~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Alamance Gleaner - Feb 1, 1917 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Mr. W. C. Donnell Passes Away In His 86th Year. After a residence in Graham for almost half a century, dating back to 1868- less than 20 years after this town was established, Mr. W. C. Donnell, "Uncle Cal" as many as were wont to call him, has made his home in Graham. He was born in Guilford county June 21, 1831, and died about 8 o’clock Friday morning, January 26, 1917, at the home of his niece, Mrs. C. S. Hunter. The funeral was conducted by his Pastor, Dr. T. M. McConnell, from the Presbyterian church at 2 o’clock Saturday afternoon. For 38 years Mr. Donnel had been a Ruling Elder in his church and verily he was one of its pillars. In everything in his church that had good for its result, as well as in matters outside, he took an unselfish interest. The following pall-bearers bore the remains to their last resting place in Linwood Cemetery: Mess. C. P. Albright, Allen Tate, McBride Holt, Lynn B. Williamson, J. Clarence Walker, Sam T. Johnston, Chas. A. Scott and J. Harvey White. The funeral was attended by a large number of relatives, friends, and acquaintances. He is survived by the following nephews and nieces, John, W. C., James R., Thomas, George and Harry S. Donnell and mesdames Berta Alexander and Annie Tate, sons and daughters of his brother John D. Donnell, deceased, who made his home in Greensboro, and Mrs. C. S. Hunter, J. E. Scott Jr., and H. W. Scott, children of his sister, Mrs. Bettie Scott, who passed away afew years ago at her home in Graham. As a young man Mr. Donnell began business in Wilmington. During or near the close of the Civil War he was in business in Mebane and in 1868 he and his brother-in-law, the late James Sidney Scott, engaged in the mercantile business under the name of Scott & Donnell. This business continued actively for more than 20 years, and in 1883 they completed the first cotton mill in Graham. They sold this mill which is now part of the Oneida Mill, and later built the Sidney Mill near the railway station. Mr. Donnell was never married. In business he was diligent and honest, he lived modestly and economically, and by the practice of these virtues he accumulated a comfortable estate. He was an esteemed and upright citizen and exerted an abiding influence for good, and like the ripened grain is gathered to his reward. [end]