Gazlay Family History
 

Family HistoryFamily History - John D. Donaldson


Key:1.“+” before a child’s name indicates the child has their own entry in the next generation.
 2.“born xxxx” indicates the child is under 18 years of age so the birth date is not shown.
This family history features John D. Donaldson and four of his descendants down to the second generation.


First Generation
1. John D. Donaldson,1 born April 1860 in Tennessee (parents not determined).1 John married, ca. 1881, Caroline Layne Hackney1 (born March 1862 in Tennessee, parents not determined1).

Children of John D. Donaldson and Caroline Layne Hackney:

+2i. Layne Virginia Donaldson, born 28 May 1883 in Cleveland, Bradley County, Tennessee; died 8 April 1956 in Mineral Wells, Palo Pinto County, Texas. Married (1) David Swing Ricker Married (2) Archie Tipton Parker.
 3ii. Ruth Hackney Donaldson, born 22 July 1885 in Tennessee;1, 2, 3 died 13 May 1958.2
 4iii. William J. Donaldson, born August 1888 in Tennessee.1
 5iv. Sarah Donaldson, born March 1894 in Texas.1

  1. U.S. Federal Census, 1900, Georgia, Whitfield County, West Dalton, E.D. 106, Sheet Nos. 4A and B, John D. Donaldson, 40, Tennessee, April 1860, traveling salesman; wife of 19 years Carrie B. Donaldson, 37, Tennessee, March 1862, 4 children, 4 living; daughter Layne Donaldson, 17, Tennessee, May 1883; daughter Ruth Donaldson, 14, Tennessee, July 1885; son William J. Donaldson, 11, Tennessee, August 1888; daughter Sarah Donaldson, 6, Texas, March 1894.
  2. Find a Grave (website). Bosley Cemetery, Santo, Palo Pinto County, Texas, Virginia Layne Donaldson Parker, born: 28 May 1883; died: 8 April 1956 (from record, which includes a note: Inscription: Devoted Sisters/In God’s Care; and that it is a double marker with Ruth Hackney Donaldson(1885-1958) [grave marker: July 22, 1885 - May 13, 1958]).
  3. U.S. Federal Census, 1940, California, Los Angeles County, Los Angeles, E.D. 60-979, Sheet 14B, Virginia Parker, 56, Tennessee, writer, W.P.A; sister Ruth Donaldson, 54, Tennessee.
Second Generation
2. Layne Virginia Donaldson2 (John1), born 28 May 1883 in Cleveland, Bradley County, Tennessee;1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 died 8 April 1956 in Mineral Wells, Palo Pinto County, Texas.1, 2 Layne married, first, 9 December 1913 in Portland, Multnomah County, Oregon, David Swing Ricker4, 7, 16, 17 (born 29 April 1878 in Oxford, Butler County, Ohio, the son of Jewett E. Ricker and Mary Ann Swing;4, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 David died 2 June 1929 in Santa Monica, Los Angeles County, California8, 9, 15). Layne married, second, 10 June 1925 in Los Angeles, California, Archie Tipton Parker19 (born ca. 1888 in Kansas, the son of N. D. Parker and Mary G. Ratcliffee5, 18). Layne is buried in Bosley Cemetery, Santo, Palo Pinto County, Texas.1 David is buried in Elmhurst Cemetery, Joliet, Will County, Illinois.8

David was a newspaper journalist in Chicago, Los Angeles, the Northwest, and Canada. Born in Oxford, Ohio, he was educated in the Chicago public schools. He graduated from Harvard University in 1902, and spent two years in sociological studies in New York. David joined the staff of the Chicago Evening Post around 1902, and he was the educational editor of the Chicago Tribune 1904-7. He was a frequent contributor to economic and educational reviews and articles. In 1905 he wrote “Unionizing the Schoolteachers,” describing the movement by Margaret Haley to create a national federation of teachers, a union of working women. David “cast his imagination 66 years into the future and saw a Chicago of 10 million souls.” His article included a map showing how the metropolis would expand, and his discussion touched on the future of transportation, communications, environment, education, and public services. His essay “The Making of Millionaires” was used in a 1909 Business Administration textbook. David lived and worked in British Columbia, Canada, for several years starting in 1910, and was the editor there of a weekly news magazine, Public Opinion. An article in 1912 announcing the publication called him “one of the best known newspapermen in America,” and mentions that he was the former editor of the Chicago Daily Tribune, and founder of The Red Book, The Blue Book, Opportunity Magazine of Chicago, and the Chicago Saturday Times. He was editor of Man-to-Man Magazine (later called British Columbia Magazine). Other ventures included promotion manager for Hearst newspapers on the Pacific Coast for eight years; director of advertising and circulation for The Picture Press (1920); and western exploitation manager of the Select Pictures Corporation, distributors of Selznick Pictures.15, 20, 21

