DONAHEY FAMILY. This is one of the first families to settle in Washington county. Joseph Donahey and Mary, his wife, with their children Jane, William, Samuel and Mary emigrated from Omagh, in County Tyrone, Ireland, May 23, 1790, arriving in America August 24, same year. They settled near Taylorstown, in Buffalo township, on the place now owned by Jacob White, which is known as one of the best oil farms in the Taylorstown oil field. Two other children were born to them in Washington county, named Joseph and Margaret. Samuel Donahey was born in May, 1787, and emigrated with his parents from Ireland. He was married to Anna Reed, daughter of William Reed, and they located on what is now known as the James and Isaac Hodgens farm. In 1840 he was ordained as a ruling elder in Buffalo Presbyterian Church. He died suddenly in his own yard, December 25, 1840. To them were born six children, viz.: Joseph, married to Mary A. Lowry, of Hopewell township (he resided near Buffalo, and was a leader of the music in the Buffalo Presbyterian Church. In April, 1879, he and his family moved to Adair, Iowa, where he served as a ruling elder in the Presbyterian Church the rest of his life. He died August 27, 1890, a man of a quiet disposition, a kind husband and father and a devout Christian); William R., born January 14, 1816; Margaret, who married Rev. James Smith; Mary, widow of Vincent Blayney, still resides on the Blayney homestead near Taylorstown; Jane, married to Rev. Marshal, and Sarah A., married to Rev. James Shields, now a resident of Allegheny. William R. Donahey was married in December, 1843, to Mary Ely, daughter of Marten Ely, an elder in East Buffalo Church. He located on what is known as the William Donahey farm, two miles south of Taylorstown. Four children were born to them: Sarah A., born September 9, 1844, was married to S. C. Work; Samuel, born December 15, 1845, who now resides with his mother in Buffalo village; Martin L., born September 22, 1847, was married to Frances E. Fergus, of Canonsburg, Penn., November 2, 1872 (he was licensed by the Presbytery of Washington, and is now pastor of the Presbyterian Church of Napoleon, Ohio); Joseph A., born February 6, 1850, married Lizzie H. McCleese, of Taylorstown, July 13, 1876, and is now pastor of the Capitol Avenue Presbyterian Church of Denver, Colo. William Donahey was ordained an elder in Buffalo Presbyterian Church in 1853, and served until his death, August 14 1884. Much of his time and means were spent in behalf of his fellow-men. In his youthful days he taught school, which he took great delight in, as it opened many ways for usefulness in after years. He took special delight in the Sabbath-school, and was for many years elected superintendent of Buffalo Sabbath-school. Mr. Donahey was a devout and earnest follower of Christ, honoring God in his household, and was extremely conscientious and faithful as a ruling elder.

Text taken from page 914 of: Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893). Transcribed January 1997 by Neil and Marilyn Morton of Oswego, IL as part of the Beers Project. Published January 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.

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