Gilbert S. Donaldson stands
forth as one of the most progressive and influential
citizens and business men of the thriving village of
McGregor, where he is the owner and operator of the
well-equipped electric light and power plant that
gives the best of service to the community. He has
broad and accurate knowledge concerning applied
electricity and was formerly associated with his
father in the control of the plant of which he is now
the sole owner, his residence at McGregor dating from
the year 1902.
Mr. Donaldson was born in
New Jersey on the 5th of April, 1878, and his
parents, Gilbert and Annie (Berryman) Donaldson, were
born and reared in the State of New York. He whose
name initiates this article was about 2 years of age
at the time of the family removal to Minnesota, and
there the devoted wife and mother was summoned to
eternal rest on the 8th of September, 1888, the
subject of this sketch being the eldest in a family
of six children: William, the second son, is a
resident of the city of Minneapolis; Lloyd maintains
his home at Boise, Idaho; Jean is the wife of
Professor George L. Martin, who is a member of the
faculty of the University of Montana, at Bozeman;
Jessie likewise is a resident of Bozeman, and Annie
died in infancy.
Gilbert Donaldson became
prominently identified with business activities in
Minnesota, where he continued his residence until
1902, when he came to Clayton county, Iowa, and
became associated with his son, Gilbert S., in the
ownership of the electric light and power plant at
McGregor. Here he continued to maintain his home
until 1909, when he sold his interest in the plant
and business to his son and removed to the city of
Boise, Idaho, where he now maintains his home.
Gilbert S. Donaldson
profited fully from the advantages afforded in the
public schools of Minnesota and after his graduation
in the Minneapolis high school he was for three years
a student in the University of Minnesota. He then
obtained a position in the employ of an electric
manufacturing company of Minneapolis, with which he
continued his association five years. He gained
excellent experience in connection with practical
electrical work and service, and after severing his
association with the company mentioned he went to the
city of Cincinnati, Ohio, where he remained for one
year in the employ of the Bullock Electric
Manufacturing Company. At the expiration of this
period he came to McGregor, Iowa, where he formed a
partnership association with his father in the
ownership of the local electric light and power
plant, of which he has been the sole owner since
1909, as previously stated, and the service of which
he keeps up to the best modern standard.
He is a loyal and
public-spirited citizen, is a Republican in his
political allegiance, and both he and his wife hold
membership in the Congregational church. On the 10th
of December, 1910, was solemnized the marriage of Mr.
Donaldson to Miss Caroline Peterson, who was born and
reared at McGregor and who is a daughter of S. J. and
Stella (Ramage) Peterson. Mr. and Mrs. Donaldson have
no children.
source: History of
Clayton County, Iowa; From The Earliest Historical
Times Down to the Present; by Realto E. Price,
Vol. II, 1916; pg. 92-93
-OCR scanned by S. Ferrall
