Anne was born in the Calistoga area & spent her entire life on the McDonnell Ranch in Knight's Valley, Sonoma Co., CA.


1850 U.S. Census for Napa Valley, Napa Co., CA:
William Mcdonald M 24 Missouri; farmer
Ellenor Mcdonald F 18 Illinois

The family surname is misspelled by census-takers until 1920. This is an interesting census page for this family's researchers. Residing nearby are the families of Enoch Cyrus (whose son John married Lovina Graves, Eleanor's sister), Henry Owsley (married to John Cyrus' sister), William McDonnell, William Graves (single & brother to Eleanor Graves McDonnell & Lovina Graves Cyrus), Peter Storm (alleged maker of the Bear Flag used during the uprising in Vallejo), & Thomas Knight, a trader, & founder of Knight's Valley in Sonoma Co., CA which is not far from current day Calistoga, Napa Co., CA.


1860 U.S. Census for Hot Springs Twp, Napa Co., CA (7 June)(P.O. St. Helena):
W Mc Donald M 34 Mo
Elenor Mc Donald F 28 Ill
Anna Mc Donald F 9 Cal
Chas Mc Donald M 7 Cal
Mary Mc Donald F 4 Cal
Lily Mc Donald F 2 Cal
B Brady M 35 Norway
W B Noes M 35 Ill

Surname misspelled by census-taker. In close proximity resided the James McFarland, Keyes, McDonnell & Samuel Spires families, all of whom were farmers. Eleanor Graves McDonnell & Sarah Graves Fosdick Ritchie Spires were sisters. Note that at this time, Calistoga did not exist which is why St. Helena is listed as the nearest post office.


1870 U.S. Census for Mendocino Twp, Sonoma Co., CA (4 July)(P.O. Healdsburg):
Wm Mcdonald M 45 Missouri
Ellenor Mcdonald F 38 Illinois
*Ann Mcdonald F 20 California
Charles Mcdonald M 17 California
Mary Mcdonald F 15 California
Lillie Mcdonald F 13 California
Franklin Mcdonald M 8 California
Henry Mcdonald M 5 California
Nellie Mcdonald F 11 mos California
Wm Seagraves M 41 Mississippi

Family surname misspelled by census-taker. William is a farmer. Seagraves is a farm hand.


1880 U.S. Census for Knights Valley Twp, Sonoma Co. CA:
William Mc Donald Self M 56 Missouri
Elenora Mc Donald Wife F 48 Illinois
*Amer Mc Donald Dau F 30 California
Charles Mc Donald Son M 28 California
Henry Mc Donald Son M 16 California
Nellie Mc Donald Dau F 11 California
Lue Mc Donald Dau F 3 California
James Raynor Other M 17 California

The census-taker misspelled the family surname. "Amer" is Annie. William is a farmer. Charles & Henry are laborers as is James Raynor. The Keyes family reside next door.


The 1900 & 1910 U.S. Census records for Knights Valley Twp, Kellogg Prec., Sonoma Co., CA find Ann residing in the household of her brother Henry & his family. Her brother Charles also lived in the household. See Henry's memorial for further details. Brothers Henry & Charles were partners, operating a stock farm. In 1900, Ann worked as a nurse.

1920 U.S. Census for Knights Valley Twp, Kellogg Prec., Sonoma Co., CA:
Chas Mcdonnell Head M 67 California
Annie Mcdonnell Sister F 69 California

Charles is a stock farmer; Ann is a housekeeper.


1930 U.S. Census for Knights Valley Twp, Kellogg Prec., Sonoma Co., CA:
Chas Mc Donnell Head M 77 California
Ann Mc Donnell Sister F 79 California

They are both single. Charles is a farmer (stock raising).


Note: Ann's death date is from Calif. Death Index, 1905-1939.