California Biographies Transcribed by Peggy Hooper This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm Source: History of the state of California and biographical record of the San Joaquin Valley, California. An historical story of the state's marvelous growth from its earliest settlement to the present time. Prof. James Miller Guinn , A. M. The Chapman Publishing Co., Chicago 1905 Notes: Missing Page: 865-866,983-984,1175-1176 JAMES R. McDONALD. Honored among the early pioneers of the state, James R. McDonald will long be remembered both as a political and business factor of the country, and a citizen whose moral influence it would be impossible to measure. For more than a half century he gave his best efforts toward the development of natural resources, the promotion of all enterprises calculated to advance the material welfare of whatever community he made his home, and the moral uplifting of all with whom he came in contact. In Grayson, San Joaquin valley, where he lived for more than thirty years, his memory is revered by old and young, for it is here that his efforts in behalf of the country's interests were most successful. To those who knew him best the record of his life will be regarded with affectionate interest; to those whose paths have not crossed his, such a record will contain all the interest which attaches to the lives of the early pioneers. The McDonald family is of Scottish origin and in the lives of the western emigrants have been demonstrated the splendid qualities which distinguish that sturdy nation. The head of the fam- ily, Alexander McDonald, was born April 12, 1789, in Belead, Scotland, and in manhood mar- ried Helen Sturten, who was born August 12, 1792, in the same locality. A farmer by occupa- tion, he first leased a farm known a� Belead and later one called Pitkur, the latter being about twelve miles from Dundee. This was a valuable property, well improved and cultivated, and for many years he carried on farming successfully. It was in 1834 that he decided to try his for- tune among the greater opportunities of the western world, and accordingly with two sons, John and Alexander, he took passage for the United States, with the understanding that the family were to follow in another year, after a home had been prepared for them. Their first information was received from the emigrants several months later, stating that the location selected for a home was in the neighborhood of Jacksonville, III. and for the family to prepare to make the trip in the spring of 1835. It was no small undertaking for the mother to make the journey with the care of nine children, the youngest of whom was about three years old. However, the journey was safely accomplished, by steamer to London, thence by the Canada to New York city (the lat- ter trip occupying six weeks, by rail to Pittsburg, by boat down the Ohio river to Cairo, then up the Mississippi river to Alton, then the Illinois to Naples, landing them within fifteen miles of their new home. This consisted of a thousand acres of prairie land, and four hundred acres of timber land, the latter located four miles southwest of the home farm. This property had been entered by Mr. McDonald shortly after his arrival in the state, and for the temporary shel- ter of his family he erected a log house, afterward putting up another of brick, the brick being burnt upon the farm. Success attended Mr. McDonald's efforts, but during the family's first year in the state, nearly every member was taken ill with fever, which was then prevalent throughout the country. All recovered with the exception of the father, who passed away in 1835, and is now buried in Bethel Church cemetery, three miles from the old home. Alexander McDonald was a man of remarkable character, strong common sense and a determination that brought him suc- cess in whatever line he attempted. The mother, left alone with the care of her large fam- ily, bent every effort to rear her children and train them to ways of industry and honest man- hood and womanhood. That she succeeded a record of the McDonald family will show beyond doubt. Her death occurred in the early part of the year 1845, taking from the home a loving and always faithful mother, from the circles of the Presbyterian Church a consistent and helpful member, and from the community a pioneer woman who had done no little to uplift the standard of social intercourse. She was the mother of twelve children, namely : Elizabeth, born January 7, 1814; William, February 4, 1816; Jane, May 12, 1818; John, September 11, 1819; Alexander, June 13, 1821 ; Andrew N.. April 14, 1823; Charles, February 13, 1825; a twin of Charles, who died in infancy ; Maria S., November 27, 1826; James R., September 17, 1828; Sarah F., October 19, 1830; and Thomas E., April 20, 1832. All but one or two of the family married and reared families, members of which have attained honored places in the various professions, busi- ness and political circles, and have ably upheld the standard of honor set by the first emigrant of the name in America. James R. McDonald was born in Belead, Scotland, the seventh son and tenth child born to his parents. He was only six years old when the home was changed to the prairies of Illinois, and in that location he spent his childhood and boyhood. He found