Alexander "Alex" McDonald

Alexander C. McDonald, who has spent his entire life in Clearfield county, was born April 9, 1841, in Penn township, a son of William and Maria (London) McDonald. His paternal grandfather emigrated from Scotland, and took up his residence in Luzerne county, Penn. During the war of 1812 he enlisted at Kingston, in the American army, and marched with the troops to Erie. He died while returning to Kingston at the close of the war.

William McDonald removed to Northumberland, Penn., in 1839, to Clearfield county, locating in Penn township, where he followed lumbering and farming. He was married in Luzerne county to Maria London, and upon their first farm in Clearfield county they resided for a number of years, then removed to the Wall farm. Subsequently they returned to their first home in Penn township, where the father died, in 1849, while the mother survived until 1875. In their family were twelve children: (1) Melissa A. became the wife of Rufus Slawson, and, after some years' residence in Grampian, removed to Jefferson county, Penn, where she died, in 1867. She was the mother of a large family. (2) Jane married Patrick Rafferty, who died in 1889, but she is still living on the Rafferty farm, in Penn township. Her family numbered twelve children. (3) William died in 1861, after returning from the gold fields of California. (4) Hulda is the wife of John Hepburn, a resident of Belleville, Clearfield county, and they have twelve children. (5) Allen, who resides in Grampian, married Sarah Murphy, and has one child. (6) Sarah became the wife of Philo Barrett, and their two children are living, but the parents are deceased. (7) Catherine is the widow of Martin Muter, who owned and operated a farm in Penn township. Mrs. Muter now makes her home in Clearfield, and has four living children. (8) Isaiah, who enlisted in the Union army, in May, 1861, and was for three years in the service, is now residing at the Soldiers' Home, Dayton, Ohio. (9) Olive became the wife of Valentine Dale, of Grampian, and died in 1889, leaving two sons and two daughters. (10) George, who served in the old " Bucktail Regiment," of Pennsylvania, during the greater part of the war, married Miss Rachel E. Moore, of Grampian, by whom he had one daughter. He made his home in Grampian until his death.

Alexander C. McDonald spent the days of his boyhood and youth in his native county, no event of special importance occurring during that period. In 1861 he enlisted in Company K, of the old "Bucktail Regiment," leaving Curwensville for Harrisburg on the 3d of October. From the latter place the regiment proceeded to Washington, and crossing the Potomac remained in Camp Pierpont during the winter. In the spring of 1862, Mr. McDonald participated with his command in the battle of Drainesville, then went to Fredericksburg and on to the Peninsula, where he was engaged in the seven-days' battle of the Wilderness. There the company was captured, its members being sent to Libby prison, where they remained for three weeks, when they were transferred to Belle Isle. A month later they were exchanged, taken down to Turkey Bend, on the James, river, and from there by boat to Aquia creek, whence they marched to Fredericksburg and on to Warrington. In the battle at that place they drove the enemy back and continued on their march to Bull Run. where they participated in a four-days' engagement. Driven back to Washington, they went from thereto Antietam and South Mountain, and after participating in the hotly-contested battles at those points, Mr. McDonald was taken ill and lay in Church Hospital some four weeks. He then rejoined his regiment at Sharpsburg, and later participated in the battle of Fredericksburg on the 13th of December, when he was again captured. After spending four weeks in Libby prison he was paroled and sent to Annapolis, Md., where he was exchanged, rejoining his regiment at Culpeper in 1863. Crossing the Rapidan, the Union forces engaged the Rebels all day long in a severe battle; thence went to Spottsylvania. Mr. McDonald was there slightly wounded in the foot, and was sent to Churchill Hospital, Philadelphia, where he remained until once more fit for service. Returning to his command at Petersburg, he participated in all the engagements of the Fifth Army Corps through that winter, fought in the battle of Gravelly Run in the spring of 1865, and participated in the capture of one entire Rebel division. The Union forces then followed Gen Lee's army until his surrender at Appomattox. Mr. McDonald then returned to Washington, and from there proceeded to Harrisburg, where he was honorably discharged June 5, 1865. He was ever faithful to his duty, and valiantly followed the starry banner as a loyal defender of the cause it represented until the Union arms were victorious and the preservation of the nation was an assured fact.

In 1868 Mr. McDonald married Mary J. Murphy, and located in Grampian, where he has since been an esteemed citizen. They reared a family of thirteen children, namely: John A. (of Mahaffey, Clearfield county), Lewis, Allen, George W., Jessie, Isaiah, William, Edward, James, Gerald, Adam, Martha Ellen and Mary Jane, all at home except the eldest.

Mr. McDonald is a supporter of the men and measures of the Republican party, and has served on the election board a number of times. His wife and family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Grampian. Well known, he has a wide circle of friends in this locality, and his sterling worth has won for him high regard.

Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion
By J.H. Beers & Company 1898