Family Group Sheet
NameMarion Francis [Sexton] Donathan, 3C4R
Birth18 Sep 1865, Bath Co., Kentucky
Death25 Dec 1946, Shiloh, Richland Co., Ohio
FatherEnoch C. Sexton (1844-1918)
MotherNancy Jane Donathan (~1847-1893)
Marriage26 Jul 1894, Rowan Co., Kentucky
SpouseMagnolia “Maggie” Ramey, 2C4R
Birth25 Apr 1875, Rowan Co., Kentucky
Death19 Aug 1954, Bellville, Richland Co., Ohio
FatherJohn Allen Ramey (1848-1935)
MotherElizabeth Helen Myers (1852-1911)
Children
1 FStella M. Donathan, 3C3R
BirthFeb 1897, Rowan Co., Kentucky
2 FBessie Linda Donathan, 3C3R
Birth3 Feb 1900, Rowan Co., Kentucky
Death21 Jul 1992, New Castle, Henry Co., Indiana
SpouseJohn Preston Cox , 4C2R
SpouseFred Alfrey
3 MOrbie H. Donathan, 3C3R
Birthabt 1902, Rowan Co., Kentucky
4 FFannie Donathan, 3C3R
Birth28 Oct 1905, Rowan Co., Kentucky
Death15 Apr 1925, Shiloh, Richland Co., Ohio
5 MAllie C. Donathan, 3C3R
Birth12 Apr 1909, Rowan Co., Kentucky
Notes for Marion Francis [Sexton] Donathan
It is likely that Marion was born out-of-wedlock to Nancy Donathan; that he sometimes went by the surname of his stepfather Enoch Sexton as a child, and then settled on the surname Donathan as an adult. (It is unlikely that his birth father was Enoch, since if it were, he would have been likely to go consistently by Sexton.)
In the 1880 census, he was recorded as Maron F. Sexton, age 14, son of Enoch Sexton and Nancy Donathan. In the 1870 census, Enoch and Nancy are listed twice, once in Bath Co. (next door to Nancy’s parents) with a son Harrison Sexton age 14, and once in Menifee Co. with daughters Mary age 4 and Francis age 2. I believe that these are all the same person, and that the Bath Co. census taker misread a written note “Marrion” as Harrison, while the Menifee Co. census taker misunderstood a verbal “Marion Francis” to be “Mary and Frances”. See Enoch and Nancy’s census notes for further details. (There is no Marion Francis Donathan or any variant spelling anywhere in the region in 1870 or 1880.)
His death certificate records Marion F. Donathan, age 81 years 3 months 7 days, born 18 Sep 1865 in Bath Co., Kentucky, died 25 Dec 1946 in Shiloh, Richland Co., Ohio, married, husband of Maggie Donathan, age 71, occupation rail road section hand, parents unknown born in Ky, cause of death cerebral hemorrhage, informant D. H. Donathan, Plymouth, O., burial in Mt. Hope, Shiloh, Ohio.
In the 1880 census, he was recorded as Maron F. Sexton, age 14, son of Enoch Sexton and Nancy Donathan. In the 1870 census, Enoch and Nancy are listed twice, once in Bath Co. (next door to Nancy’s parents) with a son Harrison Sexton age 14, and once in Menifee Co. with daughters Mary age 4 and Francis age 2. I believe that these are all the same person, and that the Bath Co. census taker misread a written note “Marrion” as Harrison, while the Menifee Co. census taker misunderstood a verbal “Marion Francis” to be “Mary and Frances”. See Enoch and Nancy’s census notes for further details. (There is no Marion Francis Donathan or any variant spelling anywhere in the region in 1870 or 1880.)
His death certificate records Marion F. Donathan, age 81 years 3 months 7 days, born 18 Sep 1865 in Bath Co., Kentucky, died 25 Dec 1946 in Shiloh, Richland Co., Ohio, married, husband of Maggie Donathan, age 71, occupation rail road section hand, parents unknown born in Ky, cause of death cerebral hemorrhage, informant D. H. Donathan, Plymouth, O., burial in Mt. Hope, Shiloh, Ohio.
Notes for Marion Francis [Sexton] & Magnolia “Maggie” (Family)
Rowan Co., Ky marriage register A, p. 87, records the marriage on 26 July 1894 of Marion Donathan and Maggie Ramey.
Census
1900 census of Rowan Co., Ky, Pearce precinct, enumerated 9 June, lists on p. 8A as family #135:
Donathan, Marion F., 30, b. Sep 1869, day laborer; Magnolia, wife, 25, b. Apr 1875, married 6 years, mother of 4 children, 2 living; Stella M., dau, 3, b. Feb 1897; Bessle L., dau, 3/12, b. Feb 1900. All born Ky Ky Ky.
The reported age and birth date for Marion are inconsistent with other records, both earlier and later.
The next household is headed by Marion’s half-brother James Lewis Sexton.
1910 census of Rowan Co., Ky, Pearcy precinct, enumerated 27 April, lists on p. 8B as family #138/146:
Donalson, Marion, 41, second marriage, off bearer at lumber mill; Magnolia, wife, 35, first marriage married 14 years, mother of 7 children, 5 living; Stella M., dau, 13; Bessie L., dau, 10; Orbie H., son, 7; Fanny, dau, 4; Allie, son, 1 1/12. All born Ky Ky Ky.
1920 census of Jay Co., Indiana, Richland township, enumerated 13 Jan, lists on p. 14A as family #317/322, at 383 East Center St:
Donathan, Marion, 54, factory laborer; Maggie, wife, 44; Stella, dau, 23; Bessie, dau, 20; Orba, son, 17; Fannie, dau, 12; Allie, son, 11. All born Ky Ky Ky.
Donathan, Marion F., 30, b. Sep 1869, day laborer; Magnolia, wife, 25, b. Apr 1875, married 6 years, mother of 4 children, 2 living; Stella M., dau, 3, b. Feb 1897; Bessle L., dau, 3/12, b. Feb 1900. All born Ky Ky Ky.
The reported age and birth date for Marion are inconsistent with other records, both earlier and later.
The next household is headed by Marion’s half-brother James Lewis Sexton.
1910 census of Rowan Co., Ky, Pearcy precinct, enumerated 27 April, lists on p. 8B as family #138/146:
Donalson, Marion, 41, second marriage, off bearer at lumber mill; Magnolia, wife, 35, first marriage married 14 years, mother of 7 children, 5 living; Stella M., dau, 13; Bessie L., dau, 10; Orbie H., son, 7; Fanny, dau, 4; Allie, son, 1 1/12. All born Ky Ky Ky.
1920 census of Jay Co., Indiana, Richland township, enumerated 13 Jan, lists on p. 14A as family #317/322, at 383 East Center St:
Donathan, Marion, 54, factory laborer; Maggie, wife, 44; Stella, dau, 23; Bessie, dau, 20; Orba, son, 17; Fannie, dau, 12; Allie, son, 11. All born Ky Ky Ky.
