DONATHAN EXPANDED FAMILY REUNION HELD AT MAGAZINE, ARKANSAS JUNE 22-23, 1974 The reunion was a great success and everyone had a good time. There is no way to adequately express thanks to Willard Starling for all he did to make the entire effort run so smoothly. We net in a beautiful, air conditioned auditorium graciously provided by the Magazine High School. A Classroom was set up for displays and kitchen facilities were provided to feed the crowd. Food was provide by the people in attendance bringing picnic type food, such as salads, pies, ham, etc. All the food was put out and everyone ate together. We went through a line to fill our paper plates and ate in the auditorium. Tours were provided to show interested parties the old cemeteries where Donathans were buried and other sites of interest. On Sunday we held a business meeting, the report of which is included in this booklet. A number of people expressed great interest in having copies of some of the available material and means were discussed as to haw something like this could be made available, It would be a monumental job to organize and write up everything in a short time, and it seems that an ideal solution is to put out this booklet as a report on the 1974 reunion ind include genealogy on persons present. Also you will find included some of the old gamily history. It is intended to use up any and all surplus money that was taken up to pay expenses to put out enough copies to be fairly sure that everyone who was at the reunion will get to see one. Anyone who does not get one can obtain one by sending two dollars to cover costs of copying, or just get hold of one and have it copied himself. It is realized that there will be typographical errors and some of the registration information is hard to read and incomplete. Corrections should be mailed to me and I will post them at the next reunion son that everyone will get a chance to correct their own copies. It is anticipated that we will put out another booklet after the next reunion with genealogy on those present and other material not included in this booklet and that will supplement this one. The next would include charts or other different material. We expect to see you all next June in Magazine. Please send me any suggestions to make it better or more informative. Russell L. Donathan 716 E. Th Okmulgee, Okla. 74447 The First National "DONATHAN" Family Reunion MINUTES The 1st National "Donathan" Family Reunion was held June 22 & 23, 1974 at Magazine, Arkansas. Dr. Russell Donathan, Okmulgee presided at the business meeting with Mrs. Clarence Idsardi writing the minutes. Eleven states were represented: California, Missouri, New Mexico, New Jersey, Colorado, Texas, Mississippi, North Carolina, Tennessee, Arkansas, and Oklahoma, with approximately 150 in attendance during the two day meet. It was moved and seconded that they hold the meeting again next year and have it at Magazine, Arkansas at the same place. The dates for next years reunion will be June 21 and 22, 1975. A collection was taken to help defray the expenses already encountered and to help in sending out copies of the family history. Discussion was held relative to printing some form of history of the information that Russell had accumulated in the past two years and how it could be placed in some form of record. It was agreed that each branch of the Donathan's would compile a record of their decedents and have it at next years reunion. Plaques were presented to the following: Mary Edna Broome, Delta, Colorado, as the oldest relative present, She was 86 years old. The youngest was 2 year old Tanya Thornsberry. The person traveling the greatest distance was Mrs. Henry (Polly) Donathan of Ventura, California. Mrs. John Edwards, Dallas is the oldest living relative (94 years old), She is the aunt of Debbs Donathan, grandson of Charles Henry Donathan. A card was signed by all present. Debbs was to take this to her and bring her up-to-date on the reunion. 1977 Donathan Family Reunion Members of the Donathan family came from California, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Colorado, Texas, New Jersey, New Mexico, and Missouri for a National reunion at Henryetta, Oklahoma, June 18 and 19. One hundred and forth people registered at the door and it was reported that several did not register. A barbecue was held Saturday the 18th and Sunday morning the people from out to town were invited to attend church services with local relatives. Sunday afternoon a picnic was held at Nichols Park and the remains of the barbecue were finished off. Awards were given to the person traveling the greatest distance, the oldest person present, and the youngest person present. The oldest person present was Edna Broome, of Delta, Colorado. She was eighty nine years young. The youngest person present was Rhiannon Donathan. She was four months old and Ike Donathan Jr.'s youngest, oldest, and only grandchild. Though she is the daughter of Gary and Trisha Donathan, grandpa Ike takes full credit for her. The person traveling the greatest distance to attend was Andrew Harmatiuk from Bernardsville, New Jersey. Andy was in a close race with some west coast kin. A major part of the barbecue preparation was done by sons of Ike Donathan Sr. and Olen Donathan. Both of these men were well known to the people of Okmulgee County, especially the farm people. Some of the older people will remember the service Olen rendered on the County Excise Board. Most of the Donathans now residing in Okmulgee County, Oklahoma are descended from "Buck" Donathan. Buck was the oldest son of Dan Donathan. Dan was killed at Magazine, Arkansas by