George
McDonald
REV.
GEORGE McDONALD, the leading character in this sketch, was born February
25, 1825, in Donegal township, Washington Co., Penn., near West
Alexander.
George McDonald, his grandfather, was a
native of Scotland, from either Rosshire or Sutherlandshire, and related
to Flora McDonald, the heroine of two dynasties and two
continents. George McDonald's ancestors were the Lords of the
Isles off the west of Scotland for centuries before these islands became
subject to the king of Scotland. Grandfather McDonald was twice married:
first to Miss Gordon, and they had one son William. After the death of
his first wife, he married Barbara McDonald, the result of which
marriage was two sons, John and George. He (grandfather) immigrated to
America in the good ship "Janet," in 1773, and located on the
Potomac near Mount Vernon. After the close of the war for Independence,
he with his family crossed the Alleghanies, and purchased a farm on
Chartiers creek, near the present county home. Here his son John was
born. There he remained from 1780 to 1792, when he purchased and moved
to a farm in East Finley township, south of Claysville, where he passed
the remaining years of his life. He was a most devotedly pious man, and
active in the building up of the church in his region. A Presbyterian of
the regular Scotch type, and among the founders of the Presbyterian
Church of West Alexander, he never let worldly affairs interfere with
his religious duties. Not only was he punctual in attendance on the
means of grace, but watchful for the peace and prosperity of Zion. He
was known as the "Scotch singer," and often led the people in
the service of song. He died November 25, 1811, and was laid to rest
beside his wife, who had preceded him, in the church burial ground at
West Alexander.
John McDonald, son of George, was born in
1788, in Chartiers township, Washington Co., Penn., but in early life
went with his parents to their new home in East Finley township. In his
early manhood he married Margaret Byers, of the same county, daughter of
Thomas and Margaret (Shannon) Byers, the former of whom was a son of
Samuel Byers, who was born in Chester county, Penn., where the
connection had resided for generations. Samuel was there married to Jane
White, and their children were: William (who settled near Maysville,
Ky.), Samuel, James, Thomas Ebenezer (of Mercer county), Andrew, Nancy
and Rachel. Samuel Byers, Sr., came west from Chester county in 1777,
and located on a farm near Canonsburg. He was a stanch Presbyterian and
did good work in planting the church in that region. Thomas, the son,
with his wife was most courageous in battling with danger in their new
home in East Finley, because of the attacks of Indians. The following
are the names of their children: John, a physician; Sarah, wife of Adam
Wylie, M. D.; Thomas, a farmer, married to Margaret Hamilton; Jane, wife
of David Stewart; Margaret, wife of John McDonald; Anne, wife of Andrew
Yates; James, a farmer, married to Mary Stevenson; Nancy, wife of John
Brice, a farmer; Rachel, wife of Hugh Wilson, a merchant; Samuel, a
farmer, married to Anne Wilson, and William, also a farmer, married to
Rebecca McCurdy, and then to Miss Thorn. One son and five sons-in-law
were ruling elders in the Presbyterian Church. Thomas Byers was a
vigorous farmer and a prominent business man. He was a bright example of
Christian piety. In 1813 he was installed an elder in the Presbyterian
Church of West Alexander, which office he filled with great acceptance,
being called the peacemaker of the Session.
John McDonald after marriage remained four
years on the old home farm in East Finley township. At that time he
purchased a farm in Donegal township, south of West Alexander, where he
passed the remaining years of his life. The following are the names of
their children: Thomas (deceased), Barbara (wife of Thomas Frazier,
Esq.), Mary S., Eliza J., George, John McC., Thomas, William and Rachel
M., all three deceased. Mr. McDonald was always in keeping with the
advance of the age, and being a friend of liberal education, gave all
his children favorable opportunities for mental culture in the academy
at West Alexander. He often filled offices of trust in the community.
After the death of his wife in May, 1867, he moved to West Alexander,
remaining there till his death, December 11, 1868. But his example in
the church shone most conspicuous. He made profession of his faith in
early life. In 1828 he was elected an elder, and about the same time
Sabbath-school superintendent, both of which offices he filled forty
years. Of him his last pastor (Rev. W. H. Lester, Sr., D. D.) writes:
"He was a wise counselor and a man in whom the pastor could safely
confide; warm-hearted and true in his devotion to the church; a faithful
student of the Word of God, and prompt in the discharge of Christian
duty, he will long be remembered by the people as a truly devoted and
pious man. His Godly life was an ornament to religion. His most special
gift was prayer. He loved the Savior and the church; but in prayer he
excelled. He would take the congregation in the arms of his faith, and
lay them down at the mercy seat for a blessing. His words were so plain
and Scriptural; his tones so simple, childlike and tender, it could only
have been the Spirit making intercession. Deeply moved himself, he
deeply moved others. He was pre-eminently a man of prayer. He gave his
only two surviving sons to the ministry."
Of each of the sons the following is a
brief record: Each (of the sons) labored on the farm with their father
till entering their life work, as opportunity afforded, he being a
vigorous farmer. They both were educated in the West Alexander (Penn.)
