NAME, Years Elected to City Council

William A Donaldson (1837-1912) served on City Council in 1905. People suggested he run for a second term but he declined due to health.1 

POLITICAL AFFILIATION

 

BIO

Donaldson was born in Wisconsin and moved to Marysville, California with his family in 1860. According to his San Francisco Call obituary he was born in 1837 and died at 75. His San Francisco Chronicle obituary has him born in 1847 and dying at 65.6 There he married Nancy K. Nixon, a sister of George Nixon who was later a Senator from Nevada. He came to Oakland in 1876 and worked for many years at the Truckee Lumber Company.

Donaldson suffered from appendicitis which caused him to pull out of active life.2

Donaldson was a Freemason - member of the Brooklyn Lodge, and a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows  - Orion Lodge, member of the Royal Arch (Masons) and Oak Leaf Chapter Order of the Eastern Star (Freemasons - open to men and women).

He was cremated at the Oakland Crematorium.

At his death, Donaldson lived at 354 East 14th St. An earlier directory shows him living on 12th Street between Franklin and Webster.3 A 1906 directory shows him at 1253 Broadway.4 In 1906, Donaldson purchased property at 12th and Jackson for $21,000 in a real estate deal.5 

OTHER POSITIONS IN CITY GOVERNMENT

 

REFERENCES

  1. "W.A. Donaldson Stricken By Death at Age of 75." San Francisco Call: Aug 22, 1912.
  2. "W.A. Donaldson Stricken By Death."
  3. "Bishop's Directory." 1877.
  4. "Husted's Directory." 1906.
  5. "Other Real Estate Transfers of Week." San Francisco Chronicle: Mar 12, 1906.
  6. "OLD PIONEER DIES AT OAKLAND HOME." San Francisco Chronicle: Aug 22, 1912.
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