David was married at least four times. His first marriage, to Elizabeth Shay, produced his only known child and ended in divorce in mid-1909. His wife initiated the divorce, having discovered his affair with Margaret Voe (purportedly born Marion Vantine, and also called Madge Voe), a vaudeville and stage actress. The marriage in Seattle between D. Ricker and Madge Seaman in November, 1909, is believed to be David and Madge Voe, although her use of the surname Seaman has not been explained. The 1910 U.S. Federal Census shows David and “Madge S. Ricker” living together in Seattle. The middle initial “S” may imply that her middle name or surname was Seaman, either by birth or previous marriage. On 17 September 1910, David Swing Ricker (“of Vancouver publisher”) and Madge Voe Ricker (“of Vancouver, married woman”) applied for permission to purchase 640 acres of land in the Cariboo Land District, British Columbia, Canada. Although no record has been found, he must have divorced Madge in 1912-13, and married Layne Virginia Donaldson in late 1913 in Oregon. A series of newspaper articles in 1914 trace their travels by foot from Vancouver, British Columbia, to San Diego, California, associated with David’s work “for the purpose of gathering data on the preparedness of the Pacific Coast for the growth of business and population expected to follow the opening of the Panama Canal.” His reporting is generally favorable to the conditions and towns along their route, although other reporters were critical of his accounts. David and Layne lived in Los Angeles in 1920, according to the U.S. Federal Census. David’s fourth marriage, to Rosie Luetzsinger (aka Hope Dare, actress) around 1925, is alluded to in newspaper articles about her subsequent marriage in 1939 to Julius Richard “Dixie” Davis, notorious racketeer associated with Dutch Shultz, New York City mobster, and their gang.12, 22, 23, 24, 25

David died on 2 June 1929 in Santa Monica, California, after an operation for appendicitis.15