his boyhood a very busy and active one, beginning to plow at the age of eleven years and in many ways assisting in the farm work. He received only a limited education, the school he attended (a subscription school) being in session about three months in the year, and held in a rough building of un- hewn logs, with puncheon floor, and slabs for benches and desks, and a huge fireplace occupy- ing the entire end of the room. After the death of his mother, which occurred when he was about seventeen years old, the property was divided and the home broken up, the six children left going to make their home with the married members of the family, while John McDonald was appointed administrator of the estate and guardian of those still minors. Each of the chil- dren had about $700 in property and cash. James R. McDonald made his home for about a year with his sister Jane, helping on the farm when there was work to be done, at other times work- ing for neighboring farmers. During the winter of 1846-47 he attended the public school at Manchester, and while located in that place joined a class in geography, the lesson being learned by singing � a unique method, but Mr. McDonald has always said that he accomplished more in those twelve lessons than he ever had in the same length of time, employed in any other way. Through the influence of the gentleman with whom he boarded, Dr. Nettleton, Mr. McDonald was induced to attend Jubilee College, located in Peoria county, III, near the forks of the Kick- apoo creek. He remained there for one year, when he was notified by his guardian that his funds were exhausted. On leaving school he cast about for some congenial occupation, and having considerable mechanical ability he decided to learn the trade of carpenter. This plan was opposed by his brother Charles, who had entered commercial life, and who finally induced him to take a clerkship. A position was secured with the firm of Stevenson & Lurton, with whom he remained for six months, when he became connected with his brother Alexander in the same capacity. For some time Mr. McDonald was satisfied with the peaceful life he led as a clerk in Jack- sonville. However, the report of the great gold discovery in California, where it was said for- tunes could be made in a day, ended his contentment and he longed to come west, as some of his neighbors were then preparing for the trip. He was induced by his brother John to remain in Illinois and take charge of affairs while he himself should make the westward trip. Circum- stances, however, prevented John from leaving, so James McDonald came instead. In company with seven others, George Hufinagle, Braxton Davenport and Bazzel, his brother, Sit and W. L. Reed, William A. Sanders and James Brown, on April 9, 1850, he started upon the long and peril- ous trip. The party was thoroughly equipped with everything of first-class quality, wagons, harness, mules, provisions, etc. Were it possible in this brief space to recount the history of their trip as written down by Mr. McDonald himself, it would make a story of unsurpassed in- terest. Suffice it to say that on August 28, four months and nineteen days from the time they left Jacksonville, they reached Ringgold, the first mining camp on the trip. Several of their com- pany had left them at the Humboldt sink and they finished the journey alone. An incident of interest was the return of Mr. McDonald in 1886 to his old home in Illinois, when he made the journey in four days and at one-half the cost of his first trip across the continent. After disposing of their superfluous articles and stock, the party then returned to Ringgold from Sacramento, where they had spent a few days, and putting up a cabin proceeded to engage in various occupations, some teaming and some mining, during the first winter. Two men with whom Mr. McDonald had associated that year were T. B. McFarland, now justice of the su- preme court, and Ross Sargent, of Stockton, who then kept the American hotel in the town. In the spring of 1851 the Reeds and Mr. McDonald concluded to try their fortunes north on the high Sierras, and accordingly disposed of their property in Ringgold and with a mule each start- ed for the new location. They spent some time at the American river and Nevada City, after which they joined a party of old eastern friends and went to the Feather river and entered upon mining operations. One trying experience which Mr. McDonald had during this time was a jour- ney made to Marysville for provisions. Shortly afterward they located on Poorman's creek near Onion valley and there made considerable money, the largest nugget taken out being worth $1,800. For three years following his arrival in California Mr. McDonald continued in the oc- cupation of mining, meeting with just enough success to continue in the hope of finding his fortune some day. Finally the Reeds and Mr. McDonald went to Tuolumne county, each to visit relatives and at the same time cast about for a better location than they had. It was there the old friends separated, each going his own way in an effort to earn a livelihood. The min- ing ventures of Mr. McDonald were ended by a letter from his brother Charles, written from San Francisco and asking him to come and meet him- self and wife, who had just arrived. According- ly he