Alameda County Biographies

LLOYD M. MacDONALD

Transcribed by Kathy Sedler

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm

        The Farmers and Merchants National Bank of Livermore, organized in 1885 
under the name of the Bank of Livermore, has since that time been an important 
factor in the financial development of this part of Alameda county, the solid 
and conservative policy steadily adhered to by its managers having resulted in a 
normal and gratifying growth. Its president, Lloyd M. MacDonald, holds a 
position of distinctive precedence in financial circles, his excellent work in a 
responsible position having brought him prominence and honor in his chosen 
field. He was born in Ontario, Canada, in 1879, and is a son of Alexander and 
Elizabeth (McKenzie) MacDonald, also natives of Canada, where the father was a 
banker and merchant. He passed away in 1909 and is survived by his wife, who 
makes her home in Berkeley. To their union were born three children: Viola, who 
lives with her mother; Lloyd M., of this review; and Frank, deceased. The latter 
was for some years identified with the banking business in San Francisco, 
Oakland and Berkeley.
        Lloyd M. MacDonald was reared in Canada and acquired his preliminary 
education in the public schools of Stratford, taking a first class teacher's 
certificate from the Collegiate Institute. At the age of seventeen he entered 
the employ of the Bank of Hamilton, Ontario, rising in seven years from the 
position of clerk to that of manager of one of the branches. He was the youngest 
man in the employ of the bank to hold this responsible position and was 
recognized by his superiors as an unusually conscientious and able worker. Mr. 
MacDonald came to California in 1903 and shortly after his arrival helped to 
organize the Livermore Valley Bank, of which he was made cashier. This bank was 
later reorganized under the name of the First National Bank, its present title. 
Mr. MacDonald remained connected with it for two years and then disposed of his 
interests, going to San Francisco, where he became connected with the Merchants 
National Bank as cashier. At the end of five years, in December, 1909, he 
returned to Livermore and was elected president of the Farmers and Merchants 
National Bank of the city, of which he has remained the head since that time. 
This bank was founded in 1885 with a capital stock of one hundred thousand 
dollars, Thomas Varney being president and H. H. Pitcher, cashier. It was 
conducted under its original name until January 3, 1911, at which time it was 
changed to a national bank and given the title of the Farmers and Merchants 
National Bank. At this time the capital stock was reduced to fifty thousand 
dollars. In 1905 the Livermore Savings Bank was incorporated and although this 
is a separate institution with separate capital, it is under the same 
management. The officers in the two institutions are as follows: Lloyd M. 
MacDonald, president; Charles E. Beck, vice president; H. R. Parshall, secretary 
and cashier; and E. Fuchs, assistant cashier. The board of directors consists of 
Charles E. Beck, F. Mathiesen, L. M. MacDonald, F. C. Lassen, G. A. Therkof, M. 
G. Callaghan, T. E. Knox, Charles Holm, J. J. Callaghan, E. Pronzini and D. J. 
Murphy, all business men of insight and sagacity, who have proved their 
capabilities in various fields of endeavor.
        In 1909 Mr. MacDonald married Miss Leah McLeod, a native of Livermore 
and a daughter of John McLeod, a pioneer in this city, where he engaged in 
merchandising. He was also active in politics and held the office of postmaster 
for a number of years. He had five children: Mary E., the wife of D. J. Murphy, 
county supervisor of Alameda county; Norman, a merchant of Livermore; A. C., a 
vineyardist of Livermore; Annie, the wife of M. L. Silva, deputy tax collector 
of Oakland; and Leah, the wife of the subject of this review. Mr. and Mrs. 
MacDonald have become the, parents of a son, Norman L., who was born November 5, 
1910.
        Mr. MacDonald is connected fraternally with the Benevolent Protective 
Order of Elks, the Woodmen of the World, the I. D. E. S. and the U. P. C. In 
addition to his connection with the Farmers and Merchants National Bank and the 
Livermore Savings Bank he is also president of the Bank of Ceres, which he 
organized in 1911, and treasurer of the Dominion Oil Company, which he helped to 
develop. He is a business man of rare insight and ability and holds a place of 
prominence in business circles.
 
Past & Present of Alameda County, California � Vol II, S. J. Clarke Publ. Co., 
1914, p. 518