Ouray County CO Archives Biographies.....McDonald, James R.  1845 - ?
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Judy Crook jlcrook@rof.net February 25, 2006, 8:55 pm

Author: Progressive Men of Western Colorado

     James R. McDonald, one of the prominent and successful farmers and
stock-growers of Ouray county, is a typical pioneer, well versed in woodcraft,
fearless of danger from man or beast or the elements, laughing hardships and
privations to scorn, and ever ready for any duty that fate may mete out to him.
 He has lived in Colorado since 1868, and has partaken of all the phases of life
incident to her early settlement and subsequent growth and development.  He was
born in Glengarry county, Ontario, Canada, on the banks of the St. Lawrence, in
1845, and is the son of Ronald and Margaret McDonald, of the same nativity as
himself.  He comes of a martial strain, his great-grandfather, John McDonald,
having fought in the French and Indian war under Washington, and borne himself
valiantly in the struggle.  After the war he settled in Canada, and there he and
his wife ended their days.  There also the father and mother lived and died, and
there the son grew to manhood and was prepared for the duties of life.  After
reaching his maturity he emigrated to Pennsylvania, and a few years later moved
to Michigan.  In both states he followed lumbering, spending six years in the
pine forests of the latter as bookkeeper.  He then made a trip through the
territories looking for business opportunities, but returned to Michigan, where
he remained until 1872.  In that year he came west again and located in what is
now Park county, Colorado, where he engaged in mining for a year.  In 1873 he
moved to the San Jaun [sic] country, and there he continued his mining
operations until 1875.  Then he came to Ouray county and, in company with George
Scott, he built the first house in what is now the town of Ouray.  In 1877 he
was appointed the first marshal of the district and in 1878 located the farm on
which he now lives, and began the enterprise in farming and raising stock in
which he has ever since been engaged.  He has one hundred and sixty-seven acres
of fine valley land on which he raises excellent crops and breeds superior
grades of stock, having as pleasant a home and all the necessary appurtenances
for the vigorous and successful management of his business.  Like others of the
old settlers, Mr. McDonald experienced all the horrors of Indian warfare and all
the cruelty of Indian treachery.  He was in this country and took an active part
in suppressing the outbreak of 1875 and elsewhere and in an individual capacity
he confronted the arrows of savage hatred of the white race and helped to
overcome its resistance to the onward march of civilization.  He had many
thrilling adventures and numerous narrow escapes.  In his mining operations also
he experienced all the varied emotions incident to the calling, now successful
in this work, discovering some very valuable properties, and now losing all he
had in unexpected and unavoidable turns in fortune’s wheel.  He was married at
Colorado Springs in 1878, to Miss Mary Hasmer, a native of Missouri.  They are
the parents of seven children, Ronald, John A., Alexander, James, Neal, Mamie
and Kate.  

Additional Comments:
From Progressive Men of Western Colorado.  Chicago:  A.W. Bowen & Co., 1905

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/co/ouray/bios/mcdonald196gbs.txt

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