Governor of Ohio, U.S. Senator. Born in Cadwallader, Ohio, he left high school to learn the printer's trade. In 1893, he purchased a print shop in New Philadelphia, Ohio and published a newspaper. Donahey became a clerk of the Goshen Township Board of Trustees in 1898 while running his business. He ceased operations in 1905 when he was elected as the Tuscarawas County Auditor and served in that capacity until 1909. He was also a member of the New Philadelphia Board of Education from 1902 to 1911 and a delegate to the fourth Constitutional Convention of Ohio in 1912. He was elected as Ohio's State Auditor in 1913 and served until 1921. He was an unsuccessful candidate for Governor in 1920 but was eventually elected in 1922 and became Ohio's 50th Governor. As Governor, he was known as "Veto Vic" because he vetoed 76 bills during his first of three terms. He also vetoed every bill seeking to raise taxes and earned popularity from the people of Ohio because of it. He served until 1929,declined renomination in 1928, and pursued business interests in Columbus, Ohio. Urged by Ohioans to run again for public office, he was elected to the United States Senate in 1934 and served a single term. Donahey refused to become a candidate for renomination in 1940. After leaving office, he founded the Motorists' Mutual Insurance Company of Columbus and was also director of the Ohio National Bank of Franklin County. He died at his residence in Columbus in 1946 when he was 72 years old. His son, John W. Donahey, was a Lieutenant Governor of Ohio. His daughter-in-law, Gertrude Walton Donahey, was an Ohio State Treasurer.
Governor of Ohio, U.S. Senator. Born in Cadwallader, Ohio, he left high school to learn the printer's trade. In 1893, he purchased a print shop in New Philadelphia, Ohio and published a newspaper. Donahey became a clerk of the Goshen Township Board of Trustees in 1898 while running his business. He ceased operations in 1905 when he was elected as the Tuscarawas County Auditor and served in that capacity until 1909. He was also a member of the New Philadelphia Board of Education from 1902 to 1911 and a delegate to the fourth Constitutional Convention of Ohio in 1912. He was elected as Ohio's State Auditor in 1913 and served until 1921. He was an unsuccessful candidate for Governor in 1920 but was eventually elected in 1922 and became Ohio's 50th Governor. As Governor, he was known as "Veto Vic" because he vetoed 76 bills during his first of three terms. He also vetoed every bill seeking to raise taxes and earned popularity from the people of Ohio because of it. He served until 1929,declined renomination in 1928, and pursued business interests in Columbus, Ohio. Urged by Ohioans to run again for public office, he was elected to the United States Senate in 1934 and served a single term. Donahey refused to become a candidate for renomination in 1940. After leaving office, he founded the Motorists' Mutual Insurance Company of Columbus and was also director of the Ohio National Bank of Franklin County. He died at his residence in Columbus in 1946 when he was 72 years old. His son, John W. Donahey, was a Lieutenant Governor of Ohio. His daughter-in-law, Gertrude Walton Donahey, was an Ohio State Treasurer.
Bio by: K Guy
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