Robert Alexander Dornon and Sarah Elizabeth Machesney
Husband Robert Alexander Dornon 1 2
Born: 29 Feb 1852 - Philadelphia, PA 1 3 Christened: Died: Buried:
Father: Samuel Burnett Dornon (1820-1905) 1 2 Mother: Anna Steele ( - ) 1 3
Marriage: 23 Dec 1880 - Salem Twp, Westmoreland Co, PA 3 4
Wife Sarah Elizabeth Machesney 3 4
Born: 20 Apr 1854 5 Christened: Died: Buried:
Father: John Mechesney (1811-1896) 6 Mother: Sarah Jane McCullough ( - ) 4 5 7
Children
1 M John Machesney Dornon 3 4
Born: 25 Aug 1882 4 Christened: Died: Buried:Spouse: Jessie Mabel Hoffman ( - ) 5
2 M Samuel McLeod Dornon 4
AKA: Samuel McCloud Dornon 5 Born: 6 Feb 1884 4 Christened: Died: Abt 1890 Buried:Spouse: Did Not Marry
3 F Nora Jane Dornon 4 5
Born: 10 Oct 1886 4 Christened: Died: Buried:
4 F Ella Steele Dornon 4 5
Born: 10 Mar 1889 4 Christened: Died: Buried:
5 M James Henderson Dornon 4 5
Born: 30 Apr 1892 4 Christened: Died: Abt Feb 1893 Buried:Spouse: Did Not Marry
6 M Carlisle McCullough Dornon 4 5
Born: 19 Jun 1894 4 Christened: Died: Abt 1902 Buried:Spouse: Did Not Marry
7 M Robert Collins Dornon 4 5
Born: 8 Feb 1897 4 Christened: Died: Buried:
General Notes: Husband - Robert Alexander Dornon
He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and received his education in the public schools of New Alexandria, Westmoreland County. He learned the shoemaker's trade and began manufacturing, but in the autumn of 1883 abandoned it and opened a small grocery store. In this business his efforts were abundantly rewarded, and in a few years he became the proprietor of a large general store. He was one of the promoters of the New Alexandria National Bank, which was opened for business in the spring of 1903, with Mr. Dornon as cashier and one of the directors. He filled many positions of trust, as settling estates, acting as executor and administrator, and for fifteen years acted continuously in that capacity and as guardian of minor children. In 1902 he platted an addition to the borough, known as the R. A. Dornon plan of lots, which was built up by erecting a fine class of residences. He owned the fine business block known as Dornon block as well as other buildings and lots in the town. He was councilman of the borough, and was president of the school board for nine years or more. In politics he was a Prohibitionist, was a candidate of that party for register, recorder and member of the state legislature. He was also the first person nominated for comptroller of Westmoreland County. He belonged to the United Presbyterian church, which he served as elder, and was a member also of the board of trustees. He was much interested in the study of the Scriptures, and was teacher of an adult Bible class. Mr. Dornon had a very fine library, the best in the neighborhood, which was comprised of historical and scientific works, fiction, encyclopedias and various volumes by best authors.
He accompanied his parents to Westmoreland County when still a small child. It was here that he received his education, attending the local public schools. In the autumn of 1883 began his long and successful mercantile career. It was then that he opened a small grocery store in New Alexandria, a venture which almost at once met with success. It was not long before he had become the proprietor of a large general store. As the owner of a large business he was of course prominent financially in New Alexandria, and became one of the promotors of the New Alexandria National Bank, which was open for business in the spring of 1903. Mr. Dornon was elected cashier of the institution, as well as that of director. He was also president of the Dornon Coal Company. In addition to these commercial and financial activities, Mr. Dornon was a councilman of the borough, and for twenty-one years or more was a member of the school board of New Alexandria.
Mr. Dornon was very active in real estate deals and in improvements. In 1902 he plotted an addition to the borough, which was known as the R. A. Dornon plan of lots.
In politics he was a Prohibitionist and was prominent in the councils of that party. He also owned the distinction of being the first person nominated for comptroller of Westmoreland County. In his religious beliefs he was a member of the United Presbyterian church, in which he served as an elder and as a member of its board of trustees. He was a deep student of the Bible and conducted a well-known and popular Bible class in connection with the church. He was for ten years or more an officer in the General Assembly of the church.
1 John W. Jordan, History of Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, Genealogical Memoirs, Vol. III (Chicago, IL: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1906), Pg 130.
2 Fenwick Y. Hedley, Old and New Westmoreland, Vols. III & IV (New York, NY: The American Historical Society, Inc., 1918), Pg 331.
3 Fenwick Y. Hedley, Old and New Westmoreland, Vols. III & IV (New York, NY: The American Historical Society, Inc., 1918), Pg 332.
4 John W. Jordan, History of Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, Genealogical Memoirs, Vol. III (Chicago, IL: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1906), Pg 131.
5 Fenwick Y. Hedley, Old and New Westmoreland, Vols. III & IV (New York, NY: The American Historical Society, Inc., 1918), Pg 333.
6 Samuel T. Wiley, Biographical and Historical Cyclopedia of Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, PA: John M. Gresham & Co., 1890.), Pg 489.
7
John W. Jordan, LL.D., Colonial and Revolutionary Families of Pennsylvania (New York, Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1911), Pg 739.
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