My Genealogy Hound

NATHAN P. McDONALD. Although Mr. McDonald has been a resident of Buffalo county only since 1887, he has succeeded in making himself sufficiently prominent to deserve mention in the county’s biographical souvenir. He is a son of Donald and Arcelia (Badgley) McDonald. The former, a native of Scotland, was born in 1830, and came to America when he was about twenty-five years of age. In 1860, he was married to Mrs. Badgley, a widow lady, having two sons, viz. — Levant, who is now clerk of the district court in Pottawatomie county, Kans., and John, now principal of the public schools of Kimball, Nebr. To Mr. and Mrs. McDonald were born two sons, Nathan P. and Lemont. The paternal grandfather was Duncan McDonald, a native of Scotland, and the maternal grandparents were Lyman and Amy (Alby) Calkins.

The subject of this memoir was born near Columbus, Warren county, Pa., in 1802. Living on a farm, he had the early training of industry and economy incident to thrifty farming with moderate means. His education during boyhood was acquired in the district school, where he was always among the best of his class. When sixteen years of age, he accepted a position as clerk in a store, which position he held for two and a half years, always enjoying the confidence and esteem of his employer. Mr. McDonald left the store to extend his education. Two years having been passed in the city school of Corry, Pa., and one year at Sugar Grove Seminary, Pa., he decided to go to college. This was a difficult task, as he was depending entirely upon his own resources to provide means. By dint of economy and strict frugality, he maintained himself two years in a classical course in Otterbein university at Westerville, Ohio. While in college, Mr. McDonald was a close student, and carried a high grade of scholarship. He took special interest in literary work, and was a prominent member of the Philophronean Literary Society of that institution. Circumstances over which he had no control compelled Mr. McDonald to abandon his hope of completing the two remaining years of his college course. He came West in December of 1886, and engaged in teaching near Louisville, in Kansas. From there he came to Elm Creek, Nebr., where he engaged as principal of the Elm Creek school. He has proven himself a successful teacher, and a popular gentleman, in every way worthy of the confidence of the people. Being a republican, he was the choice of that party for the office of county superintendent of public instruction, of Buffalo county, in the election of 1889. This position he now holds.

In 1888, Mr. McDonald was united in marriage to Miss Ella Upton, of Kearney, Rev. Leslie Stephens officiating. Mrs. McDonald is a native of Illinois, born in Olney, Richland county. In 1875, she, with her parents, moved to Roanoke, Woodford county, and in 1887 she moved to Kearney, Nebr. Mrs. McDonald is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. One child, Archie, born in 1889, makes music in their home.