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Millard Fillmore Donovan

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Millard Fillmore Donovan

Birth	:	15 Nov 1857 Owen County, Indiana, USA
Death	:	5 Apr 1934 Alliance, Box Butte County, Nebraska, USA
Burial	:	Birkenhead-Glenfield Cemetery, Birkenhead, Auckland Council, New Zealand
Coordinate	:	-36.7989000, 174.7234700
Plot	:	Block 6, Sec. 1, Lot 17, Space 2
Description	:	Millard F. Donovan Pioneer frontiersman, buffalo hunter, early settler, ranchman and now one of the best known and wealthy real estate dealers of Alliance and Box Butte county is a man whose varied career has given him many and interesting experiences on the plains. Few men today, twenty years his junior bear so few scars of live. Mr. Donovan is a Hoosier, born in Owen County, Indiana, November 15, 1857, the son of Harvey and Emaline (Berry) Donovan. The former a son of Ireland where he was reared and received his early education before coming to America. It is from... Read More	Millard F. Donovan Pioneer frontiersman, buffalo hunter, early settler, ranchman and now one of the best known and wealthy real estate dealers of Alliance and Box Butte county is a man whose varied career has given him many and interesting experiences on the plains. Few men today, twenty years his junior bear so few scars of live. Mr. Donovan is a Hoosier, born in Owen County, Indiana, November 15, 1857, the son of Harvey and Emaline (Berry) Donovan. The former a son of Ireland where he was reared and received his early education before coming to America. It is from his father that Mr. Donovan has inherited his ready wit, sense of humor and the ability to look matters in the face and then work out his problems of life. Millard was third in a family of 5 children. His boyhood was spent on the farm and he was given but two terms in school, but his Irish genius led him to become a wide reader and he learned more from books and newspapers than many a boy in years at a desk under a good teacher. His mother died when Millard was 12 years old and from that time on he had to shift for himself almost entirely. His father moved into Indianapolis and the boy sold papers in that city also worked in a furniture factory, but he loved the country and returned to it, working on a farm in Johnson county for three years at $6.00 per month, but when he came to settle up with the farmer, the latter said Mr. Donovan owed him money but gave him seventy-five cents. When only 17 years of age the young man joined the regular army at Indianapolis, was sent to Newport, Kentucky, and before long was transferred to Austin, Texas, and from there the new recruits marched a hundred and eighty-five miles to Fort McCavitt with their heavy equipment and Springfield rifles. Mr. Donovan was assigned to Company I Tenth US Light Infantry which was assigned to service at Fort McCavitt on the extreme frontier to hold back the Comanche and Kickapoo Indians, where he served until 1877. The spirit of the west and adventure had entered into Mr. Donovan's soul and wanting to see more of the country he joined a party of four other adventurous youths who went to the Texas Panhandle near the south fork of the Sweetwater River. They established a camp and built tepees and began to hunt. Arriving on the hunting grounds September 1877, they engaged in hunting until March of the following spring. The buffalo were very plentiful on the open prairie and often overran their camp so that it was not necessary to go any great distance to secure them. They sold the meat of the animals to the grangers from the settlements during the winter and when they broke camp had 900 hides for sale. The grangers had willingly traded various provisions for the fresh meat so they remained at the camp throughout the season. When ready to leave they disposed of the hides to a traveling buyer of the Gurley and Company at Fort Worth, which made a business of sending men out across the prairies for this purpose. When we consider what a buffalo robe brings today it hardly seems possible that they sold each hide for seventy-five cents. Soon after leaving the camp Mr. Donovan went back on the San Saba River near Minard, where he became established on a cattle ranch in the fall of 1879. After becoming successful in this business he later traded his property and livestock for a band of horses on San Saba River, and in the spring of 1880, drove them, 550 in all, over the western cattle trail to Ogallala, Nebraska, selling them to farmers who wanted Mexican ponies, for about $50 each. After disposing of the horses Mr. Donovan took a sub-contract to do grading on the right of way of the Union Pacific Railroad which was being built from Julesburg to Evans, Colorado. On May 2, 1883, Mr. Donovan married at St. Paul, Nebraska, Miss Zella Caven, a native of Marengo, Iowa, the daughter of Benjamin and Hannah (Strong) Caven. The former a Pennsylvanian, while the mother was a Hoosier (Indiana). Nine children have been born to Millard and Zella Donovan: 1. Arthur, a farmer, who married Addie Brown. They have three children. 