The earliest couple of the McDonnell line (as identified so far) seem to be James Marion McDonnell (1855-1910?) and his wife, Mary Jane Luvenia “Lulu” Smith (1861-1912).
James was born into slavery and often retold the story of being sold on the auction block in Franklin. Luvenia, born free to a single Black mother (named Martha Smith), was born and raised in the home of Reverend Canaro Drayton Smith, a white Methodist minister. Their children went on to have a variety of careers in farming, midwifery, education, and more.
