As an early Allen businessman, Micajah P. Donaghey’s life history was recorded in the book: Oklahoma, A History of The State and Its People. The book was published by the Lewis Historical Publishing Company, Inc., New York, in 1929.

MICAJAH P. DONAGHEY

Heeding the advice of Horace Greeley to “Go West,” as did many other young men of the early “eighties,” Micajah P. Donaghey left his Alabama home in early manhood, and after a brief period in the Lone Star State, came northward to the Indian Territory, where he since has resided, and has been a prime factor in the development of the modern Oklahoma, with its thriving industries and extensive agricultural and livestock resources.

Mr. Donaghey has been a pioneer of Oklahoma in many ways, having founded the first cotton-gin in what is now the town of Allen, and having been one of the first to engage in large scale agriculture in this section. Having, in actuality, “grown up” with Oklahoma, Mr. Donaghey has ever made it his policy to conduct his business honestly and with a high code of ethics, and now (1928) while having withdrawn from the most strenuous of his enterprises, oversees the continual development of his holdings; while at the same time he is enjoying his later years in comfort and ease, a reward which his many friends and acquaintances will testify he has won.

Mr. Donaghey was born June 25, 1855, in the State of Alabama, son of Samuel and Susan Donaghey. Samuel Donaghey was a prosperous and respected farmer of Alabama, where he spent most of his life. Micajah P. Donaghey received the usual education provided by the rural schools of his native district at that period, and a few years later, still in his young manhood, accompanied his brother to Texas, where he was associated with his brother in farming and cattle-raising until 1881.

In the last-named year, the brothers were attracted to the Indian Territory, and settled at Wewoka, where they carried on farming and stock-raising until 1883, when they moved into the Choctaw Nation. Unable to purchase land from the Indians because of restriction’s imposed by the Government, the Donagheys rented acreage for a period of two years, at the end of which Micajah P. Donaghey’s brother married a member of the Choctaw tribe, and they settled where the town of Allen is now located.

In association with two other men, bearing the name of Foster, they then leased Indian lands, in the name of the Indian wife of one of the Donagheys. Mr. Donaghey remained at Allen for the ensuing twenty-one years, associated with his brother in large-scale farming and livestock breeding. It was Mr. Donaghey who installed the first industry at Allen, which comprised a fl our mill, saw-mill, and cotton-gin, the last-named device being utilized to separate seeds from the cotton. This manufactory was originally operated by horsepower, and during the cotton-ginning season had a daily output of about three bales of cotton, its operation requiring the services of four men and eight horses. Soon thereafter, however, the mill was equipped with boilers, and power was obtained through the use of steam. Mr. Donaghey subsequently erected one of the most modern and up-to-date cotton-gins in this section of the State, capable of seeding and com-pressing forty bales of cotton each day.

Mr. Donaghey and his brother still retain ownership of several thousand acres of land in the vicinity of Alien, about eight hundred acres of which are under cultivation. Mr. Donaghey has since removed to Ada, here purchased one of the finest pecan groves in the State, containing one hundred trees, and devotes much time to travel. He has expressed a desire to leave his holdings to future generations for enjoyment, and while, as stated, he is practically retired, nevertheless, he devotes much attention to improvement of his property. He prefers to remain independent in his political status, and adheres to no one party, while now, as has been the case throughout his life, he thinks fi rst of the welfare of his fellowmen.

Mr. Donaghey married, in August, 1881, at Wewoka, Indian Territory, Sallie Sewell, daughter of Russell and Eliza Sewell, her father a farmer by occupation. Mr. and Mrs. Donaghey had two children: James B., born December 2, 1883 and died December 27, 1927; and Minnie Lee, born June 25, 1889.

Our thanks to Sandra Roberts of The Diamond Shop, Ada, for sharing this information with us.