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Mini Biographies of Scots and Scots Descendants (Mc)
Robert G. McDonald


Robert G. McDonaldWhen 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 escose@earthlink.net


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