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William C. “Bill” McDonnell

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Birth	:	29 Apr 1825 Missouri, USA
Death	:	12 Apr 1893 Kellogg, Sonoma County, California, USA
Burial	:	Calistoga Pioneer Cemetery, Calistoga, Napa County, USA
Coordinate	:	38.5794411, -122.5932083
Inscription	:	CO. A FREMONT'S BATTALION CALVARY DIV [US ARMY] MEXICO WAR [1846-1847]
Description	:	Parents: Hamilton McDonnell (b. 23 Aug. 1791, Ireland; d. 27 Jan. 1829, New York City) and Ann Hunniford (b. 11 May 1798; d. 30 May 1857, Galena, Jo Daviess Co., Ill.[other sources say Moline, Rock Island Co., Ill.]). They were married 28 June 1818 in New York City. Ann and Hamilton had six children, three surviving to adulthood: Barbara (b. 1819), Robert (b. 1822), and William (b. 1825) McDonnell. Barbara married Marshall Keyes in 1840. In January 1853, Barbara and son joined her husband in California via the ship J.J. Cobb. Barbara and Marshall settled in the... Read More	Parents: Hamilton McDonnell (b. 23 Aug. 1791, Ireland; d. 27 Jan. 1829, New York City) and Ann Hunniford (b. 11 May 1798; d. 30 May 1857, Galena, Jo Daviess Co., Ill.[other sources say Moline, Rock Island Co., Ill.]). They were married 28 June 1818 in New York City. Ann and Hamilton had six children, three surviving to adulthood: Barbara (b. 1819), Robert (b. 1822), and William (b. 1825) McDonnell. Barbara married Marshall Keyes in 1840. In January 1853, Barbara and son joined her husband in California via the ship J.J. Cobb. Barbara and Marshall settled in the Healdsburg, Sonoma County, Calif. area. They are buried in Oak Mound Cemetery in Healdsburg. Not much is known about Robert. In April 1844, Robert McDonnell abruptly left home in Galena, Ill. where he'd been employed for a time in one of the many smelting furnaces. It is known that he became a second engineer of a steamboat on the Mississippi River. Ann Hunniford McDonnell married Robert Nicholson Tate in New York City on 24 Oct. 1831. Mr. Tate died 6 March 1886 in San Francisco. In 1841 William McDonnell moved, in company with his mother, sister and stepfather, to Lee County, Illinois. In 1844 William and his family proceeded to Jo Daviess County where Mr. Tate was an early partner of John Deere. William farmed and was active in lead mining until he departed for California in 1846. Bill's wife, Eleanor Graves, came to California in 1846-47 and her family was a member of the Donner Party. Bill also came to California in 1846 as a teamster for the Kellogg brothers (Florentine E. & Benjamin "Frank" Kellogg). Eleanor stayed with an American family at the Sonoma Presidio for a while, then moved to Napa Valley to live with her sister Sarah at the mill operated by Florentine Erwin Kellogg. After spending about one month near Dr. Bales' mill, in Napa County, McDonnell enlisted in the Mexican war under General John C. Fremont. After serving six months, he was discharged in May 1847 at San Gabriel Mission and returned to Sonoma on horseback. Bill and Eleanor "Ellen" Graves married 6 Sept. 1849 in Benecia, Solano County, CA. They returned to the present-day Calistoga where they made their home in a little cabin. It was here that their first child, Ann, was born 30 Oct. 1850. In December 1850, McDonnell took up 160 acres in nearby Knight's Valley [before it WAS Knight's Valley; see nx paragraph]. They built a house and developed a dairy. At some point, this home burned down. The earliest settler in Knight's Valley was William McDonald [sic; McDonnell], who came there from Napa county in the year 1850, and was the first to act as guide to the Geysers, visitors to the Springs being provided with saddle horses by him. Thomas Knight, from whom the valley takes its name, arrived in 1853, and purchased the property for the small sum of ten thousand dollars from Berryesa, a Spaniard, who had been located there for many years previous. A school was taught in the valley, on the land now owned by Calvin Holmes, by Charles Rushmore, in 1857, and is still used for that purpose, while service is occasionally held in it by a clergyman from Calistoga. (from an 1880 history of Knight's Valley Township) In 1885, McDonnell was involved with the Don't Care Mine in Lassen County. He also led guided saddle horse trips into the nearby natural geysers. He was also involved with selling John Deere plow equipment in San Francisco. By 1889, his ranch in Knights Valley had increased to 1200 acres and he had built a large house, "a wonderful old three-story structure," which his descendants remembered with great affection. Present-day Graves family descendants still hold annual reunions at the property. The McDonnells had ten children, six of whom lived to adulthood. William died in Knights Valley, Sonoma Co., CA. Eleanor lived out the rest of her life on the ranch she and William had built. She suffered greatly from rheumatism in her later years and sometimes would be taken up to The Geysers on a stretcher, where the hot water relieved her pain. Less than a year later Eleanor followed him, dying at the age of 61. She was laid to rest beside her husband in the Calistoga Pioneer Cemetery. He was known as Uncle Billy to his nieces and nephews. His brother-in-law, William C. Graves, was known as "Uncle Will". Thanks to Kristin Johnson for much of the above information. Kristin is a Donner Party historian. Also, thanks to Connie Fairfield Ganz's book, "The Man Behind the Plow: Robert N. Tate, Early Partner of John Deere" for information about "Uncle Billy's" early life. Note: William McDonnell and his wife Eleanor Graves McDonnell are found in the 1850 U.S. Census for Napa Co., CA (14 Oct.) Their neighbors were M.D. Ritchie and his family; his son William Ritchie who had married Sarah Graves Fosdick, a survivor of the Donner Party tragedy and their son, George Leet Ritchie who was 1 yr old. Sarah was Eleanor's sister. The William Houston Nash family was also living nearby. William's wife, Mary Ann Cyrus Nash was a sister-in-law to Sarah Graves Fosdick Ritchie as her brother, John Cyrus, married her sister, Lovina Graves. Also Reason Tucker lived nearby and also the Harbin family. Since the Enoch Cyrus family were also neighbors, the census is for Hot Springs Township which is now known as Calistoga, Napa Co., CA. Henry Owsley and his family are nearby too. These families are all inter-related by marriage. Also William C. Graves, brother to Eleanor and Lovina Graves mentioned above, lived nearby and was farming. Peter Storm, well-known, as the creator of the Bear Flag of the Bear Flag Rebellion in Sonoma, CA, lived right nx to William C. Graves. The census was taken 14 October 1850 and William and Eleanor had their first child, Anne McDonnell on 30 October 1850! Note: Excerpt from book written by a George E. Nash about his Nash relatives: The wagon train with our relatives left St. Joseph, Missouri on April 16, 1846, and arrived in California the last of October 1846. There were three wagons at first. The immigrants included: Enoch and Rebecca Cyrus and 4 children. (relatives) Henry Owsley and Frances Cyrus Owsley and 4 children (relatives) William H. Nash and Mary Cyrus Nash and 2 children (relatives) E. Kellog and wife and 3 children Mr. Hillingsworth and wife and 3 children James Smith and wife and 3 children Calvin Musgrave and wife and son Grovenor Boggs and family Mr. Imman and family Frank Kellogg William MacDonald Mr. Lewis Manerva and Ann Fowler Most of these families show up as neighbors in the 1850 Napa Valley census as mentioned above. William died at home in Knight's Valley, Sonoma Co., CA.

