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Donnell brothers impact Eliasville

Wed, 08/12/2020 - 5:00 am
  • Donnell brothers impact Eliasville  
    Jean Hayworth Historically Speaking

The Donnell brothers had a huge impact on the town of Eliasville by building the Donnell Mill and Dam. Later, the Donnell brothers built a suspension bridge over the river near the mill. Much later, that bridge was replaced by a much larger, more substantial bridge in 1893. Still later, a more modern bridge was constructed at the site. Most of the mill was destroyed by fire from a lightning strike, and was rebuilt and burned again in 1927.

Alvin Donnell succeeded his father and uncle in ownership of the mill and subsequently sold the mill to W.A. Andrews, who ran it into the 1930s. Andrews’ daughter, Dill Newell, sold the mill to the Breckenridge Gasoline Plant and later it was sold to Mr. Stroud of Eliasville. The mill was situated on the Stephens County side of the bridge, but almost all businesses and residents lived in Eliasville, which was on the Young County side.

At the Old Settler’s Reunion in 1967, the importance of the Donnell Mill was recognized by a Historical Marker, which told the history of the Donnell Mill development and Dam construction.

The migration of the Donnell families followed the western migration settlers moving westward after major events had occurred in our history.

The elder patriarch, J.D. Donnell, and his wife Julie (Waters) Donnell were both born during the War of 1812. Their families crossed the Appalachian Mountains into Tennessee and Kentucky in the first wave westward. Their three sons were born in Lebanon, Tennessee.

In the 1850s, the Donnell families and the Thomas Davis family migrated to the next frontier in Missouri and settled in the vast wilderness, north of Springfield, MO.

The Donnell families were faithful followers of the Presbyterian Church and sent their sons to the North Prairie Academy, which was located just across the line in Benton County, MO. The Robertson family lived there and Mr. Robertson ran the County Store. In 1954, the 16-year old Thomas Franklin Donnell began working in the store. Later, the Donnell brothers opened their own store. Their meticulously kept account books are now in the hands of descendants of Alvin Donnell of Eliasville.

Thomas Franklin Donnell and Eugenia Robertson were married in 1861 and then he and his brothers fought for the Confederacy during the Civil War. While they were off fighting in the war, their store and homes were destroyed and they were left penniless at the end of the war.

After the Civil War, the Donnell families and the Davis and Robertson families all migrated to Hunt County, Texas. The one Donnell son, Leo Donnell, lost his life in the war. However, his son, Millard Fillmore Donnell came from Maine to join his uncles, William and Thomas, in the cattle business in Eliasville. Soon after he arrived, he met and married Alice R. Dobbs, on Jan 6, 1881. It was one of the earliest weddings held in Eliasville. This couple had seven children.

The Robertson family moved on to Stephens County and the Davis family had gone to Throckmorton, but later settled in Stephens County.

In October of 1876, the Donnell brothers and their father followed the others and moved on further west to settle on the banks of the Clear Fork of the Brazos, in the Eliasville area of Young and Stephens Counties.

William Leander Donnell had married a young lady from the Robertson family of Crystal Falls, Sarah Rebecca Robertson, known always as “Aunt Sally.” She lived longer than any others of her generation, just a few weeks shy of 100 years. Thomas Franklin Donnell’s wife died in Terrell in 1881. Will and Sally were childless, so when her sister died, Tom loaded up his eight motherless children and headed to Eliasville and the home of Uncle Bill and Aunt Sally, who raised the children.

The Donnell families were the driving force to settle at Eliasville and build the mill and the dam. Additionally, Elias DeLong was another strong influence of the Eliasville community.

Even though Eliasville is across the line into Young County, it was a steady influence in this area on the Stephens County side of the bridge and partners in the dam and bridge construction and the fires that ended the mill on the Stephens County side of the bridge.

Additionally, other pioneer families had a similar impact like the Dobbs brothers and Elias De-Long, for which the town was named.

Other early pioneer families also had a lasting impact and influence on the community of Eliasville and the surrounding area of the two counties of Young and Stephens. The Hill family led by Thomas Hill and Amanda (Randall) Hill, who married in Alabama and arrived here in 1876 in a caravan of wagons bearing more settlers. Accompanying them were their two sons, George W. and Samuel H. Hill. They acquired land southwest of Eliasville, in Stephens County, along the Clear Fork of the Brazos River. They ranched and were friendly to the local Indians.

George W. and Amanda Frances (Goodall) Hill had nine children and Sam and Harriet (Goodall) Hill had 10 children. The brothers married sisters, which often happened on the frontier and were common in the rural communities. The brothers’ combined herd was about 1,0000 head. George Hill’s brand was a double diamond and Sam’s was H6 Later, Sam’s son, Lloyd, took over much of his cattle operation.

More next week on the Hill families and others that settled the area at that time in history. If you have historic photos or stories, contact Jean Hayworth at office@breckenridgeamerican.com.