Will County IL Archives Biographies.....McDonald, Leon ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/il/ilfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Deb Haines http://www.rootsweb.com/~archreg/vols/00003.html#0000719 February 2, 2008, 2:42 am Author: Past & Present Will County, 1907 Leon McDonald, editor and publisher of the Lockport Phoenix and a recognized leader in republican ranks in his home locality and county, has through these two connections exercised an influence upon the public life and progress of the community that is far-reaching and beneficial. A native son of Will county, he was born in the township of New Lenox, November 2, 1860, a son of Jonathan S. McDonald, for some years connected with the banking business in Lockport. The family comes of Scotch ancestry as is indicated by the name. The first authentic record traces the record back to Michael McDonald, a seafaring man, who, crossing the Atlantic from the country of hills and heather, made his way through Canada and began life in New England. On the 20th of June, 1766, Michael McDonald married Mrs. Elizabeth Brown, and their children were Asa and Betsey, the latter dying in early girlhood. Mr. McDonald took his family to Lockport near Syracuse, New York, and left them there while he went to sea. Tradition has it that he was drowned in Lake Ontario, and other stories concerning his whereabouts were circulated but nothing definitely was known. After the father left, the support of the family devolved upon Asa McDonald, who, before he had attained his majority, served as drummer in a company raised to oppose the British at Niagara in the war of 1812. He afterward became prominent in the New York Militia as a captain and expert musician. His business interests were varied until 1836, when, leaving Onondaga county, New York, he removed to Joliet, Will county, Illinois, and later to Five Mile Grove, while subsequently he purchased land and improved a farm on Springcreek in New Lenox township. Thus the family became established in Will county during the earliest epoch in its history. Asa McDonald married Olive Rudd at Syracuse and reared a family of six daughters and one son, namely: Rosanna E., Jane C., Jonathan S., Clarissa C., Harriet, Lovina and Ellen. Although ostensibly a farmer, Asa McDonald employed his energies more in the cultivation and practice of music and was a leader in many public and social enterprises. His fame as a violinist is well remembered by those who attended his dances and the social gatherings of the neighborhood. He never aspired to political distinction and died December 4, 1857, at the age of fifty-five years, his birth having occurred May 9, 1802. His wife, who was born September 23, 1805, died March 1, 1873. Jonathan S. McDonald, their only son, was born at Liverpool, New York, April 17, 1829, and was a lad of seven summers when brought to Will county. In his youth he was largely occupied with the labor of the farm but he did not find that pursuit congenial and availed himself of the opportunity of teaching in a district school in the winter months. After the discovery of gold in California he made his way across the stretcher of hot sand and through mountain passes in 1849, spending four years in the mining regions of that country, meeting with a fair measure of success in his search for the precious metal. He afterward spent two weeks as a student in the college at Oberlin, Ohio, and then relinquishing the idea of gaining further education he established a bank at Lockport, which he conducted with success until the outbreak of the Civil war. All business was rendered somewhat precarious by the events of history at that time and Mr. McDonald suffered heavy losses. He then made his way to the newly discovered gold mines at California Gulch, Colorado, but returned in the following spring. In the meantime he was married, on the 12th of December, 1857, to Miss Louisa Snoad, a daughter of Colonel George Snoad, a native of England. Following his return from Colorado. Mr. McDonald recruited a company for the Civil war, which became a part of the One Hundredth Illinois Infantry and which he commanded in the battles of Perryville, Stone River, Chickamauga and numerous skirmishes. His meritorious conduct on the field won him promotion. At Stone River he was wounded with the result that his hearing was almost entirely destroyed. Following the war he served as a cashier in connection with a railroad business in Chicago and later returned to Will county, where he was connected with newspaper publications and with political interests until his increasing deafness forced him to retire from those fields. The Highland Scotch are noted for a tendency to mysticism and "second sight" and this faculty seems to have developed in Mr. McDonald, who is now engaged in philosophical pursuits and has become noted in occult circles as author of several books on ancient magic and esoteric philosophy. Leon McDonald, having acquired his elementary education in the schools of Lockport, became a student in the Wisconsin State University. He mastered the printer's trade in his father's office, serving in all capacities from the humblest to that of editor, and in 1880 he accepted a position on the reportorial staff of the Joliet News, while later he was city editor of the same paper. He left the News to engage with two others in the founding and publishing of the Joliet Daily Press, which proved an extraordinarily successful venture, while the original promoters remained in charge. In 1884 Mr. McDonald sold his interest and returned to Lockport, where he assumed control of the publication of the Lockport Phoenix, which he still owns and publishes, making it an effective factor for the promotion of community interests in the city, and at the same time an element in republican politics in Will county. Mr. McDonald has ever been a stalwart champion of republican principles and for more than two decades has been a member of the republican central committee and for a long period at the head of its executive committee. His fellow townsmen, recognizing his worth and ability, have frequently called him to office, and for two terms he has been president of the village council, exercising his official prerogatives in support of many measures which have proven of direct benefit to the city. It was during his second term that Lockport's excellent system of waterworks was built. In 1897 he was appointed general superintendent of the Illinois & Michigan canal, which position he still fills, and during which period the canal passed through some of the most critical experiences of its existence. The authorities of the sanitary district of Chicago avowedly sought to destroy it and acquire valuable rights belonging to the state made under the care and control of the canal officers. The contest that ensued both from an engineering and legal standpoint was a huge one and most bitterly fought. It resulted, however, in a victory for the canal people on every point and saved to the state property and rights worth several millions of dollars. For the part he had in achieving this result, Mr. McDonald won and received much credit. On the 21st of September, 1898, Leon McDonald was married to Clara Augusta Rudd, a daughter of Charles H. and Esther (Leonard) Rudd. She was born April 26, 1875, and is a graduate of Oberlin (Ohio) College, having formerly been a resident of that place. Mr. and Mrs. McDonald have two sons and two daughters. Louise E., born July 13, 1899; Esther L., born January 11, 1901; Donald A., born October 14, 1902; and Leon E., Jr., born January 13, 1906. The fact that Mr. McDonald is connected with one of the oldest pioneer families of the county would entitle Leon McDonald to mention in this volume even if he had not been a factor in the business and political life of Lockport and of Will county. His activity in these relations, however, have had direct bearing upon the city and county of his residence and that he acts from public-spirited and patriotic motives is indicated by the results which he has accomplished for the general good in various ways. Additional Comments: PAST AND PRESENT OF WILL COUNTY, ILLINOIS By W. W. Stevens President of the Will County Pioneers Association; Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1907 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/il/will/bios/mcdonald2389nbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/ilfiles/ File size: 8.7 Kb