quincy St. in Clinton, IL, features an extensive collection of local history and archives. To learn more, visit our Local History Page on the website or stop by in person! We are always excited to showcase our local history resources and discuss DeWitt County's local history.
Until Next Time Library Friends!
