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Walter Benjamin Donaldson was a mattress maker by trade. He must have had a great deal of trouble finding work (or, because of the economic disruption of the post-War South, keeping work). Walter was, apparently, very itinerant, during the years following the Civil War. In 1868, he must have found himself in South Carolina. Whether he was traveling with his parents, or alone, is not known, but he married Bethriar Frances Howard in South Carolina in 1868. She was a native South Carolinian, whose parents had been born in South Carolina.

Their first child, Luther C. Donaldson, was born in South Carolina in 1870 (possibly in the Anderson County area). But their second child, Ella, was born in Knoxville, TN in 1871. Their third child, Florence, was born in Arkansas in 1874. Their fourth, Phebe, was born in Maryland in 1876. Then Leo Docia was born in Georgia in 1879. This information is supported by the census of 1880, while Walter and Bethriar were living in Anderson County, SC. William (Uncle Will) was born in 1881, but we have no record of place of birth (at this time).

Matthew Cleveland (Uncle Cleve) was born in September of 1884, in Nashville, TN. Thomas Jackson (Uncle Jack) was born in October of 1886, in Cowpens, SC (This is strongly supported by family testimony, especially Dalton). Irene (Aunt Temp) was born in Pendleton, SC in January of 1891. There is a remote possibility that she was born in 1896 (the 1900 census, appears to have a 'strike through' on the birth year of 1896, changing it to 1891), but the family Bible confirms 1891 as the year of her birth. Guy Corbett (Uncle Corbett) was born in North Carolina (probably Charlotte) in August 1893. Walter Norris, the youngest, was born in Charlotte, NC in July 1895. This information is supported by the Charlotte, NC census of 1900.

Charlotte is known to have a budding mattress-making industry (Several of the companies are still in existence) and a thriving textile industry at the turn of the century. Many people were moving into the region to work in the textile mills, which were being built all over the Piedmont (or foothills, from the French) area of North and South Carolina. So Walter Benjamin, and his children, were able to find steady employment; and the bulk of this branch of the Donaldson family remains in the Charlotte area, until the present day.

Bethriar, cousin Ruth Donaldson and Norris play with a puppy. Walter Benjamin died when Norris was about 12 years old. Here, Norris is about 14-15 years old.

Norris was 12 when his father died. This photo would have been soon after (perhaps @1910). Norris was in France, with Pershing and the Army, in 1918.

Norris Donaldson was quite a character. He was a veteran of World War I, serving in the artillery in France. He was almost completely deaf for most of his life, as a result. This only added to his colorful personality. He also served a tour, with the U.S. Army in the Panama Canal Zone. He always had a story to tell, to his children and grandchildren.

Norris, despite his small size, was quite a heavy beer drinker (to Mary's great dismay!). Mary was a devout Christian woman and did not drink, all her life. She prayed constantly for him; and she dealt with him throughout their long married life, on this subject. As a child, I still recall the stark contrast that the two presented to my mind, when I was 'at Grandma's.'