U.S. Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ -- USGenNet Inc. -- Please read the U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on the following page: ------------------------------------------------------------------- Donehoo, John R. (1834-1917) ------------------------------------------------------------------- Men of West Virginia, Volume II Biographical Publishing Company George Richmond, Pres.: C. R. Arnold, Sec'y and Treas. Chicago, Illinois, 1903 Pages 467-468 HON. JOHN R. DONEHOO, whose prestige as an attorney-at-law is well known to the citizens of West Virginia, is a prominent resident of New Cumberland, Hancock County. He was born at Cross Creek, Washington County, Pennsylvania, September 1, 1834, and is a son of James and Eliza (Ramsey) Donehoo. James Donehoo was born in Armagh, Ireland, in 1800, and was brought to this country by his parents, Daniel and Nancy (McCune) Donehoo. when he was an infant. His parents settled in Alleghany County, Pennsylvania, and the father followed farming until his death at the home of his son, James, about the year 1850. James Donehoo became a tailor by trade and, being an intelligent and influential man, was made a justice of the peace, an office he efficiently filled for more than 40 years, being at the time of his death, in 1873, one of the oldest justices in Pennsylvania. He had also served as county commissioner and was at one time a member of the State Legislature of Pennsylvania. He married Eliza Ramsey, who was born in Washington County, Pennsylvania, in 1809, and was a daughter of John and Martha (Shields) Ramsey, natives of Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. John R. Donehoo, after completing his preliminary education at Cross Creek Academy, read law with C. W. Russell at Wheeling, and was admitted to the bar in 1857. After practicing in Hancock County for a time he went to Wheeling, and successfully followed his profession there for a number of years. Going thence to Washington, Pennsylvania, he practiced for four years and in the meantime edited the Washington Examiner. He published a campaign paper in Steubenville, Ohio, for three months, and subsequently removed to Fairview, Hancock County, where he practiced law for a period of 18 months. He then went to Fulton County, Pennsylvania, where he edited the Fulton Democrat for four years, during which time he also served one term as district attorney but resigned during his second term. While there he was also a delegate to the Democratic National Convention held at New York City that nominated Seymour and Blair. Mr. Donehoo next purchased the Indiana (Pennsylvania) Democrat, which he edited about 18 months, then edited the Constitution of Morgantown, West Virginia, for two years. In March, 1874, he again located at Fairview and has since lived in Hancock County and devoted his attention solely to the practice of the law except when he has been called upon to serve in official positions. Since 1890 he has been located at New Cumberland and is recognized by the bar of West Virginia as one of its strong representative members. He commands a good general practice in both State and Federal courts, and is held high in public esteem. In 1874 he was appointed prosecuting attorney for Hancock County, serving two years, and in 1880 was elected to represent Hancock, Brooke and Ohio counties in the State Senate, serving four years with credit to himself and his constituency. He served for eight years as a member of the board of regents for the State Deaf and Blind Schools at Romney, West Virginia. In 1810, Mr. Donehoo was united in marriage with Eleanor McCown, who was born in Fairview, Virginia, now West Virginia, and is a daughter of John C. and Eliza (Sproule) McCown. Her father was a native of Washington County, Pennsylvania, and died in 1877. Her mother was born in Ireland and died in 1856. Mr. and Mrs. Donehoo have the following named children: Rev. James D., rector of the Protestant Episcopal Church at Monroe, Louisiana; Eleanor; Jessie, who married C. S. Bradley, of New Cumberland; and Christine. ------------------------------------------------------------------- From Death Certificate, Hancock County, WV #6914 FULL-NAME: John Ramsey Donehoo BIRTH-DATE: September 1, 1834 BIRTH-PLACE: Cross Creek, Pa. DEATH-DATE: November 29, 1917 (at age 83y-2m-29d) DEATH-PLACE: New Cumberland, Hancock County, WV MARITAL-STATUS: widower OCCUPATION: Attorney at law FATHER: James Donehoo (born in Ireland) MOTHER: Eliza Ramsey (born in Washington Co., Pa.) CAUSE-OF-DEATH: General debility / Senility INFORMANT: Alice Swaney (of N.C.) Tombstones in New Cumberland Cemetery, Hancock County, WV John R. Donehoo (1834-1917) Eleanor M. Donehoo (1835-1907) ------------------------------------------------------------------- If you've reached this file through a SEARCH, you can access other biographies for Hancock County, WV by going to the following URL: http://www.us-data.org/wv/hancock/bios.html -------------------------------------------------------------------