Jacob Doner is one of the enterprising and successful citizens of Hardin Township. He was born in Wayne County, Ohio, November 16, 1846, the son of Henry Doner, a native of Pennsylvania, who was the son of Jacob Doner, also a Pennsylvanian by birth, but of German descent. They trace their ancestors back to the time of the early settlement of Pennsylvania. Our subject's mother, Amanda (Johnson) Doner, was born and reared in Ohio; her father was of Irish ancestry. Jacob Doner, the eldest child, was about eight years of age when his parents settled in De Kalb County, Indiana, and then moved to Defiance County, Ohio.

He was reared to farm life, and, although but a lad when the great Rebellion broke out, he enlisted in the Union Army, and was assigned to the Third United States Cavalry. His regiment was stationed at Huntsville, Alabama; from there it was ordered to St. Louis, Missouri, and thence to Little Rock, Arkansas, where they remained two years. After the close of the Civil War the regiment was ordered to New Mexico, stationed first at Fort Bascom, thence to Fort Sumner on the Pecos River, now an abandoned fort. Mr. Doner was discharged at Fort Sumner, September 30, 1868, after serving nearly five years. By a special act of Congress they were discharged earlier, so as to have time to reach the States before winter.

Returning home he went to Iowa, where his family had moved during his absence, and where he remained only a short time; he then went to the following places: Ohio, on a visit, spending the spring and winter of 1869; then to Bureau County, Illinois, five years, until 1875; Lucas County, Iowa, until 1883, and then Pottawattamie County, Hardin Township, section 25. Mr. Doner resided here six years, and then bought his present improved farm of L. J. Kiser. The farm consists of eighty acres of good land, a comfortable frame house, on a natural and pleasant building site, with a large grove and an orchard of six acres. The farm is well matured and readily adapted for stock purposes.

In his political views Mr. Doner is a Republican, and is a man just in the prime of life, well informed on all topics, frank and cordial in his manners, and is a well known and respected citizen of his township.

He was married July 4, 1870, at Princeton, Bureau County, Illinois, to Miss Genevra Caroline Folger, who was born, reared and educated in Bureau County, and daughter of Robert Folger, of Nantucket Island. The family are relatives of the great statesman Folger. The father is now about eighty years of age, and is living in Lebanon, Laclede County, Missouri; and the mother, whose maiden name was Melissa Cross, is a native of Wayne County, Ohio, and is still living, at the age of sixty-two years. Mr. and Mrs. Doner have six sons, namely: Frederick, William, Charles, Isaac, Jesse and Frank.