John Doonan (b. 1824)
Source: Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Monongalia, Marion and Taylor Counties, West Virginia
Rush, West & Company, Publishers, Philadelphia, PA. 1895.
Pages 13-14 (Taylor County section)
JOHN DOONAN, one of the earlier merchants of Grafton, who has achieved well-deserved success in his various business enterprises for the last quarter of a century, is a son of Hugh and Sarah (Gallaher) Doonan, and was born in county Leitrim, Ireland, April, 1824. He grew to manhood in his native county, received his education in the primary schools of Ireland, and in 1842 came to Hampshire county, where he was in the employ of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad company until 1854. In that year Mr. Doonan came to Grafton, then but a small hamlet of two or three houses, and embarked there in general mercantile business upon a small scale. As the years passed, the place grew, and Mr. Doonan’s business increased in proportion until he quit merchandizing in 1881, when his establishment was heavily stocked, and as fully adapted to the wants of a large and lucrative patronage as any house of its kind outside of the large cities. He had indulged a most justifiable pride in establishing a first-class business house, whose well-filled counters and shelves attested the industry and energy of their possessor. During his long and continuous career of twenty-seven years as a merchant of Grafton he had constant and unwavering faith in the growth and development of the place, and accordingly invested largely of his means in lots and buildings, which are now very valuable. Since retiring from the general mercantile business he has devoted his time largely to the personal management of various enterprises with which he was connected, and the direct supervision of his extensive real-estate interests. He now owns a large and valuable farm in Preston county, and has dealt some in other sections in real estate.
On November 20, 1847, Mr. Doonan wedded Elizabeth E. Pugh, of Allegany county, Maryland, who died September 18, 1880, aged forty eight years. After her death Mr. Doonan married, on December 18, 1881, Margaret Dealy, of Newburg, Preston county, this State.
In politics, Mr. Doonan has always supported the democratic party, a fact of which he is proud. While ardent as a democrat in political affairs, yet he has never sought for office, although he served one term as councilman, but declined further municipal service at the end of this his time. He has been a director of the First National bank of Grafton since its organization, and in various other ways contributed to the financial interest of his town. Mr. Doonan can well be denominated a self-made man, who commenced life for himself with limited means, and has attained a well deserved and prominent position as a leading and influential business man.