Israel Donalson
Encyclopedia
Israel Donalson was an early settler in the Northwest Territory
, and helped write the first Ohio
Constitution.
Israel Donalson was born February 2, 1767 at Hunterdon County, New Jersey
, and soon was moved to Cumberland County, New Jersey
. In the fall of 1787 he moved to Ohio County, Virginia
(now West Virginia
), where he farmed, taught school, and served in the militia. In May, 1790, he took a flatboat down the Ohio River
to Limestone (now Maysville), Kentucky
, where he taught school, and he met Nathaniel Massie
. He went with Massie to Massie's Station (now Manchester, Ohio)
Northwest Territory
early in 1791 to help survey
lands in the Virginia Military District
, where he was captured by Indians
, and held for a number of days before a harrowing escaping.
Donalson took up teaching in Manchester, and also some surveying, which he had studied in the East, and continued for much of his life. He was in Mad Anthony Wayne
's Campaign in 1794 in the Northwest Indian War
. He married Miss Annie Pennyweight on November 15, 1798, and traveled to Kentucky for that purpose, as there was no authority to do it in that part of the territory at that time.
In 1802, Donalson was elected as one of three Adams County
delegates, along with Joseph Darlington
and Thomas Kirker
, to the first Constitutional Convention
of Ohio which met November 1-29, 1802. He voted 'no' on allowing the unpopular Governor of the Territory, Arthur St. Clair
, to address the Convention, which passed 19-14, 'no' on submitting the Constitution to popular referendum, which failed 27-7, 'no' on allowing slavery, which failed 2-31, 'no' on allowing a poll tax or religious test for office, and 'no' on allowing Blacks to vote.
Donalson had no more participation in state government. He was appointed postmaster of Manchester in 1801, and held office to September 27, 1813. In 1808 he started a carding mill in Manchester. He enlisted for the War of 1812
. He was active in the Presbyterian Church, and lived the rest of his life in Manchester.
In 1848, he wrote to his fellow Convention delegate Judge Cutler
, and noted that since his captivity among the Indians, "my life has been one of turmoil", and that he had met with pecuniary losses, but is thankful to God who sustained him.
When Judge Cutler died on July 8, 1853, Donalson was left as the last survivor of the Convention. He died February 9, 1860, age 93. Politically, he was a Democrat and later a Whig
.
Northwest Territory
The Territory Northwest of the River Ohio, more commonly known as the Northwest Territory, was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from July 13, 1787, until March 1, 1803, when the southeastern portion of the territory was admitted to the Union as the state of Ohio...
, and helped write the first Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
Constitution.
Israel Donalson was born February 2, 1767 at Hunterdon County, New Jersey
Hunterdon County, New Jersey
Hunterdon County is a county located in the western section of the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2010 United States Census, the population was 128,349. It is part of the New York Metropolitan Area. Its county seat is Flemington....
, and soon was moved to Cumberland County, New Jersey
Cumberland County, New Jersey
Cumberland County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2010 Census, the population is 156,898. Its county seat is Bridgeton. Cumberland County is named for Prince William, Duke of Cumberland....
. In the fall of 1787 he moved to Ohio County, Virginia
Ohio County, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 47,427 people, 19,733 households, and 12,155 families residing in the county. The population density was 447 people per square mile . There were 22,166 housing units at an average density of 209 per square mile...
(now West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
), where he farmed, taught school, and served in the militia. In May, 1790, he took a flatboat down the Ohio River
Ohio River
The Ohio River is the largest tributary, by volume, of the Mississippi River. At the confluence, the Ohio is even bigger than the Mississippi and, thus, is hydrologically the main stream of the whole river system, including the Allegheny River further upstream...
to Limestone (now Maysville), Kentucky
Maysville, Kentucky
Maysville is a city in and the county seat of Mason County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 8,993 at the 2000 census, making it the fiftieth largest city in Kentucky by population. Maysville is on the Ohio River, northeast of Lexington. It is the principal city of the Maysville...
, where he taught school, and he met Nathaniel Massie
Nathaniel Massie
Nathaniel Massie was a frontier surveyor in the Ohio Country who became a prominent land owner, politician, and soldier. He founded fifteen early towns in what became the State of Ohio, including its first capital, Chillicothe...
. He went with Massie to Massie's Station (now Manchester, Ohio)
Manchester, Ohio
Manchester is a village in Adams County, Ohio, United States, along the Ohio River. As of the 2000 census, the village had a total population of 2,043....
