James McDonald
[Rick's Great-Great Grandfather]
This well known and prosperous farmer of Little Sioux township was born on a farm in Lake county, Illinois, October 24, 1849, and is a worthy representative of an honored pioneer family of Woodbury county, where almost his entire life has passed, having been brought here by his parents, James and Jenette (Parlen) McDonald, both natives of Scotland. Our subject's Grandfather McDonald spent his entire life in that country, there dying at an advanced age before the emigration of his son to America. James McDonald, Sr., was the only one of the family to come to the new world. In his native land he received a good education and learned the stone-mason's trade. It was about 1845 that he crossed the Atlantic and became a resident of the United States. After spending some time in Lake county, Illinois, he removed to Woodbury county, Iowa, in 1854, being the third to locate in Little Sioux township, as Mr. Lee settled there in 1851 and Mr. Smith in 1853. The journey to this county was made by boat and train to St. Joseph and thence across the country by team. The family settled upon the farm now owned and occupied by our subject and here the parents spent their remaining days, the father dying in January, 1882, and the mother, who was born in Glasgow, Scotland, passing away in March, 1883.
In the family of this worthy couple were seven children, namely: William W., now sixty-two years of age, who is engaged in the banking business in Rodney, Iowa; Margaret, who married F. L. Smith, a nephew of O. B. Smith, and died at the age of thirty-five years, leaving four children; Agnes, who died at the age of twelve years and was the second person buried in the Smithland cemetery; James, the next in the order of birth; Elizabeth, who died in infancy in Illinois; Laura, deceased wife of Berick Bennett; and Isabel, who died in 1871, at the age of fifteen years.
James McDonald, of this review, is indebted to the common schools of this county for the early educational advantages he enjoyed. During his boyhood he aided his father in the work of the home farm and since attaining man's estate has engaged in agricultural pursuits on his own. He is now the owner of three hundred and twenty acres of well improved and valuable land under a high state of cultivation. He has a fine, commodious residence, erected in 1873, and the place is complete in all of its appointments. In connection with general farming Mr McDonald is quite extensively engaged in stock raising and finds that branch of his business quite profitable. He has one hundred head of fine shorthorn cattle, twelve horses and seventy hogs of the Poland China breed. He is a progressive and painstaking farmer and has met with merited success in all his undertakings.
Mr. McDonald has been twice married, his first union being with Miss Ella M. Morgan, a native of Tennessee and a daughter of John Morgan. She came to Iowa in 1881 and died in 1895, leaving three children, as follows: Ida, born in 1882, is now the wife of L. W. Cleveland, of Rodney, and two children, Franz D., who is living, and James, deceased. William M., born in 1884, is at home with his father. He had a twin sister who died in infancy. Leonard, born in 1890, is attending school. In April, 1901, Mr. McDonald wedded Miss Betsy Landon, a native of Missouri. They attend the Congregational church of Rodney and are people of prominence in the community where they reside. Mr. McDonald's parents were Presbyterians in religious belief but during their residence in Iowa attended the Methodist Episcopal church. Socially our
subject is identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and is held in high esteem by all who know him.
Biography and picture from: Past and present of Sioux City and Woodbury county, Iowa (1904) by Constant R. Marks
