William Edgar Donaker
b. 16 July 1854, d. 13 February 1920
Last Edited=5 Jun 2005

     William Edgar Donaker was born on 16 July 1854 in Ohio, USA.² He was the son of Jacob E. Donaker and Margaret Catherine Hardesty.¹ In 1855, William moved with his parents to Iowa County, Iowa, USA. The family stayed there until 1881 when they moved to Rockwell City.³ William, age 6, was enumerated in the household of his parents on the 1860 Federal Census in English Township, Iowa County, Iowa, USA. He attends school.⁴ Follow the link to see the census image. Ed, age 16, was enumerated in the household of his parents on the 1870 Federal Census in English Township. His name was listed as Edward (instead of Edgar). No one on this page is listed as attending school.⁵ Follow the link to see the census image. He went by the name Ed.³ William married Hattie M. Stackhouse, daughter of David Stackhouse and Amelia Hales, circa 1872.⁶ If these dates are correct, Hattie was 13 when she married. Ed and Hattie had 2 children. These children are Glenn Wickard and Golda.⁷ They are also suspected of being the parents of an infant daughter buried in Donaker plot. The child was born 8 Oct 1896 and died 10 Oct 1896.
          William, age 25, and Hattie, age 21, were enumerated on the 1880 Federal Census in Millersburg, Iowa County, Iowa, USA. Also enumerated in this household was their child, Glen (age 4). His name was given as Glenola W.⁸ William worked as a dry good merchant.⁸ Follow the link to see the census image. Circa 1887, William and Hattie moved to Rockwell, Calhoun County, Iowa, USA.⁹
          William, age 44, and Hattie, age 43, were enumerated on the 1900 Federal Census in Jolley, Calhoun County, Iowa, USA. Also enumerated in this household were his aunt-in-law, Mrs. Margaret (Hales) Wickard (widowed, age 78) and their daughter, Golda (age illegible - she is about 15 years old).¹⁰ William worked as a harness maker.¹⁰ Follow the link to see the census image.
          Ed, age 55, and Hattie, age 53, were enumerated on the 1910 Federal Census in Jolley. He was enumerated as William E. They own their house without a mortgage. Their son, Glenn, lives next door with his wife, Mae.⁷ William worked as a retail merchant in a general store. Follow the link to see the census image. Jon Donaker writes "[h]e worked in the family hotel in Rockwell City as a youth, the moved to Jolley and purchased a general store. He served as a city councilman, as a school director. There is a picture of his store in the Jolley Centennial book in the files."³
          Ed, age 65, and Hattie, age 61, were enumerated on the 1920 Federal Census in Jolley. He was listed as W.E. Donaker. They own their dwelling "free."¹¹ William worked as an owner of a general store. Follow the link to see the census image.
          Ed died on 13 February 1920.² He was 65 old. He was buried at Crown Hill Cemetery in Jolley, Calhoun County, Iowa, USA.² He owned real estate in Jolley, Sac, and Winnebago County at the time of his death. His estate was left to his widow and his children, Glenn and Golda.³