Hines, H. K. "An Illustrated History of the State of Oregon." Chicago: Lewis
Pub. Co. 1893.  p. 498.
 
JOHN DONNERBERG

     is a native of Prussia, Germany, born October 15, 1830, and is descended
from a long line of ancestors devoted to mercantile pursuits. He remained at
home with his parents until he was eighteen years of age, and secured a good,
practical business education. He was then apprenticed to learn the trade of a
locksmith and followed this vocation until the fall of 1849, when he determined
to emigrate to America, the land of great opportunities. Landing in the city of
Baltimore October 5, 1849, he continued his journey by river and canal to
Cincinnati, where he worked at his trade for a year. He then went to Louisville,
Kentucky, and entered the employ of Williams & Roberts, prominent plumbers of
that city; there he devoted five years to learning this trade in every
department. In 1855 he came via the Panama route to San Francisco, and finding
business exceedingly dull he went to the mines in Placer county, where he met
with gratifying success in his search for gold.
     In the autumn of 1860 he returned to Europe, and in February 1861, he was
married to Miss Elizabeth Toelker; the following spring he returned to
California with his bride, arriving in San Francisco in August. He engaged in
mining in Placer county until 1864, when he gave up this industry and came to
Portland for permanent settlement. He arrived before the close of the rainy
season, and consequently did not find business very brisk. After a few months he
worked as journeyman for C. H. Myers, and in March, 1865, opened a general
plumbing establishment; this partnership was dissolved in 1868, when Mr.
Donnerberg formed a partnership with John Barrett, which existed until 1812; he
then bought Mr. Barrett's interest, and carried  on a general plumbing, steam
and gas fitting establishment. In the fall of 1890, after an experience of
twenty-five years, which had resulted in the accumulation of a handsome
competency, Mr. Donnerberg sold his interests in this business to the firm of
Donnerberg & Co., composed of his son, August and H. Claussenius, two most
estimable gentlemen, of superior business qualifications.
     The wife of Mr. Donnerberg died in December, 1875, leaving a family of five
children: August, Henry, Julia, Mary and Frank. He was married a second time in
December, 1876, to Miss Theresa Hofues, a native of Prussia, Germany, and to
them have been born four children: Theresa, Josephine, Lena and George. In 1877,
Mr. Donnerberg built his home at the corner of Fourteenth and Morrison streets;
he also has a country house at Long Beech, Washington, where he enjoys the sea
breezes during the summer months. He is a member of the Roman Catholic Church,
of the German Aid Society, and was for years connected with St. Mary's Orphan
Home. In politics he affiliates with the Democratic party; his energies,
however, have been devoted to commercial interests and by the exercise of
honorable and upright methods he has accumulated a handsome estate.

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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in April 2010 by Diana Smith.  Submitter
has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.