|
 When
Robert G. McDonald died upon his farm in May, 1904, Bremer county lost one
of the men who had been active in inaugu-rating and shaping the course of
agricultural development in this part of Iowa and who from pioneer times
until his death remained an active force in progress and advancement. He
was born in Country Antrim, Ireland, of Scotch parentage, January 4, 1833,
and was reared upon his father’s farm in that country. He came to America
before he was eighteen years of age and after spending one year in New
York moved to Racine county, Wisconsin, where he resided for a similar
period of time. He was afterward for three years and a half in the south,
at the end of which time he moved again to Racine county, Wisconsin, where
he spend another year. In October, 1855, he landed in Bremer county,
Iowa, and was numbered among the first settlers in Douglas township, where
he purchased two hundred and forty acres on section I. He faced the
hardships of pioneer conditions and with characteristic energy carried
forward the work of improving and developing his homestead, adding to the
original tract until he became finally one of the largest landholders in
this locality, owning eleven hundred and twenty acres of land. He made
his home successively on different tracts, building up and improving a
number of farms and in this way contributing materially to the development
of the township.
In Racine, Wisconsin, February 14, 1855, Mr. McDonald was united in
Marriage to Miss Ann McDonald, a Native of Ireland, of Scotch decent.
They became the parents of twelve children: John W., of Alpena, South
Dakota; Samuel, who resides in Oklahoma; James H., living in Douglas
township; David, who died in Douglas township in 1909; Mary Ann, the wife
of F.E. Olney, of Powell, South Dakota; Margaret E., who married Lyman
Ulley, of New Hampton, Iowa; Agnes, deceased; Sarah E.; the wife of Thomas
Alcock, of Douglas township; Robert, who lives in Frederika; Julia, who
makes her home with her brother Robert; Emily, the wife of C. M. Caswell,
of Chickasaw county, Iowa; and Lydia, who married Harry McConkey, of
Frederika township. Mrs. McDonald passed away on the farm in Douglas
township October 1, 1881.
Robert G. McDonald lived for 49 years in
Douglas township and witnessed practically the entire development of this
locality. The years brought him success and prominence and substantial
fortune and his upright and honorable character gained him many friends,
so that his death was felt as a distinct loss to Bremer county in the
ranks of her worthy and useful citizens.
HISTORY OF BREMER COUNTY IOWA VOLUME. II
CHICAGO
THE S. J. CLARKE PUBLISHING COMPANY 1914
The above photo is my G-G-Grandfather, Robert
G. McDonald - 1833-1904.
Photo and bio submitted by: Scott H. McDonald
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