joined them in that city and eventually lie and his brother engaged in farming operations in Alameda county. This venture did not prove much of a success financially, although the prof- its were fair at that time and would be considered excellent at the present. In the fall of 1856 they discontinued farming and bought out the mercantile establishment of the Winton broth- ers, at Haywards, and conducted this business together for about a year, when Charles sold his interest to Alexander Allen and returned east. Late in the fall of 1859 Mr - McDonald sold his interest in the business to his partner, closing up the partnership on the 1st of January, i860. Fol- lowing the settling up of his affairs Mr. McDonald made a trip to Illinois via Panama as a del- egate to the Republican convention held in Chicago that nominated Abraham Lincoln for presi- dent of the United States. Upon returning to the west again, Mr. McDonald's first venture was the purchase of a steam thresher, the first introduced on that side of the bay. However, it was both too new and too ex- pensive an undertaking to be a success financially, so he sold out and spent the winter of 1861-62 on his sheep ranch in the Livermore hills on the eastern edge of the valley. The following spring he accepted a position with the California Wool Growers to look after their packing house in San Francisco, but remained there only a few months when he returned to Haywards, going from there to Walnut Creek, Contra Costa county, and establishing a general merchandise store. Largely through Mr. McDonald's influence a postoffice was established at that place, his appointment to the postmastership naturally following. In all public movements he took a most active interest, and did much to advance the general welfare. Becoming dissatisfied with his business ventures Mr. McDonald located in Healdsburg, Sonoma county, and established a general merchandise store. All this time he had been acting as a partner of Charles Whitmore, and during his resi- dence in this place of about four years they dissolved the partnership and Mr. McDonald con- tinued alone. In April, 1869, Mr. McDonald left Healdsburg in search of a better location, finding it in Grayson, Stanislaus county, where he purchased a store and in conjunction with W. J. Til- ley began in business May 20, 1869. They continued together until the 1st of January, 1874, when Mr. McDonald purchased his partner's interest. During these years the little city of Gray- son had been gradually growing; houses were built and places of business established, among them the Wells-Fargo Express Company, of which Mr. McDonald held the agency for many years. An impetus to the general business prospects of Grayson was given by the discovery of quicksilver in the mountain range west of the town. A number of the citizens then formed a corporation, of which Mr. McDonald was chosen president, and with a large capital stock to in- sure financial prestige, mining operations were begun. Not meeting with the success anticipated the mine was eventually abandoned. This same mine and many others have been developed of re- cent years and are very successful. Very shortly after his location on the west side Mr. McDon- ald realized that the great need was a water supply to make the land productive. In 1871 the San Joaquin and King's River Canal Irrigation Company had begun a canal at the junction of the Fresno slough and the San Joaquin river, but for some reason it was never extended beyond Crow's Landing. In 1874 the irrigation question became one of the most absorbing interests in the va- rious granges of the country, and eventually led to a mass meeting (which was held in Mr. Mc- Donald's warehouse, as that was the only building large enough to accommodate the people), when a committee of three was appointed to formulate some plan whereby the country could receive its much needed improvement. This committee consisted of Gilbert Fisher, of Crow's Landing ; W. B. Hay, of Ellis, and Mr. McDonald, each of whom was to draw up a plan and present it at the next meeting of the convention. Mr. McDonald's plan was that which is today known as the Wright law, being the district plan of irrigation, which was approved and adopted and has since been in force. The political career of Mr. McDonald was one of intense interest, and embraced a participation in many of the important movements in the early history of the state. He was always a stanch Re- publican and gave his best interests to the support of the principles which he endorsed, though personally he was never desirous of official recognition. In 1857 ne was elected public admin- istrator of Alameda county by five votes over his opponent, in a county strongly Democratic, being nominated without his knowledge. With the passing out of existence of the Whig party and the inauguration of the Republican, Mr. McDonald, after a careful consideration of the new platform, announced himself a supporter of the old principles under a new name. When he decided to return east, where he visited New York city, Niagara Falls, and other places of in- terest as well as his old home, he was induced by friends to try for the office of delegate to the national convention which was to be held at Chicago, Ill., in 1860. He therefore attended the state convention