2. Jay O., an automobile mechanic at Miller-Coursey garage of Alliance. 3. Floyd R., a harness maker, who married Nettie Nation and served 18 months in the service during World War as a member of the 33 Bn, receiving his training at Waco, Texas. They are members of the Methodist Church, while Mr. Donovan is a Modern Woodman. 4. Claude B., who owns a ranch in the sand hills, married Emma Bowers and they have two girls. 5. Cecil M. is a member of the Baptist Church and also an Eastern Star, has charge of her parents' home at 423 Big Horn, Alliance. 5. Edna, who married Charles Walters, manager of the John Deere Implement Company of Scottsbluff. He is a Mason and Mrs. Walters an Eastern Star. She graduated from Alliance High School and later held several fine clerical positions in Alliance. She was a popular member of the younger society set before her marriage and both she and her husband are members of the Methodist Church. 6. Roy C. is the seventh child; who when only 13 years old went to visit his brother Jay on his ranch and while there was dragged to death by a pet pony. The boy was a favorite in Alliance and the Times honored him by printing an extra edition announcing his sudden and sad death. 7. John H. the eighth in order of birth is a senior in high school, is a fine, athletic boy, a member of the football team, and when through high school expects to go to college. 9. Ruth I., also in school is a member of the Methodist church. Mr. Donovan came to Box Butte county in October 1888 and located on a farm 30 miles west of the present site of Alliance. He built a frame house, quite a departure from the usual "soddy" and in order to do so had to go to Pine Ridge, 30 miles away to cut out the logs and then haul them two miles to a saw mill, paying $6.00 a thousand feet for sawing, after which he freighted the lumber to his farm. He broke his land, put on good improvements and three years later sold to buy a ranch 25 miles south of Alliance making a goodly sum of money on the deal. The new home located near Camp lake where he again put time and work on the place to bring it under cultivation and thus was enabled to dispose of it at his own figure. After this sale he for a second time located nearer the county seat as the new tract of 2,300 acres was only eight miles west of Alliance, where for eight years he engaged in farming and cattle raising, making a success of both lines of endeavor. In 1907 he sold out at a gratifying and handsome profit and came to Alliance. The same year he opened a real estate office which he has since conducted. He buys and sells farm and ranch property and has built up such an excellent reputation of square dealing and honesty that his judgment on land and its value is taken by all the prominent men of the county. Mr. Donovan does not sell on commission as a usual thing, but actually purchases the property, holds it as his own and then transfers it to the purchasers. For many years while living in the country, Mr. Donovan took an active part in all public affairs of his community and since coming to Alliance has been equally identified with the movements for civic and municipal developments and improvements. He owns his beautiful home and also two that he rents in the best residence section of the city. He is a public spirited man who lives up to the high standards which he sets as an American citizen. Mr. Donovan is a Mason and his wife is one of the prominent members of the Eastern Star. Source: History of Western Nebraska and Its People; Banner, Box Butte, Cheyenne, Dawes, Deuel, Garden, Kimball, Morrill, Scotts Bluff, Sheridan, and Sioux Counties. A Group Often Called The Panhandle of Nebraska, Volume 3, Edited by Grant L. Shumway, 1921 Transcribed by: Mary Saggio http://genealogytrails.com/neb/boxbutte/biographiesIII.htm#MillardFDonovan

