1865 Edwin Milton Donaldson Photo, 191st PA, New Galilee Beaver County

#885: Civil War Co. K 191st PA

On reverse: "Mr. E.M. Donaldson, New Galilee, Beaver Co." is handwritten in old early period pencil. Photo Type: Original vintage Victorian CDV Carte de Visite Photograph, circa 1860’s, Civil war era. Photographer: Photographer: Unmarked, Unknown.

This is a wonderful antique occupational CDV of a PA Civil War Veteran of Co. K 191st PA regiment,  and a rare find. It depicts an image of a young cooper, holding his tools and on an early barrel. This is Edwin M. Donaldson, a son of "Henry Donaldson Son's", which was a prominent business in Beaver Co., PA which included coopering and the manufacture of white lead kegs. he is also known as EM Donaldson and Edwin Milton Donaldson, his true name. 

Found in Public Genealogy Records:
Edwin Milton Donaldson 1846-1918, known all his life as "E.M. Donaldson" he was born in Brooklyn NY, lived in Beaver County PA for 40 years and died in 1918 at age 72 in East Palestine, Columbiana County, Ohio. He had moved there in 1913 with his family.

His Father: Henry Donaldson 1816–1890 was born in New York City, New York and died age 74 in Beaver County, Pennsylvania. His father's siblings were Joseph Donaldson born 1814; George W. Donaldson 1818–1890; and Elisha Donaldson or Elisha H. Donaldson 1820–1878. His father's first wife and Edwin's mother was Ann Donaldson, who died at age 44, during the American Civil War in Beaver County, Pennsylvania. His father's second wife was Caroline E. Donaldson, born 1827. She was still alive in 1900 living in New Galilee, Beaver, Pennsylvania, listed as a "widow." Her death date is unknown.

His Mother: Ann Proctor Donaldson 1819–1863 was born in England to Charles Proctor 1791-1872 (or Charles Procter), a printer who emigrated to Brooklyn from Charlton Kings, Gloucestershire, England. She died in September 1863, during the Civil War in Beaver County, Pennsylvania. Her own mother was Anne Proctor 1790–1864, born on the Isle of Man and died in Brooklyn, Kings County, New York. Her siblings were: Edwin, born 1820; Charles born 1823; Jane born 1825; Emma 1826–1905; James 1827–1874 and her brother Henry William Proctor 1828–1863, who died age 34 during the Civil War at Regional Hospital, Norfolk, Virginia. Their surname is seen spelled as both Procter and Proctor.

Edwin's Siblings:
Henry M Donaldson 1845–1924
William M Donaldson 1849–1922
Jane A Donaldson born 1850
Emma Donaldson Piper 1854–1917
Theresa E Donaldson 1855–1859, died age 4
Edgar Donaldson
Marcus W Donaldson

His wife: Mary Ann Davis Donaldson 1851–1930, born in New York and died in East Palestine, Columbiana County, Ohio. Her parents were David Davis, born in Wales and Susan M. Kabe Davis, born in Ireland.

Their 4 children were:
Gertrude Cecelia Donaldson McCommon 1872–1939
Edwin Elsworth Donaldson 1874–1875 died as an infant, buried in PA 
Charles Earl Donaldson 1877–1946 (known as C.E. Donaldson)
George Byron Donaldson born 1880 (known as G.B. Donaldson)

Edwin M Donaldson in the 1870 United States Federal Census
Age in 1870: 24
Birth Year: abt 1846
Birthplace: New York
Home in 1870: New Galilee, Beaver, Pennsylvania
Occupation: Cooper
Father: Henry Donaldson
Mother: Caroline Donaldson 43 
Household, Age:
Henry M Donaldson 25
Edwin M Donaldson 24
Ham Donaldson 20 (Jane Donaldson)
Emma F Donaldson 17

Edwin M. Donaldson in the US Civil War Pension Index:
General Index to Pension Files, 1861-1934
Name: Edwin M Donaldson
Place Filed: Pennsylvania and Ohio
Relation to Head: Soldier
Spouse: Mary A. Donaldson

1890 Veterans Schedules
Name: Edwin M. Donaldson
Role: Veteran
Residence Date: Jun 1890
Home in 1890 (Township, County, State)
Big Beaver and New Galilee, Beaver, Pennsylvania
Enumeration District 167
Year enlisted 1865: Year discharged 1865
Rank Private
Household Members Name Age
Edwin M. Donaldson

Edwin's family is buried at the Reformed Presbyterian White Church Cemetery in New Galilee, Beaver County, Pennsylvania. His father, Henry Donaldson opened a cooper shop in New Galilee, opened in 1863, during the Civil War. He is seen here with his tools, presumably taken at the time he was working at the shop. He moved to Ohio in 1913, 5 years before his death and is buried with his family at the Glenview Cemetery, East Palestine, Columbiana County, Ohio.

This is a stunning 19th c. original image found in Prospect, Butler County, Pennsylvania. Occupational CDV photos are rare and this is wonderfully identified. Edwin was a member of the G.A.R, Grand Army of the Republic, a US Civil War veteran organization.

Size: 2.5 x 4 inches
      Note: Hello from ~debra. I have spent years collecting over 10,000 ID’d lost family photos & paper from US flea markets & antique shops. I do the best gen research I can, but am always open to corrections. This is an original antique item, not a reprint. A new high quality rigid sleeve is included for extra protection, especially during shipping. You may buy a piece alone, or large intimate 300 dpi scans of the front and back sent immediately via email, or both. Please search carefully, as they are often found together and many may be related. I also invite you to join me at Ancestorville Genealogy on facebook. Thank you, enjoy! ~Debra Clifford (contact info on top bar)