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is William C. “Bill” McDonnell's memorial?
William C. “Bill” McDonnell's memorial is located at: Calistoga Pioneer Cemetery, Calistoga, Napa County, USA.
When did William C. “Bill” McDonnell death?
William C. “Bill” McDonnell death on 12 Apr 1893 in Kellogg, Sonoma County, California, USA
Where are the coordinates of the William C. “Bill” McDonnell's memorial?
Latitude: 38.5794411
Longitude: -122.5932083

Family Members:

Parent

Spouse

Eleanor Graves McDonnell

(1832 - 1894)

Siblings

Ann Morton Tate Fairfield

(1832 - 1912)

Children

Charles McDonnell

(1852 - 1939)

Lillus “Lillie” McDonnell

(1857 - 1873)

Robert McDonnell

(1859 - 1859)

Franklin McDonnell

(1861 - 1873)

Henry McDonnell

(1864 - 1946)

William Preston McDonnell

(1872 - 1873)

Louisa “Louise” McDonnell Decker

(1877 - 1945)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Calistoga Pioneer Cemetery
Calistoga, Napa County, USA
Coordinate: 38.5794411, -122.5932083

2. MHR Redwood Grove Memorial
Calistoga, Napa County, USA
Coordinate: 38.5674930, -122.6536530

3. Pride Mountain Vineyard Burial
Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, USA
Coordinate: 38.5257300, -122.5662470

4. John Zegras Gravesite
Calistoga, Napa County, USA
Coordinate: 38.5765630, -122.5159350

5. Biter Family Cemetery
Calistoga, Napa County, USA
Coordinate: 38.5841360, -122.5071720

6. Sharp Creek Cemetery
Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, USA
Coordinate: 38.5505981, -122.6713028

7. Pioneer Cemetery
Calistoga, Napa County, USA
Coordinate: 38.5485720, -122.5134110

8. Willard D Hammond Gravesite
Calistoga, Napa County, USA
Coordinate: 38.5854940, -122.5020180

9. Evergreen Cemetery
Kellogg, Sonoma County, USA
Coordinate: 38.6357002, -122.6802979

10. Mark West Cemetery
Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, USA
Coordinate: 38.5482830, -122.7229580

11. Grace Episcopal Church Cemetery
Saint Helena, Napa County, USA
Coordinate: 38.5030540, -122.4692690

12. Duvall Cemetery
Napa County, USA
Coordinate: 38.6508970, -122.4627180

13. Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery
Saint Helena, Napa County, USA
Coordinate: 38.4945870, -122.4749230

14. Saint Helena Cemetery
Saint Helena, Napa County, USA
Coordinate: 38.4925630, -122.4766370

15. Ner Tamid Jewish Cemetery
Saint Helena, Napa County, USA
Coordinate: 38.4924620, -122.4738370

16. Rudd Family Cemetery
Saint Helena, Napa County, USA
Coordinate: 38.4864200, -122.4745700

17. Catron Cemetery
Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, USA
Coordinate: 38.4796982, -122.7083969

18. Pythian Home Cemetery
Kenwood, Sonoma County, USA
Coordinate: 38.4443016, -122.5812988

19. Faught Cemetery
Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, USA
Coordinate: 38.5186005, -122.7574005

20. Old County Cemetery
Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, USA
Coordinate: 38.4669991, -122.7083969

21. Pioneer Cemetery
Windsor, Sonoma County, USA
Coordinate: 38.5624500, -122.7769700

22. Valley Cemetery
Pope Valley, Napa County, USA
Coordinate: 38.6470570, -122.4255870

23. Las Posadas Pioneer Cemetery
Napa County, USA
Coordinate: 38.5581017, -122.4044037

24. Santa Rosa Memorial Park
Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, USA
Coordinate: 38.4597015, -122.7071991