Margaret Catherine Hardesty¹
b. 26 October 1828, d. 4 July 1914
Last Edited=30 Mar 2005

     Margaret Catherine Hardesty was born on 26 October 1828 in Ohio, USA.¹ She was the daughter of Henry Hardesty and Catherine Meeks.
          Margaret married Jacob E. Donaker, son of Jacob Donaker and Elizabeth Potts, in 1852 in Bedford, Cuyahoga County, Ohio, USA.² Margaret and Jacob had six children. These children are Homer H., Alice Viola, Harriet Iota, William Edgar, Mon I. and Mary.³
          In 1855, Margaret and Jacob moved to Iowa County, Iowa, USA. The family stayed there until 1881 when they moved to Rockwell City.²
          Jacob, age 28, and Margaret, age 27, were enumerated on the 1860 Federal Census in English Township, Iowa County, Iowa, USA. Also enumerated in this household were their children: William E (age 6), Mon. L (age 3), and Viola (age 1 month). Nancy and Mary and her suspected daughter, an unknown person , are also living in this household. I do not know what the relationship is between the Higgins and the Donakers. Jacob's real estate was valued at $1000 and his personal estate was valued at $400.⁴ Follow the link to see the census image.
          Jacob, age 39, and Margaret, age 39, were enumerated on the 1870 Federal Census in English Township. Also enumerated in this household were their children: Edward (should be Edgar, age 16), Ida (enumerated in 1860 as Mon L., age 14), Viola (age 12), Hattie (age 9), Mary (age 6), Homer (age 1). Jacob's real estate was valued at $2000 and his personal estate was $778.⁵ Follow the link to see the census image.
          Jacob, age 50, and Margaret, age 51, were enumerated on the 1880 Federal Census in Millersburg, Iowa County, Iowa, USA. Also enumerated in this household were their children, Viola (age 20), Hattie (age 17), and Homer (age 11).⁶ Follow the link to see the census image.
          Margaret and Jacob moved with their children (Viola, Hattie, and Homer - it is not known if William moved with them) to Calhoun County, Iowa, USA sometime between 1880 and 1885.⁷
          Jacob, age 54, and Margaret, age 56, were enumerated on the 1885 Iowa State Census at (Township 88, Range 33, Twin Lakes) in Rockwell, Calhoun County, USA. Also enumerated in this household were their children: Hattie (age 22), Homer (age 16), and Viola (age 24) with her husband, George Wharton Wilson (age 27). Mary Snyder, relationship unknown, is also living with this family. She has not been entered into this database. Jacob is entitled to vote; no other boxes have been marked.⁷
          Jacob, age 69, and Margaret, age 70, were enumerated on the 1900 Federal Census in Jolley, Calhoun County, Iowa, USA. They own their house without a mortgage. Their grandson, Glenn Wickard Donaker, lives next door.⁸ Follow the link to see the census image.
          Jacob died on 7 February 1904, leaving Margaret a widow.¹ Margaret, age 82, was enumerated in the household of her son, Homer H. Donaker, and his family on the 1910 Federal Census in Jolley.³ Follow the link to see the census image.
          Margaret died on 4 July 1914 in Perry, Dallas County, Iowa, USA.¹ She was 83 old. She and Jacob were buried at Rose Hill Cemetery in Rockwell Center, Calhoun County, Iowa, USA.¹