Donelson, William Alexander, 1848-1900

Born in Germany, William Alexander Donelson (1848-1900) was the son of Tennessean and diplomat Andrew Jackson Donelson and his second wife Elizabeth Anderson (Martin) Randolph. In 1882, Donelson married Bettie Mizell (1862-1939), and the next year, the couple had their only child, William Alexander, II. In 1900, William Giles Baker murdered Donelson after several failed attempts. Active in the Nashville community, Bettie helped organize the Ladies Hermitage Association, served as president of Andrew Jackson Society and chairman of the Davidson County Woman’s Christian Temperance Union, and supported the Tennessee suffrage movement.

Sources:

Armstrong, Zella, ed. Notable Southern Families, Vol. II. Chattanooga, Tenn.: The Lookout Publishing Co., 1922.

Donelson, Bettie Mizell, Papers, 1787-1938, Tennessee State Library and Archives, Nashville, Tennessee. Accessed May 24, 2011. http://www.mtsu.edu/~library/wtn/bio/donelson.html .

From the guide to the Donelson, William A. family papers 64-045., 1883-1937, (Dolph Briscoe Center for American History, The University of Texas at Austin)

Born in Germany, William Alexander Donelson (1848-1900) was the son of Tennessean and diplomat Andrew Jackson Donelson and his second wife Elizabeth Anderson (Martin) Randolph.

In 1882, Donelson married Bettie Mizell (1862-1939), and the next year, the couple had their only child, William Alexander, II. In 1900, William Giles Baker murdered Donelson after several failed attempts. Active in the Nashville community, Bettie helped organize the Ladies Hermitage Association, served as president of Andrew Jackson Society and chairman of the Davidson County Woman's Christian Temperance Union, and supported the Tennessee suffrage movement.

Sources:

Armstrong, Zella, ed. Notable Southern Families, Vol. II. Chattanooga, Tenn.: The Lookout Publishing Co., 1922.

Donelson, Bettie Mizell, Papers, 1787-1938, Tennessee State Library and Archives, Nashville, Tennessee. Accessed May 24, 2011. http://www.mtsu.edu/~library/wtn/bio/donelson.html.

From the description of Donelson, William A., family papers, 1883-1937 (University of Texas Libraries). WorldCat record id: 773290574