Col. George B. Donavin
Col. George B. Donavin, a distinguished citizen and business man of Columbus, Ohio, was for many years prominently identified with the business interests of the city of Delaware. He was founder and is president of the various George B. Donavin enterprises of Columbus, which include: The George B. Donavin Co., dealing in uniforms and military merchandise, of which he is also manager, Mr. S. G. Smith being secretary and treasurer; The Capitol Clothing Company, makers of the Capitol Hand Made Clothing, of which Mr. J. A. Metcalf is secretary and manager; and the Quad Stove Manufacturing Company, of which Mr. J. M. Armstrong is secretary and manager.
Colonel Donavin was born in Mt. Vernon, Ohio, August 27, 1858, and is a son of John Wesley and Catherine (Trone) Donavin. His great-grandfather. John Donavin, was the first of the family to locate on American soil, coming at an early day from the North of Ireland. He was originally a weaver by trade and upon shipping, signed his name Donovan and gave his trade as that of a weaver. He was taken from the vessel by the King's Guard because tradesmen were not allowed to leave the country, and for this reason he renounced his trade. He then signed as Donavin, changing the spelling of his name, and gave his occupation as that of laborer. Having renounced his trade for the purpose of emigrating, his conscience forbid him returning to it, and he worked as a laborer and farmer the remainder of his days. He died in 1864, at a very advanced age. He located near Shippensburg, Pennsylvania, where his son, Levi Kirkwood Donavin, grandfather of our subject, was born. The latter, in 1869, moved to Ohio, where he died in May, 1887, at the age of 81 years. He married Mary K. McConnell, of Shippensburg, Pennsylvania, who was born in 1800 and died in 1894.
John Wesley Donavin was born in Shippensburg, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, February 16, 1833, and there received his educational training in the common schools. He learned the trade of a cigar maker, and followed it in his native place and at Mt. Vernon, Ohio, whither he moved in 1853. He continued his trade at the latter place about four years, then entered the employ of George B. Potwin, a wholesale grocer. In 1864 he came to Delaware, Ohio, and established a retail grocery and produce business, in partnership with his former employer, under the firm name of Donavin & Potwin. This continued until the death of Mr. Potwin three years later, when his interest was purchased by John Stough, a brother-in-law of Mr. Donavin. The firm of Donavin & Stough continued until 1870, after which Mr. Donavin carried on the business alone until 1873, it being located where the Candy Kitchen now is. He then sold out to organize, instruct and manage the Original Tennesseeans, an organization of singers under the authority of the Freedmen's Aid Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church, which attained fame throughout this country. It was the most successful venture of the kind ever undertaken, the organization continuing for a period of 13 years, and under the capable management of Mr. Donavin was a distinct financial success. They sang plantation melodies and appeared in nearly every state in the Union, and we may safely say no man did more to bring the name of Delaware prominently before the people than did Mr. Donavin. He made friends by the thousands in all parts of the country, and was particularly well known to the Methodists, from the highest dignitaries to the sextons of the church. He was endowed with unusual natural ability as a choral director. He was in charge of the William Street M. E. Church choir from 1864 until 1873, and was director of the Harmonic Society, a chorus of 90 voices. In 1868 he organized a political glee club, composed of girls whose ages ranged from 12 to 18 years, which sang political songs and became famed throughout the district. From that time until his death he was depended upon by the Republican campaign managers to furnish the music. In 1883 Mr. Donavin and his sons, Levi K. and George B., purchased the American House in Delaware, which they remodelled in 1885, and the hotel has since been operated under the name of The Hotel Donavin. John W. Donavin retired from the amusement business in 1886, and thereafter conducted the hotel until his death, June 28, 1893. He was a man much loved and respected, and his death was mourned as an irreparable loss to the community in which he had lived so many years. He was united in marriage with Catherine, a daughter of Charles Trone, of Shippensburg, Pennsylvania, and they had three children, as follows; L. Kirkwood, of Columbus; Colonel George B.; and Marie, a professional concert singer of New York City, whose musical training was had under Madame Marchesi of Paris. Religiously, he and his wife were both active members of the William Street M. E. Church. Next to religion came politics with him, and although he was always an active worker for Republican success, be was never an office seeker. He was honored by his party with the nomination for State Senator at one time, but as the district was then overwhelmingly Democratic, the odds againsl him were too heavy and he was defeated. He joined Hiram Lodge, No. 18, F. & A. M., in the early sixties; and Delaware Lodge, K. P., in 1888.
