Judge John Donaldson, a resident of Fremont county since 1884, now making his home at Teton, was born in England, September 30, 1842, while his parents, William and Rachel(Notman) Donaldson, were there on a visit. They were natives of Scotland and came to America in 1814, settling in Massachusetts. The father was employed at mechanical engineering in that state and he was interested in the first railroads built in this country. He remained in America until 1842, when he returned to England, being called there as a consulting engineer. Immediately after the birth of his son John, Mr. Donaldson returned with his family to the United States, taking up his abode in Boston. A few years later he was again called back to England and there met with an accident which occasioned his death. His widow remained in Great Britain with her son John, then a little lad of six or seven years, and he acquired his education in the schools of Edinburgh. When his textbooks were put aside they came to America and the mother resided in Boston throughout her remaining days, her death occurring in 1880. In early life John Donaldson entered the chemical department of a dye house and prepared materials for dyeing. He continued in that business in Scotland while attending school for three years, and after his return to Boston he engaged in clerking for a time. Later he was in an attorney's office and at the age of nineteen years went back to England, where he remained for one year. He then again came to the new world and made his home in Utah, where he located in 1863. He took up land in the Cache valley and improved and cultivated his farm there until 1882, when he once more went to England -on a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, remaining in that work for two years. He was released in 1884. after which he made his way direct to Fremont county, Idaho, where he took up more land near Teton. This, he at once began to cultivate and year after year tilled the soil until 1915. when he retired from active business cares and removed to Teton, where he has since made his home. In April, 1863, Judge Donaldson was married to Miss Mary Ann Kent and they became the parents of ten children: William, who is deceased; Mary A., the wife of John Butt; Marion, who has passed away; Rachel, who gave her hand in marriage to Jesse E. Bigler; Rhoda I., the widow of Israel Clark; Marion Etta, who is the wife of Harry Croft; Anna, the wife of James Jenson; John A., who married Maud Green and lives in Twin Falls; Alma, who married Jeanette Allen and resides in St. Anthony; and James C., deceased. With public interests Judge Donaldson was closely associated for many years. He has always given his allegiance to the republican party and has served as chairman of the republican county central committee through four elections. On one occasion he was elected to the state legislature of Idaho, but all people of his religious faith were unseated. He served as chairman of the first board of county commissioners of Fremont county and for eight years he filled the office of probate judge. He has also filled various offices in the church. He was bishop of Teton ward for ten years, has been a member of the high council of the Fremont stake and is now a patriarch. At one time he was editor of the first newspaper of Fremont county, called the Rexburg Press. Eight times he has crossed the Atlantic ocean and his experiences in life have been broad and varied, bringing to him wide knowledge and thorough understanding of men and conditions. His activities have been wisely and carefully directed and he has adhered to high standards of manhood and citizenship

John Donaldson  Birth Date 30 Sep. 1842 Death Date10 Feb. Evidence from genealogical and church (Perpetual Emigrating Fund) records proves he traveled to Utah in 1863. He married in Logan in April 1864, prior to the arrival of that season's emigration, proving that he had to have traveled overland in 1863. Company Unknown (1863) Age at Departure: 20 Sources Hawley, James H., History of Idaho: The Gem of the Mountains [1920], 2:816, 819. Perpetual Emigrating Fund Ledger Index, [1992, 2013