John "Archie" Donaldson and Edna Blanch Shields

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Husband John "Archie" Donaldson

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           Born: 4 Jun 1892 - Nickleville, Richland Twp, Venango Co, PA
     Christened: 
           Died: 25 Nov 1981 - ? Florida
         Buried: 

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         Father: John Hall Donaldson (1847-1916)
         Mother: Hannah Jane Nickle (1851-1925)

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       Marriage: 15 Jul 1913 - St. Petersburg, Richland Twp, Clarion Co, PA

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Wife Edna Blanch Shields

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           Born: 20 Mar 1893
     Christened: 
           Died: 29 Oct 1981
         Buried: 

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Children

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1 M Carl Shields Donaldson

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           Born: 14 Sep 1915
     Christened: 
           Died: Jan 1991
         Buried:  - Zion Union Cemetery (Old Zion), Mariasville, Richland Twp, Venango Co, PA 1

         Spouse: Grace Louise Johnson (1916-1981)
           Marr: 15 Jul 1936

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2 M Kenneth Earl Donaldson

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           Born: 9 May 1928
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 

         Spouse: Marian Ethlyn Card (1927-      )
           Marr: 5 Aug 1948

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3 M Robert William Donaldson ^{2 3}

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           Born: 13 Jul 1924 2
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 

         Spouse: Martha Bell Smith (1925-      ) 3 4
           Marr: 3 Jan 1946 2 3

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General Notes: Husband - John "Archie" Donaldson

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SARASOTA WELFARE HOME, INC.
November 10 - 23, 1980
RESIDENT OF THE MONTH
ARCHIE DONALDSON was born in Emlenton, Pennsylvania on June 4, 1892.
He grew up and attended a country school there. He was graduated from a 3-year high school in 1910. That summer he joined a painting gang - painting farm buildings for $1.25 per DAY plus board. He also attended Edensburg State Teachers College.
He taught at his old country school in 1912 when there was 42 students. He had to leave after two years due to health problems. He later taught in a 7-month school for $8.40 per MONTH. (A 7-month school is one where it is too cold to go in the winter and too hot to go in the summer - so they go in the fall and spring).
In 1913 he was a clerk in a general store when he met the maiden who made his heart skip a beat!! He and EDNA SHIELDS were married on July 15, 1913 by a Country Preacher in St. Petersburg, PENN. They went to the Conewango Valley in New York State where they lived for two years before returning to Akron, Ohio where Archie worked for the Goodrich Rubber Company as Foreman and Supervisor of Production. However, the sulpher in the rubber caused ill health and they left Akron to return to PENN. There he purchased his grandfather's farm, which he rebuilt, and specialized in raising potatoes - growing over 100 acres at one time. During WW II he shipped potatoes by car lots to Army camps in Florida. Also at that time he bought and used the first rubber-tired tractor and had the first farm combine in that section of PENN. He took the Agency for same and sold and delivered many of these to other farmers.
When he returned to PENN he was elected School Director in the Town­ship Schools, followed by Auditor, then Justice of the Peace, where he served for 18 years.
He was Director of Penn State Potato Growers Association for twelve years, President of same for 3 years, working with and holding meetings over the State as Chairman with Dr. E. L. Nixon, potato specialist, as speaker. Dr. Nixon being the uncle of Richard M. Nixon of whom he heard much about from his uncle Ernest.
Archie was director of the Allegheny Valley Rural Electric Coop for several years and was the first president of the Penn Electric Coop.
About this time he developed an allergy to cold - being unable to stand temperatures below 50 degrees. His doctor in Sarasota (where they wintered) and later his doctor in PENN both suggested they come to Florida - which Archie & Edna did in 1948. They spent winters here as trailerites continuing to go North in the summers. They attended First Presbyterian Church while they were trailerites, where Archie sang in the Choir for many years as a bass. However, in 1960 they purchased a home and began attending Northminster Presbyterian Church near their home. Archie helped out with the choir as conductor for some time here. However, they missed their trailer life and friends and moved back to Sarasota Mobile Home Park where Archie sang in the Park Choir and conducted the song services for several seasons. He has also sang with the choir that presents "The Messiah" each year here in Sarasota. They returned to First Presbyterian when they returned to the Mobile Home Park. The lived in the Park until coming to the Home this past Spring.
Edna came to the Home to live first and Archie followed her two months later, being unable to care for himself at 88 years of age. They are both happy with our family here at the Home and Archie says everyone is taking good care of them and he fully appreciates it.
Archie was an expert with shuffleboard, played golf at Foxberg Golf Course which is the oldest course in the United States. He also plays bridge, pinochle and canasta. He is a 32nd degree Mason and Shriner and held several offices in the climb up to the 32nd degree. He has a 50-year pin from each - the Masonic Lodge, the Odd Fellows and The Grange.
When Archie retired at 65 he turned his business over to one of his sons who still has it.
Archie and Edna have had a full life and only recently (July) they celebrated 67 years of happiness together. When asked his secret of a happy marriage - Archie replied, "The wife makes all the little decisions and the husband all the big ones. So far we haven't had any BIG ones!!"
Archie lives in room 508 and Edna is in 117b where Archie is found much of the time. Stop by and say 'hello' to them. They are a beautiful couple and you will enjoy visiting with them.

SSDI: JOHN DONALDSON 04 Jun 1892 Nov 1981 33577 (Florida) (none specified) 179-28-0255 Pennsylvania

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General Notes: Wife - Edna Blanch Shields

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SSDI: EDNA DONALDSON 20 Mar 1893 Oct 1981 33577 (Florida) (none specified) 263-82-2004 Florida

1 Venango County Historical Society, Venango County Pennsylvania Cemetery Records and Early Church Histories, Vol. 4, Richland Township (Franklin, PA: Venango County Historical Society, 1996), Pg 60.

2 D. Kipp Melat, The Melat Family 1799 - 1989 (Franklin, PA: Self-published, 1989), Pg 74.

3 Mrs. Harold V. Linn, Daniel Smith - Pioneer Settler of Rockland Township, Venango County, Pennsylvania (Venango County, PA: Privately published, 1961), Pg 22.

4 D. Kipp Melat, The Melat Family 1799 - 1989 (Franklin, PA: Self-published, 1989), Pg 47.