Irven Donner was born in Sangamon County on August 13, 1868 to James W. Donner and Elizabeth Snodgrass Donner. He was the great-grandson of George Donner (1776-1847), a member of the Donner party that departed from Springfield in 1846.

Irven Donner moved to Christian County with his family in 1880, where he eventually owned and operated a farm near Edinburg, Illinois. On November 13, 1890 he married Emma Martin, with whom he had two children, Veta Donner (1894-1981) and Gordon Donner (1900-1960). Irven Donner and his family moved back to Springfield after he retired in 1920. Emma Martin Donner passed away on December 1, 1940, and Irven Donner passed away on March 1, 1959 in Springfield.

Veta Donner was born on June 10, 1894 in Christian County, Illinois. Veta Donner married Leslie George on June 12, 1912. The couple ceased living together in April 1913, and in February 1916 Veta sued for divorce on grounds of desertion. She attended St. John’s School of Nursing, graduating in 1921 and finding employment as a nurse in Springfield. Veta married Robert Bruce Coomer on September 5, 1942 in Bowling Green, Missouri; he passed away a few months later on December 12, 1942.

Gordon Donner was born on July 14, 1900 in Edinburg, Illinois. He married Henrietta Minnis on May 3, 1926, and the couple resided in Loami, Illinois. Records show Gordon working variously as a farmer, barber and seller of heavy kitchen equipment; Henrietta worked at one point as a bookkeeper for S.A. Barker Company and Myers brothers, and retired from the State of Illinois Department of Transportation. Gordon Donner passed away on January 3, 1960. Henrietta Minnis Donner passed away on February 4, 1982.

Emma Hill Lundy (September 10, 1868-January 5, 1959) was a maternal aunt of Henreitta Minnis. Her parents were Josiah Adams Hill (1831-1904) and Elizabeth Evans Casey (1838-1924). The Hills and their relatives were located in several central and south-central states in the early-mid 1900s.