My Genealogy Hound

Judge Jacob Donley, one of the prominent farmers and stock-raisers of Willow Fork Township, Tipton, Mo., was born in Dauphin County, Pa., June 10, 1825, and is the son of John and Fannie Donley, both natives of Dauphin County, Pa. His parents moved to Ohio about 1835, settling in Wayne County, and here the father followed farming, and continued this until his removal to Holmes County, where he died about 1882. The mother died in 1885. Judge Jacob Donley grew to maturity in Wayne County, Ohio, remained with his father until twenty-three years of age, and December 22, 1848, he was united in marriage to Miss Susan Reider, a native of Wayne County, Ohio, and the daughter of John Reider. After his marriage Judge Donley settled on a farm in Wayne County and engaged in agricultural pursuits until 1865, when he sold out and moved westward to Missouri. He purchased land in Moniteau County, where he now lives, and has resided there ever since. He now has 380 acres near Tipton, all valuable land and mostly under cultivation. He has a large two-story residence, a large and nearly new barn, and an orchard sufficient for family use. The Judge is a Democrat in politics, and has ever held to the principles and supported the men and measures of that party. He was nominated and elected one of the county judges at the fall election of 1888, and is one of the present court. He has held other local offices; was a member of the school board for a number of years, and did all he could to advance the cause of education. The Judge lost his first wife August 14, 1885. There were nine children born to this union: Jane, wife of Wiley Petree; John, resides on a farm near home; Andrew, a young man, in Pettis County; Loriet, wife of John Butler; Martha, wife of William Miller; Lizzie, wife of Thomas Monks; Henry, a young man, at home; Clara and Mary A. The Judge was married in Tipton to Mrs. Mary E. Beard, who was reared in St. Louis, and who is the daughter of William Monks. This marriage occurred March 18, 1889.