Academy, in the branches belonging to the college course, and each
labored with their father on the farm. Rev. George McDonald, after
having completed the classical course pursued in college, at West
Alexander Academy, engaged for some years in teaching in the public
schools, and afterward taught two and a half years in the academy of
West Alexander. During this period he commenced the study of theology
under Dr. John McCluskey, his pastor, and completed the course of study
under Rev. William H. Lester, D. D., Dr. McCluskey's successor. In
April, 1857, he was licensed to preach the Gospel by the Presbytery of
Washington. Soon after licensure he received a call to the Presbyterian
Church of Beallsville, Ohio, where he continued to labor more than
twenty-five years, giving a portion of his time to the churches of
Woodsfield and Powhatan, Ohio. In the winter of 1883, he received and
accepted a call to the church of Upper Ten Mile, Prosperity, Penn., and
continued his labors till May 20, 1890. Since his resignation of the
pastorate at Ten Mile he resides at West Alexander, and is interested in
evangelistic work, not feeling sufficiently vigorous to assume the full
responsibility of the pastoral work. Mr. McDonald was married, May 20,
1858, to Martha S. Blayney, of West Virginia. The following is a brief
account of their children: Nannie Maggie is the wife of Elmer Ellsworth
Miller, a merchant of Beallsville, Ohio (she graduated from Steubenville
Female Seminary in 1879); John M., a physician, was a student of
Washington and Jefferson (Penn.) College (afterward he attended
Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, and graduated in April, 1885;
he is married to Ada C. Baker, of Barnesville, Ohio, and they now reside
in Columbus, Ohio; he is a Presbyterian and a Republican); Rev. Charles
H. graduated from Washington and Jefferson College in the class of 1886
(the same year he entered Union Theological Seminary (N.Y.), from which
he graduated in 1889, was licensed and ordained in 1889, and went under
commission of the Board of Home Missions to Alexandria, S. Dak., where
he labored two years. Early in 1892 he received and accepted a call to
the pastorate of the first Congregational Church of Woodbridge, N. J. He
was married November 24, 1892, to Mary M. Bell, only daughter of James
R. and Mary C. Bell, of West Alexander); Mary Elizabeth, the youngest,
has attended the Washington Female Seminary (she is still at home with
her parents, and is giving considerable attention to music). Like the
parents the children all take great delight in music, and are blessed
with great power of voice. Mr. McDonald being an instructor of music,
led the choir of the old home church for several years.
Of him another friend (Rev. W. H. Lester,
Sr.) writes: "Mr. McDonald's ministry was marked by faithfulness in
labors, and witnessed precious ingatherings. Thoroughly evangelical in
spirit, and Biblical in his pulpit ministrations, his aim has been the
conversion of souls and the building up of Christians in the faith. He
has also been a self-sacrificing and faithful pastor, thus making full
proof of his ministry. Seldom was his seat vacant in the church courts.
In each of the congregations to which he ministered, he left the
testimonials of a truly devoted minister of the Gospel." And yet
another friend thus says of him : "Rev. George McDonald inherited
(as did also his wife) the sturdy character of their Scotch and
Scotch-Irish ancestry, and in early life received careful religious
training. At the age of twenty-one he made profession of his faith in
Christ. At nineteen years of age he entered on his classical course in
West Alexander Academy, and after completing the full course of study,
he was for some time actively engaged in the public school department;
later was for two years and a half a teacher in the West Alexander
Academy. In 1853 he commenced the study of theology under Rev. John
McCluskey, D. D., licensed by the Presbytery of Washington in 1857, and
was ordained by the Presbytery of St. Clairsville in April, 1860. Soon
after licensure he took charge of the congregation of Beallsville, Ohio,
of which he was the installed pastor till April, 1883, giving for most
of that period a portion of his time to the congregations of Woodsfield
and Powhatan as stated supply. In 1883 he was called to the church of
Upper Ten Mile, Penn., where he labored more than seven years. He now
resides in West Alexander, his native place, with his noble wife, who
has always been a source of strength and comfort to him in his work.
They were both fine singers, and led the choir of West Alexander
Presbyterian Church for a number of years. Their musical talent was
valuable to them, especially in the Sabbath school, where they were
always prominent and active, he as superintendent and Bible teacher, and
she in charge of the infant department, until the loss of her hearing
compelled her in later years to give up the work she so dearly loved.
She had peculiar tact for winning and interesting little ones, and was
never more at home than when surrounded by her little flock. Her memory
will always be green in the hearts of the many she had taught, who will
see her no more in this world. Her faithful sowing will cause many,
besides her children, to rise up and call her blessed. Mr. McDonald was
accustomed to instruct, free, the Sabbath school and any others who
wished, in music, and thus was instrumental in having exceptionally good
singing in the school. He was also very successful in training for
special exercises, and had much executive ability. Always deliberate,
being firm in his convictions and of unalterable purpose, with careful
outlook, he seldom failed to accomplish what he undertook.
"His ministry was richly blessed with
signals of Divine approval, by several revivals occurring under his
pastorate. The influence of his preaching and example was for
righteousness, in building up a moral, God-fearing and Sabbath-loving
people. Several ministers have gone out from under his pastorate. His
labors, particularly in his first field, were arduous and exposing, but
were performed cheerfully in honor of Him who he served. The seed thus
faithfully sown will bring forth fruit to be gathered by other reapers.
He still takes delight in Evangelistic work, and rejoices in any
opportunity to do service for the Master. He has been a faithful and
unobtrusive minister of Christ, and is regarded universally, by those
who know him, with marked esteem and love."
Commemorative
Biographical Record of Washington County, PA, 1893, page 233