  1. Find a Grave (website). Bosley Cemetery, Santo, Palo Pinto County, Texas, Virginia Layne Donaldson Parker, born: 28 May 1883; died: 8 April 1956 (from record, which includes a note: Inscription: Devoted Sisters/In God’s Care; and that it is a double marker with Ruth Hackney Donaldson(1885-1958) [grave marker: July 22, 1885 - May 13, 1958]).
  2. Texas Deaths, 1890-1976; Certificate of Death, State File No. 21578, Layne D. Parker, died: 8 April 1956 in Mineral Wells, Palo Pinto County, Texas; born: 28 May 1883 in Cleveland, Tennessee; age 72 years 10 months 10 days; divorced; father: John D. Donaldson, born in Tennessee; mother: Caroline B. Hackney, born in Knoxville, Tennessee.
  3. U.S. Federal Census, 1900, Georgia, Whitfield County, West Dalton, E.D. 106, Sheet Nos. 4A and B, John D. Donaldson, 40, Tennessee, April 1860, traveling salesman; wife of 19 years Carrie B. Donaldson, 37, Tennessee, March 1862, 4 children, 4 living; daughter Layne Donaldson, 17, Tennessee, May 1883; daughter Ruth Donaldson, 14, Tennessee, July 1885; son William J. Donaldson, 11, Tennessee, August 1888; daughter Sarah Donaldson, 6, Texas, March 1894.
  4. U.S. Federal Census, 1920, California, Los Angeles County, Los Angeles City, E.D. 476, Sheet No. 1A, Layne D. Ricker, F, 36, Tennessee; David S. Ricker, 40, Ohio, director of publicity, motion pict. stud.
  5. U.S. Federal Census, 1930, California, Los Angeles County, Montebello Township, Laguna Precinct, E.D. 19-1183, Sheet No. 4B, Archie T. Parker, 42, Kansas, first married age 25, salesman, real estate; wife Virginia L. Parker, 45, Tennessee, first married age 30.
  6. U.S. Federal Census, 1940, California, Los Angeles County, Los Angeles, E.D. 60-979, Sheet 14B, Virginia Parker, 56, Tennessee, writer, W.P.A; sister Ruth Donaldson, 54, Tennessee.
  7. Draft Registration Card, World War I, David Swing Ricker, Serial Number 7262, Order Number 5182, age 38; born: 29 April 1880; occupation: newspaper, Republican Paper, Fresno, California; nearest relative: wife, Mrs. L. D. Ricker. Both the 1880 and 1900 U.S. Federal Census records indicate he was born in 1878, not 1880.
  8. Find a Grave (website). Elmhurst Cemetery, Joliet, Will County, Illinois, David Swing Ricker, born: 1878; died: 1929 (from record).
  9. California, County Birth and Death Records, 1800-1994, Los Angeles County, Standard Certificate of Death, David Swing Ricker, died: 2 June 1929 in Santa Monica; born: 29 April 1880 in Oxford, Ohio; age: 49 years 1 month 3 days; married; wife: Rose Ricker; occupation: publisher, Los Angeles Examiner; father: Jewett E. Ricker, born in Ohio; mother: Mary Swing, born in Oxford, Ohio; place of burial: Joliet, Illinois.
  10. U.S. Federal Census, 1880, Ohio, Butler County, Oxford Village, E.D. 27, Page No. 33, Jewett E. Ricker, 31, Ohio, bank clerk; wife Mary A. Ricker, 24, Ohio; son D. Swing [sic, erroneously indexed as Sonny] Ricker, 2, Ohio.
  11. U.S. Federal Census, 1900, Illinois, Cook County, Chicago, E.D. 721, Sheet No. 7A, Jewett E. Ricker, 50, Ohio, November 1849; wife of 25 years Mary Ricker, 44, Ohio, March 1856, 2 children, 2 living; son David S. Ricker, 22, Ohio, April 1878 reporter; son Jewett E. Ricker, Jr., 14, Illinois, March 1886, at school; servant Anna Pearson, 23, Sweden, May 1877, servant; servant Delia Monahan, 28, Ireland, April 1872, servant.
  12. U.S. Federal Census, 1910, Washington, King County, Seattle City, E.D. 95, Sheet No. 9A, border David S. Ricker, 28, Ohio, editor, magazine; border [wife of 1 year] Madge S. Ricker, 26, Illinois, no children. David’s age here is low by several years.
  13. Canada Census, 1911, British Columbia, Vancouver City, District No. 12, Enumeration District No. 7, Page 21, border David S. Ricker, 31, U. States, April 1880, adver agent; wife Madge Voe Ricker, 24, U. States, Dec. 1886.
  14. The First Five Generations of the Swing Family in America, compiled by Albert H. Swing and Harry P. Swing, April 1961. Available at Heritage Quest Online. This document provides numerous biographical and vital details, but there are few references cited for any of the information.
  15. Obituary, Chicago Tribune, Chicago, Illinois. 4 June 1929, David Swing Ricker, died 2 June 1929 in Santa Monica. Article cites a 2 June 1929 article from Los Angeles, California, which provides biographical details and the names of some of his survivors.
  16. Oregon Marriage Indexes, 1906-2008/2009, David Lewing [sic, believed to be a mis-reading of Swing] Ricker, married on 9 December 1913 in Multnomah County, Oregon. In a separate entry, Layne Virginia Donaldson, married on the same day and place.
  17. Morning Register, Eugene, Oregon, 10 January 1914, David Swing Ricker and Pretty Bride on Unique Wedding Tour. The article indicates David and his wife were “married in Portland one month ago yesterday” and discusses their plan to cover the entire Pacific Coast on foot as part of David’s work to report on the conditions of towns on the coast. Much of the article gives Mrs. Ricker’s personal experiences during the journey.
  18. U.S. Federal Census, 1940, Colorado, Denver County, Denver, E.D. 16-232, Sheet No. 15A, Archie T. Parker, 50, Kansas, divorced, salesman, advertising, lived in Los Angeles, California, on 1 April 1935. He lived in the Denver Hotel in this census.
  19. California, County Marriages, 1850-1952; County of Los Angeles, Marriage License and Certificate, Archie Tipton Parker, 37, born in Kansas, widowed, divorced; number of marriage: 3d; father: N. S. Parker, born in Kansas; mother: Mary G. Ratcliffee, born in Kansas; and Virginia Layne Ricker, 35 [sic, she was 42 at the time of this marriage], born in Tennessee; number of marriage: 2d; father: John D. Donaldson, born in Tennessee; mother: Caroline Lane Hockney, born in Tennessee; maiden name: Virginia Layne Donaldson; married on 10 June 1925 in Los Angeles.
  20. Business Administration, Text Prepared by 400 of the Foremost Educators, Business and Professional Men in America. Chicago, DeBower Chapline Company, Publishers of University Textbooks, 1909. Page 299, The Making of Millionaires, by David Swing Ricker. The article leads with a summary of his education and business accomplishments.
  21. The Daily News, New Westminster, British Columbia, 14 February 1912, Page Five, New Weekly Magazine. Article about the new magazine, Public Opinion, edited by David Swing Ricker. The article indicates he arrived in B.C. two years previous, and provides information about several of his business ventures.
  22. Marriage Intentions, Daily News, New York, New York, 5 March 1939, Hope Dare, Dixie Davis Will Wed, Then Separate, It Seems. The article provides details on the intention for the two to wed, prior to the sentencing of Dixie Davis after pleading guilty to conspiracy to contrive and operate a racket, and his testimony against James J. (Jimmy) Hines for racketeering. The article also provides biographical details about Hope Dare, her family background, marriage to David Swing Ricker at age 17, winning beauty contests, her work in the Follies, and meeting Dixie Davis and exposure to the world of gangsters.
  23. Divorce Filing, The Chicago Daily Tribune, Chicago, Illinois, 5 June 1909, Husband’s Misconduct Told By Mrs. David Swing Ricker. The article discusses Mrs. Elizabeth Shay Ricker’s testimony in the trial of her divorce suit against her husband, David Swing Ricker, that they were married on 27 January 1904 and separated in April 1908. They have one daughter, Elizabeth Ann Ricker, age 2 years. Mrs. Ricker said she found her husband living with another woman, Margaret Voe.
  24. The British Columbia Gazette, Volume L, No. 48, Victoria, 1 December, 1910, Land Notices, pages 13706 and 13752, David Swing Ricker and Madge Voe Ricker. Available at Internet Archive (website: archive.org).
  25. The Coos Bay Times, Marshfield, Oregon, 24 January 1914, Noted Writer Reaches City. David Swing and Wife Tramping Coast, Pleased With Marshfield.