Feb 22, 1888  Shakopee Courier

  Died - At Excelsior, Minn. on Feb. 17th, John Donlon aged 77 years. He was an old settler in
Chanhassen, of some 33 years ago and lived at times also in Hennepin and Scott counties; finally
moved to Excelsior where he lived for a few years past with his daughter, Mrs. Deyo. He was also
the father of Thomas F. and William Donlon of Eagle Creek and Shakopee and Mrs. Coebett of
Mpls. Their mother died 25 years ago. Their father had been ailing for a couple of years past
especially so in the winter season, with cold and asthma and was taken down seriously about two
weeks before he died.

Feb 24, 1888  Scott Co. Argus

  Died - At Excelsior, Minn., Friday, Feb 17. John Donlon, age 77 years.  The funeral was held
from St. Mary's, this city, on Sunday.   

Nov 16, 1917  Scott Co. Argus

  Again we are called upon to chronicle the passing of one of our best known residents, Thomas
Francis Donlon, whose death occurred at his home in this city, Thursday evening, Nov. 8th, at
9:30 o'clock.
  Mr. Donlon had taken ill last January with heart trouble and never fully recovered, although at
times he seemed to be improving. For months past he has been confined to his home and for
several days preceding his death his condition was such that the end was not unexpected. The
news of his death was received with profound regret in the community where he had so long
resided. He was a man of retiring nature, quiet tastes and home loving qualities, but deeply
interested in events of a public nature and in general affairs of the city and county. Practically all
his life was spent in this vicinity, where he had gained the respect and esteem of a wide
acquaintance.
  Mr. Donlon was born in Roxbury, Mass., March 11, 1847 and came to Minn. when a boy with
his parents. 
  During the Civil war he volunteered at Fort Snelling, making several trips from the Eden Prairie
home on foot and was finally accepted though not sixteen years old. He contracted smallpox on
one of these trips and on his recovery was sent south with Company A, 5th U.S. Sharpshooters,
in February. he was captured in June and endured the horrors of Andersonville for five months.
He was but eighteen years of age when the war closed in 1865.
  His marriage to Mary C. McGrade took place in 1873 and they lived for two years in Mpls. and
then moved to Eden Prairie, where they spent four years on a farm. They then came to Eagle
Creek, where he bought the Matt Dean place and farmed until 1900, since which time they have
resided in Shakopee.
  Surviving him is his wife, to whom the sympathy of all goes out in her deep bereavement.
  The funeral was held Sunday afternoon, at 2:30 o'clock, from St. Mary's church of which
deceased had been a consistent member during all of his residence in this vicinity.
  Rev. Fr. Lee was the officiating clergyman and the remains were laid in the lower Catholic
cemetery, a large concourse of friends being present to pay a final tribute of respect to the
memory of the departed. 

Dec 27, 1918  Scott Co. Argus

  Mrs. Mary Catherine Donlon, oldest of 10 born to Mr. and Mrs. Frank McGrade, pioneer
residents of this city, passed away at St. Joseph's hospital, St. Paul, at 4 o'clock Saturday
morning, December 21st.
  The news of her death came as a shock to the community for few outside of her immediate
relatives realized her condition was serious.
  Mrs. Donlon was born at Shakopee, August 27, 1857 and was married at the age of 16 years to
Thomas F. Donlon of Eden Prairie. After a residence of a year or two in Mpls. they lived on the
Hulbert farm at Eden Prairie for a number of years. They then purchased the Matt Dean farm in
Eagle Creek which was their home until 17 years ago, when Mr. Donlon retired and bought a
home in East Shakopee. He died in November of last year, after a year's illness during which her
constant and devoted attendance at his bedside and grief at separation after 45 years of
companionship, complete in it's harmony and never broken by absence, undermined her health.
Her church, her home and the welfare of those bound to her by the ties of kinship, absorbed a
heart just, generous and filled with kindliest regard for friend and neighbor, though reticent in
expression and reserved in her associations.
  Mrs. Donlon had come to make her home with her sister, Mrs. W.F. Duffy, for the winter
months, when she was taken ill with an acute attack of nephritis and entered St. Joeseph's hospital
for treatment, Dec. 5th. Mrs. Duffy accompanied her and remained with her at the hospital during
her illness. Her physicians pronounced her case hopeless from the first and she passed away early
Saturday morning.
  The remains were brought to the home of Mr. and Mrs. W.F. Duffy, Sat. evening and the funeral
was held from St. Mary's church Monday morning at 9 o'clock. Rev. Father Lee was officiating
clergyman and interment was made in the family lot in the lower Catholic cemetery.
  Besides Mrs. Duffy, she is survived by her sisters, Miss Isabel McGrade and Mrs. Edward
Carleton of Libby, Montana, whose coming was prevented at the point of departure by illness in
the family of influenza. Her nephew, Harold McGrade of Camp Lewis, Wash., in daily expecting
of his discharge from the army, also unable to come.