George B. Donavin attended the public schools of Delaware, and Ohio Wesleyan University, after which he entered upon his business career. He was first clerk for T. C. O'Kane when be opened his bookstore, on September 1, 1873, and continued in that employment for two years. He then learned the trade of a printer with the Delaware Herald, and in 1878 joined his father as advance agent for The Tennesseeans. He remained with that organization until August, 1885, when Hotel Donavin was opened with him as manager. He continued in that capacity until October, 1889. then was with the Delaware Electric Light Company one year as manager. At the end of that time he purchased a one-third interest in the clothing business of R. S. Stern & Co., now known as the Standard Clothing Company. In 1893 he purchased the Stern interest and changed the name of the firm to George B. Donavin & Co. In June, 1895, a branch store was established in Columbus under the name of the Capitol Clothing Co., with John A. Metcalf as half owner and manager. The business was incorporated in April, 1902, with Mr. Donavin as president, and is one of the largest and most successful clothing houses in the city. January 1, 1898, the Delaware store was moved to Columbus and consolidated with the Capitol. In conjunction with Mr. Joseph A. H. Myers, he, in 1897, invented the army cooking stove, and April, 1898, Mr. Metcalf succeeded to Mr. Myers interest. For three years these portable cooking ranges were sold to the United States Government under the firm name of George B. Donavin & Co., and sub-contracts let to stove manufacturers. The business grew with such rapidity that it was decided to organize a new company to engage in their manufacture, and in April, 1901, the Quad Stove Manufacturing Company was incorporated, with Mr. Donavin as president and John M. Armstrong, formerly of Pumphrey & Armstrong of Delaware, as secretary and general manager. In 1907 the company erected a two-story brick building on First Avenue, east of High, where they have since conducted a thriving business. The George B. Donavin Company was a part of the business in Delaware as early as 1894, making uniforms and military merchandise. It was moved to Columbus and was maintained as a departmenl of the Capitol Clothing Company, until January, 1907. Its growth made it necessary to seek larger quarters and separate incorporation, with the result that the George B. Donavin Company was incorporated and installed at Nos. 9-17 South High Street. Mr. Donavin is a director in the Security Savings Bank Company, and has other business interests.
Colonel Donavin became a member of Hiram Lodge, No. 18, F. & A. M., at Delaware, and now holds membership in Magnolia Lodge. No. 20, at Columbus; he is a member of Olentangy Lodge, I. O. O. F., at Delaware, and assisted in the organization of Delaware Lodge, No. 76, B. P. O. E., of which he was secretary four years and is past exalted ruler. He was one of the members of the original Lodge, I. O. R. M. He has been especially prominent in the work of the Knights of Pythias. He joined Lenape Lodge. No. 29, in July, 1882, of which he is past chancellor and for 12 years has served as grand master of exchequer of the State of Ohio; he also was Sir Kinght in Delaware Division. No. 14. U. R. K. P., beginning in 1882. He was elected lieutenant and then became quartermaster of the First Regiment, and was appointed colonel and assistant commissary general of the Ohio Brigade. U. R. K. P., now serving as colonel on the retired list. He became a member of Company K, of Delaware, Fourth Regular O. N. G., and was detailed as assistant to the quartermaster of the regiment. In 1893 he was commissioned captain and quartermaster of the regiment, and as such was mustered into the service of the United States in 1898, serving under Generals Miles, Brookes and Grant in the Porto Rican campaign. In January, 1901, he was appointed colonel and assistant quartermaster-general by Governor Nash, and served four years in that office, then being placed on the retired list with the rank of colonel.
Colonel Donavin was united in marriage with Edith S. Jones, a daughter of David S. and Lenore Jones, of Marion, Ohio, and they have three children, namely: Lieutenant Charles S., Twenty-seventh United States Infantry, was graduated from West Point in 1905, and served in Cuba during 1906-1907, April 30, 1908, he was detailed as instructor in the United States Military Academy, where he will be stationed for four years. He was born May 12, 1882; Kirkwood H., born June 16, 1886, is a member of the Class of 1908 at the Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland, and has been assigned duty on the battleship Kentucky, with the fleet now going around the world; Mary Lenora, born October 16, 1890, is receiving her educational training at Gunston Hall, Washington. D. C. Religiously, Colonel Donavin and his family are members of St. Paul's Episcopal Church at Columbus. He is an unswerving Republican in politics, and while a resident of Delaware took an active part in the affairs of his party. He served four years as treasurer of Delaware Township. He is a man representative of the highest type of citizenship, has made a success of everything he has undertaken, and enjoys the confidence and esteem of the people to a marked degree.
From 20th Century History of Delaware County, Ohio, and Representative Citizens, Edited and compiled by James R. Lytle, Delaware, Ohio, Biographical Publishing Co., Chicago, 1908