at Sacramento, but afterward withdrew for delegate and contested for alter- nate, which position he won. Mr. McDonald made the trip by way of New Orleans, in Louis- iana visiting his sisters, who were conducting a private school in the Red river district. Travel- ing on to Illinois he found the entire state wild with the prospect of the coming convention, and eager to propose the name of the man who stood so prominently before the public at that time. During the convention several honors fell to the lot of Mr. McDonald, and in all positions he carried himself in perfect honor and dignity. The nomination of Abraham Lincoln followed, and after the close of the convention Mr. McDonald went to Jacksonville, Ill., and spent one year among his old friends and relatives. The following year he went to Washington to witness the inauguration of Lincoln and also to seek an appointment, but was unsuccessful in the latter. After visiting his old home once more, he took passage for California via the isthmus, arriving in San Francisco the last of May. In 1890, although advanced in years, Mr. McDonald was nominated and elected state treas- urer, discharging the duties of this office for a period of four years, with entire credit to him- self and to those who had honored him with their support. In 1894 he was a very popular man in the Republican convention, but was finally defeated in his efforts for governor of the state. Mr. McDonald was married twice, his first wife being Clarissa Jane Cox, the daughter of E. H. Cox, of San Ramon, Contra Costa county, Cal., and of this union were born two children, Mark E., and Paul, the former of whom was associated for years as his father's partner in the busi- ness interests of Grayson, while the latter is a prominent lawyer of San Francisco. The mother of these sons died July 21, 1876, and is buried in the Grayson cemetery. His second marriage unit- ed him with Emma J. Cooper, who was born in Sonoma, Cal., the daughter of James Cooper, a native of Scotland. James Cooper ran away from his native land when a mere lad in years, fol- lowing a sea-faring life and in time becoming mate of a vessel. He came to California in 1845 and located in San Francisco, after which he went to Sonoma and conducted a' hotel, and also engaged in farming and stock-raising. He became a prosperous and successful man, in addi- tion to his accumulation of land winning the esteem and respect of all with whom he came in contact. He died in that locality in 1857, at the age of thirty-five years. His wife, formerly Sarah Bigelow, was a native of Nova Scotia, and died in 1886, in Sonoma, aged sixty-three years. She crossed the plains with her sister, Mrs. Emma Smith as early as 1846. To Mr. and Mrs. McDonald were born three children, namely: James R., Jr., who is in- terested in the store at Grayson; Ruth B., at home; and Hay ward, at home. In his religious convictions a Presbyterian, Mr. McDonald was identified with that denomination for something over a half century and to no man is greater credit due for the establishment and upbuild- ing of Presbyterian churches throughout this section of California. At the same time that he was sent as an alternate to the Republican National convention he was also representing the California Presbyterians as commissioner to the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church which was held at Pittsburg, Pa. An incident of note in the life of Mr. McDonald was his con- nection with the famous vigilance committee of San Francisco, which was brought about in this wise : In 1856 the state authorities attempted to put an end to this organization, which was of a necessity deemed unlawful. The vigilantes, therefore, to - offset the efforts of the state to suppress them, sent agents through the counties near the bay to enlist those favorable to their cause, and among those who signed an agreement to go to their assistance should the neces- sity arise was Mr. McDonald, for though always active in the maintenance of law and order he knew enough personally of this organization to believe in its efficacy. He was also active in the establishment and upbuilding of a division of the Sons of Temperance, which flourished for some time in Haywards. Having been made a Mason in Jacksonville, Ill., in the spring of 1850, he was afterward connected with the Masonic lodge at San Leandro, Cal. In Grayson Mr. McDonald was very successful as a merchant and business man. In an early day this city was practically the head of navigation, and enormous quantities of grain were shipped from this place. In addition to raising large quantities of grain he was also interested in raising sheep. He owned about three thousand acres of land but his home always remained in Grayson. His death occurred October 14, 1902, when seventy-four year of age, and with him passed one of the remarkable landmarks of Stanislaus county. He was liberal in religious toleration and social and friendly in his manner, � a man who loved his fellow men. This article would not be complete without mentioning Mrs. Emma J. McDonald, a woman endowed by nature with many talents and a strong mentality that has enabled her to uphold with honor and credit the position of this remarkable family, one of the strong arches in the structure of a great western empire.