Northwest Territory
Northwest Territory
The Territory Northwest of the River Ohio, more commonly known as the Northwest Territory, was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from July 13, 1787, until March 1, 1803, when the southeastern portion of the territory was admitted to the Union as the state of Ohio...
early in 1791 to help survey
Surveying
See Also: Public Land Survey SystemSurveying or land surveying is the technique, profession, and science of accurately determining the terrestrial or three-dimensional position of points and the distances and angles between them...
lands in the Virginia Military District
Virginia Military District
The Virginia Military District was an approximately 4.2 million acre area of land in what is now the state of Ohio that was reserved by Virginia to use as payment for veterans of the American Revolutionary War....
, where he was captured by Indians
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
, and held for a number of days before a harrowing escaping.
Donalson took up teaching in Manchester, and also some surveying, which he had studied in the East, and continued for much of his life. He was in Mad Anthony Wayne
Anthony Wayne
Anthony Wayne was a United States Army general and statesman. Wayne adopted a military career at the outset of the American Revolutionary War, where his military exploits and fiery personality quickly earned him a promotion to the rank of brigadier general and the sobriquet of Mad Anthony.-Early...
's Campaign in 1794 in the Northwest Indian War
Northwest Indian War
The Northwest Indian War , also known as Little Turtle's War and by various other names, was a war fought between the United States and a confederation of numerous American Indian tribes for control of the Northwest Territory...
. He married Miss Annie Pennyweight on November 15, 1798, and traveled to Kentucky for that purpose, as there was no authority to do it in that part of the territory at that time.
In 1802, Donalson was elected as one of three Adams County
Adams County, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 27,330 people, 10,501 households, and 7,613 families residing in the county. The population density was 47 people per square mile . There were 11,822 housing units at an average density of 20 per square mile...
delegates, along with Joseph Darlington
Joseph Darlington
Joseph Darlington was a representative in the Legislature of the Northwest Territory, and a delegate to the Convention that wrote the first Constitution of the State of Ohio.300px|right|thumb...
and Thomas Kirker
Thomas Kirker
Thomas Kirker was a Democratic-Republican politician from Ohio. He served as the second Governor of Ohio.Kirker was born in County Tyrone, Ireland. He moved with his father to Lancaster, Pennsylvania in 1779. He moved with his new wife to Kentucky in 1790 and then Liberty Township, Adams County,...
, to the first Constitutional Convention
Ohio Constitutional Convention (1802)
The Enabling Act of 1802 was passed on April 30, 1802 by the Seventh Congress of the United States. This act authorized the residents of the eastern portion of the Northwest Territory to form the state of Ohio and join the U.S. on an equal footing with the other states...
of Ohio which met November 1-29, 1802. He voted 'no' on allowing the unpopular Governor of the Territory, Arthur St. Clair
Arthur St. Clair
Arthur St. Clair was an American soldier and politician. Born in Scotland, he served in the British Army during the French and Indian War before settling in Pennsylvania, where he held local office...
, to address the Convention, which passed 19-14, 'no' on submitting the Constitution to popular referendum, which failed 27-7, 'no' on allowing slavery, which failed 2-31, 'no' on allowing a poll tax or religious test for office, and 'no' on allowing Blacks to vote.
Donalson had no more participation in state government. He was appointed postmaster of Manchester in 1801, and held office to September 27, 1813. In 1808 he started a carding mill in Manchester. He enlisted for the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
. He was active in the Presbyterian Church, and lived the rest of his life in Manchester.
In 1848, he wrote to his fellow Convention delegate Judge Cutler
Ephraim Cutler
thumb|right|350px|alt=old dudeEphraim Cutler was an early Northwest Territory and Ohio political leader and jurist.-Early life:...
, and noted that since his captivity among the Indians, "my life has been one of turmoil", and that he had met with pecuniary losses, but is thankful to God who sustained him.
When Judge Cutler died on July 8, 1853, Donalson was left as the last survivor of the Convention. He died February 9, 1860, age 93. Politically, he was a Democrat and later a Whig
Whig Party (United States)
The Whig Party was a political party of the United States during the era of Jacksonian democracy. Considered integral to the Second Party System and operating from the early 1830s to the mid-1850s, the party was formed in opposition to the policies of President Andrew Jackson and his Democratic...
.