My Genealogy Hound

JAMES A. McDONALD. This young gentleman occupies part of the old McDonald homestead in Xenia Township, three and one-fourth miles south of the city, upon which his grandparents settled prior to the War of 1812, and upon which both himself and father were born, his estate comprises one hundred and twenty-two acres of well-improved land upon which he is pursuing a successful agricultural career, winning a competence from the soil which afforded maintenance to previous generations of the name. His natal day was August 6, 1856, and he was reared upon the homestead, receiving an excellent English education and being instructed by his parents in the principles of right doing and habits of usefulness.

The wedded life of Mr. McDonald began September 12, 1877, on which day the rites of wedlock were celebrated between him and Miss Amy E. Ford. The bride was a daughter of James M. and Mary (Peterson) Ford, of Caesar’s Creek Township, and possesses those pleasing traits of character and useful accomplishments which are so needful to a wife and mother. To her have born eight children, of whom the following are now living: Orval, Leavitt, Ford H., Emma Pearl, Mamie Edith and James Ray.

Among the earliest pioneers in this county were Isaiah and Edith McDonald, who came from North Carolina about the year 1802, and spent the remainder of their lives in this county. Their son Leavitt and his wife, in her girlhood Susan Strong, also came from North Carolina, the family which they reared comprising five sons and five daughters.

Among the children of Leavitt and Susan McDonald was John N., who was born January 13, 1818, and lived for sixty-five years on the farm now occupied by our subject, afterward spending three years on an adjoining lot where he died January 8, 1887. His entire landed estate amounted to two hundred acres which he improved and thoroughly cultivated, and a part of which became the property of the son of whom we write. His widow, who is still living, bore the maiden name of Elizabeth Saville, and both belonged to the Reformed Presbyterian Church. To them five children were born, two of whom — C. W. and James A., were reared to maturity.