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is Millard Fillmore Donovan's memorial?
Millard Fillmore Donovan's memorial is located at: Birkenhead-Glenfield Cemetery, Birkenhead, Auckland Council, New Zealand.
When did Millard Fillmore Donovan death?
Millard Fillmore Donovan death on 5 Apr 1934 in Alliance, Box Butte County, Nebraska, USA
Where are the coordinates of the Millard Fillmore Donovan's memorial?
Latitude: -36.7989000
Longitude: 174.7234700

Family Members:

Parent

Spouse

Zela Caven Donovan

(1865 - 1927)

Siblings

Children

Arthur Lesel Donovan

(1884 - 1941)

Floyd Ramer Donovan

(1887 - 1970)

Claud Benjamin Donovan

(1891 - 1969)

Cecil Emmaline Donovan DeVault

(1893 - 1929)

Roy Clark Donovan

(1899 - 1912)

John Harvey Donovan

(1901 - 1968)

Ruth Inez Donovan Joder

(1902 - 1967)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Birkenhead-Glenfield Cemetery
Birkenhead, Auckland Council, New Zealand
Coordinate: -36.7989000, 174.7234700

2. Pompallier Cemetery
Birkenhead, Auckland Council, New Zealand
Coordinate: -36.8036900, 174.7251200

3. O'Neill's Point Cemetery
Belmont, Auckland Council, New Zealand
Coordinate: -36.8103002, 174.7812784

4. North Shore Memorial Park
Auckland, Auckland Council, New Zealand
Coordinate: -36.7545800, 174.6838900

5. Hobsonville Church and Settlers' Cemetery
Hobsonville, Auckland Council, New Zealand
Coordinate: -36.8000500, 174.6551800

6. Holy Trinity Cemetery
Silverdale, Auckland Council, New Zealand
Coordinate: -36.7429008, 174.6940822

7. Royal New Zealand Navy Memorial
Devonport, Auckland Council, New Zealand
Coordinate: -36.8305900, 174.7898900

8. Mount Victoria Cemetery
Devonport, Auckland Council, New Zealand
Coordinate: -36.8252490, 174.7978140

9. Symonds Street Cemetery
Auckland, Auckland Council, New Zealand
Coordinate: -36.8582828, 174.7636628

10. Albany Village Cemetery
Albany, Auckland Council, New Zealand
Coordinate: -36.7298900, 174.6972700

11. St. Stephen's Churchyard
Auckland, Auckland Council, New Zealand
Coordinate: -36.8504860, 174.7899970

12. Mount Eden Stockade Cemetery
Mount Eden, Auckland Council, New Zealand
Coordinate: -36.8678370, 174.7666430

13. St. Luke's Anglican Church Cemetery
Mount Albert, Auckland Council, New Zealand
Coordinate: -36.8785540, 174.7290400

14. St Mark's Anglican Church Cemetery
Remuera, Auckland Council, New Zealand
Coordinate: -36.8729300, 174.7801600

15. Savage Memorial
Auckland, Auckland Council, New Zealand
Coordinate: -36.8462500, 174.8259300

16. George Maxwell Memorial Cemetery
Avondale, Auckland Council, New Zealand
Coordinate: -36.8890320, 174.6849320

17. Ōrākei (Rautara St) Urupā
Orakei, Auckland Council, New Zealand
Coordinate: -36.8610770, 174.8188960

18. Saint Andrew's Churchyard
Epsom, Auckland Council, New Zealand
Coordinate: -36.8937200, 174.7654100

19. Saint Ninians Churchyard
Avondale, Auckland Council, New Zealand
Coordinate: -36.8994510, 174.6966690

20. St. Mary's Pioneer Cemetery
Torbay, Auckland Council, New Zealand
Coordinate: -36.6959500, 174.7512400

21. Purewa Cemetery
Meadowbank, Auckland Council, New Zealand
Coordinate: -36.8674300, 174.8297900

22. Auckland Provincial Memorial
Glen Eden, Auckland Council, New Zealand
Coordinate: -36.9020700, 174.6548500

23. Waikumete Cemetery & Crematorium
Glen Eden, Auckland Council, New Zealand
Coordinate: -36.9025130, 174.6539610

24. St. Thomas Churchyard
Tamaki, Auckland Council, New Zealand
Coordinate: -36.8675590, 174.8460560