three bushwhackers while home from the Civil War. His brothers shot and killed two of the bushwhackers and when Buck was thirteen years old he started to hunt for the third. After a four year hunt he found his man and killed him. Buck found himself in Texas and married to Sally Lang. Sally died in childbirth and Buck came to the Whitefield, Indian Territory area. At Whitefield, Buck's brother Henry became a Deputy U.S. Marshall under J. J. McAlester. McAlester, Oklahoma was named after J. J. McAlester. Buck married Adeline Powell and was a neighbor to Belle Starr when she was killed. Adeline was a great aunt to Jack Powell Sr., a well known packing plant owner in Okmulgee. Adeline had seven children and then died in childbirth. Of these children, Ike, Olen, and Bob, in years to come, raised their families in Okmulgee County. After Adeline's death, Buck married Martha Bashaw Wood, a widow, and moved to the Paden, Indian Territory area. Martha was one of the local women who helped prepare Belle Starr for burial. Buck and Martha had nine children. Buck farmed in the Paden area with a yoke of Oxen. Ike, Olen, and Bob became well known in Okmulgee County, especially to the farmers and cattleman. They settled along side Duck's brother Dan, and his offspring. Bob was a farmer. Olen was storekeeper, operating a country store in the Homeycreek area with Ike, his sometimes partner. Of course, they all did some farming, but Ike was more interested in the cattle industry. In the fifties, Ike and his sons started the Okmulgee Livestock Auction Sale at the old rock barn at Second and Choctaw in Okmulgee. Ike and his wife, Alice ran a "help yourself" laundry just east of the Sale Barn. Gene was the Auctioneer, Bluford and Drew worked with the buyers and sellers, and Ike "Bossed" the whole show. Wives and sisters ran the office. Pauline Kennedy , Pansy Pruett, and Lois Donathan kept the books straight. Drew sold out his interest and took over the Sale at Henryetta. A holiday Inn now stands where the Henryetta Sale Barn was. The Sale Barn was a meeting place, a social gathering place, and may things to many people. Before the cattle were auctioned, the "junk" sale was held. Every conceivable item was sold, from plows to fence posts, and from cream separators to shotguns. Anything a farmer had no further use for would be sold at auction. People gathered in droves to look and visit. Eventually the business was sold and move to the "Old Serum Plant" south of town. One of the high points in Ike's life was his being commissioned and Honorary Colonel of the Governor's Staff by Gov. Roy Turner. He dad been diapered by Belle Starr, worked as a ranch hand with Gene Autry, associated with Col. Zack Miller of the 101 Ranch, and was one of an almost vanished breed. 1981 DONATHAN EXTENDED FAMILY REUNION ATTENTION FOLKS: The 1983 reunion will be at Magazine, Arkansas and Willard has confirmed that it will be the third weekend in June. Remember, be at the same place we have met before in Magazine on the third Saturday in June. Sunday will be free to do as you wish (son long as the police don't object). It would be good to have some sort of program on Saturday or Saturday night, so if you play an instrument or can get up some entertainment, let me know. Any other ideas will be appreciated. Let us all bring something to eat, and most of all, BE THERE. If in doubt as to what to bring, there will be grocery stores around so you can pick up what is needed after you get there. The 1981 reunion was at Henryetta on June 20 and 21. In attendance were people form Oklahoma, Arkansas, Texas, Missouri, Minn., and California. There were some who did not register, but following are some family groups who were on record. (Don't forget to register in Magazine; some of us hungry relatives might want to know where you are so we can mooch a free meal.) The "Buck" Donathan family was the largest group present. These included Judy Tracy, Pete Donathan, Drucilla Morris, Don and Darlene Bartolina and family, Philip and Pat Bissett, R. L. Donathan and family, Gary Donathan, Pauline Daniel, Eugene Donathan, Mike Donathan, Frank and Margaret Donathan, Dortha Welch, Ike and Nora Donathan, Mr. and Mrs. Lincoln Broyles, Dale Donathan and family, Ron and Calella Black and family, Darrell and Maxine Dukes, Leonard Donathan, Elmer and Inez Eib, Joe and Mildred Dukes, Verna Stastny, Vivian Slayton, Della Hudson, Ray Woods, Ruth Donathan, Lucille Caywood, Sue Lanning, Willie and Oleta Donathan, Kathy Donathan, Brian Keith Donathan, Earl Donathan, Pansy Houghton, Maine and Elvin Fagundes, Mr. and Mrs. Bob Shaffer, Edna Haddleston, Clifford and Bernice Parrett, Terri Morris, Bluford and Leona Donathan, Levoy and Sue Dukes, Ledoy and Lavonne Dukes. Buck's brother, Dan, was represented by Leva Van Dolsen, Margaret Heflin, Clifford Harris, James and Anna Firestone, Margie and Larry Lewis with Bobby, Bonnie Idsardi, and Lilac Williams. Dan and Buck had three uncles represented. These were Charles Henry Donathan, John Baptist Donathan, and Jerry Donathan. Charles Henry Donathan was represented by Debbs Donathan, Albert and Velma Liszeo, and Raymond and Lois Edwards. John Baptist Donathan was represented by Bernice Griffith, Annabelle Hynds, Sammy Lee Harrison, David Wayne Harrison, Bob Hynds, and Mike Hynds. Jeremiah "Jerry" Donathan was represented by Mr. and Mrs. Guy Qualls, J. A. Mikles, Ella Mikles, Willard and Addie Starling, Kenneth and Leota Bridgeman, Ophia Bridgeman, and Grady and Geneva Starling. Other visitors included R. E. And Ruby Wilson, Almon and Kathryn Taylor, the Bob Wheelers, Lillie Yost, and the Felix Bartolina family.