Bio of MCDONALD, John F. (b.1870), Hennepin Co., MN
=========================================================================
USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information
on the Internet, material may be freely used by non-commercial entities,
as long as this message remains on all copied material, AND permission is
obtained from the contributor of the file.
These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or
presentation by other organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to
use this material for non-commercial purposes, MUST obtain the written
consent of the contributor, OR the legal representative of the submitter,
and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent.

If you have found this file through a source other than the MNArchives 
Table Of Contents you can find other Minnesota related Archives at:
http://www.usgwarchives.net/mn/mnfiles.htm
Please note the county and type of file at the top of this page to find 
the submitter information or other files for this county.
FileFormat by Terri--MNArchives

Made available to The USGenWeb Archives by: Laura Pruden
Submitted: June 2003
=========================================================================
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
========================================================
EXTRACTED FROM: History of Minneapolis, Gateway to the Northwest; 
Chicago-Minneapolis, The S J Clarke Publishing Co, 1923; Edited by: Rev. 
Marion Daniel Shutter, D.D., LL.D.; Volume I - Shutter (Historical); 
volume II - Biographical; volume III - Biographical
========================================================

Vol II, pg 796
JOHN F. MCDONALD
John F. McDonald, a member of one of the old and prominent families of
Minneapolis and a representative business man of the city, is concentrating his
attention upon the management of a large industrial enterprise conducted under
his name. His birth occurred at Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, June 19, 1870, and his
parents, John Stewart and Elizabeth (Flower) McDonald, were natives,
respectively, of Glengarry, Canada, and North Adams, Massachusetts. The father
was of Scotch descent and for forty years was also connected with the lumber
industry. In 1887 he established his home in this city, becoming the founder and
president of the Minneapolis Threshing Machine Company, of which he was
president for many years, and the business which he established has since become
one of the largest of the kind in the country. He was a man of broad vision and
exceptional executive ability and successfully directed his manufacturing
interests until 1898, when he sold his interest in the concern to others and
lived retired in this city until his demise, which occurred in 1916. The mother
is still a resident of Minneapolis.
After completing his public school training John F. McDonald became a student at
the University of Minnesota and his initial experience along business lines was
obtained with the Minneapolis Threshing Machine Company, with which he was
connected for ten years, acting as purchasing agent and also as secretary. In
1910 he resigned to enter business on his own account, organizing the John F.
McDonald Lumber Company, which he conducted successfully until March, 1921, when
he sold his retail interests, and has since operated as a jobber of sash, doors
and general millwork. His company has a well equipped plant at No. 214 Seventh
street, Northeast, and its trade has assumed large proportions. Mr. McDonald
acted as treasurer of the company until 1921, when he was also made president,
which offices he now holds, and his son, John S. McDonald, is vice president,
while L. N. Nelson is serving as secretary.
On the 20th of April, 1897, Mr. McDonald was married to Miss Julia Bradley Davis
of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, a daughter of DeWitt and Minnie L. Davis, the former a
prominent attorney of that city. Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs.
McDonald: John Stewart (II), Henrietta Louise, Margaret Elizabeth, Norman Davis
and Marion Harriet. The elder son, John S. McDonald, enlisted for service in the
World war, becoming a member of the Aviation Corps, and was stationed at Kelly
Field, Texas. The family residence is at No. 2414 Pleasant avenue in this city.
Mr. McDonald has been a member of Westminster church since 1888.
Mr. McDonald rendered valuable aid to his country during the war with Germany,
acting as chairman of District No. 25, in which connection he was instrumental
in promoting the various Liberty Loan drives, and served also as chairman of the
War Camp Community Service and was chairman of the board of governors of the
Army & Navy Club until May 15, 1923. He is a member of the executive board of
the Citizens Alliance, and a member of the St. Anthony Commercial Club, the
Minneapolis Club and the Minneapolis Automobile Club. Mr. McDonald has
established his position among the leading lumber dealers and progressive
citizens of Minneapolis.