Bio of MCDONALD, Matthew (b.1848 d.1910), Hennepin Co., MN
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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
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Vol II, pg 581-582
MATTHEW MCDONALD
The commercial development of Minneapolis bears testimony to the business
ability and enterprise of Matthew McDonald, who for a considerable period was
one of the owners of an extensive wholesale and retail china, crockery and
glassware business. He justly won his place as a representative merchant of the
city and his activities were of a character that contributed to the business
development of Minneapolis, as well as to the promotion of his individual
fortunes. Mr. McDonald came to this state from Pennsylvania, his birth having
occurred at Silver Lake, on the 13th of December, 1848, his parents being Morris
and Elizabeth (O'Donell) McDonald, both of whom were natives of Ireland, whence
they came to America about the year 1840.
Spending his youthful days in his native state, Matthew McDonald acquired his
common school education there and afterward was graduated from the academy at
Binghamton, New York. His connection with the china, crockery and glassware
trade dated from 1877, in which year he entered business along that line at
Bradford, Penn­sylvania, under the firm name of McDonald Brothers. There he
continued actively in business until 1884, when the brothers came to Minneapolis
and opened a similar establishment on Nicollet avenue below Fifth street. From
the beginning the new enter­prise prospered and the trade grew steadily. Later
they established and conducted both a wholesale and retail business, which
developed into the largest of the kind in this city, its location being on Fifth
and First avenue, North. The store was conducted under the style of the McDonald
Brothers Company and they ever carried an extensive and well selected line of
goods, representing the foremost manufacturers of America and carrying some
foreign made goods as well. Matthew McDonald remained an active factor in the
conduct and management of the business to the time of his death and since that
date it has been carried on by his brother and former partner, Morris Mc­Donald.
In 1878 Matthew McDonald was united in marriage to Miss Bridget Halpins, a
daughter of Michael and Elizabeth (Sullivan) Halpins, both of whom were natives
of Ireland, whence they came to the United States in early life, settling first
at Deposit, New York. Eight children were born of this marriage: Maurice, who
died in 1918; Elizabeth, who passed away in 1880; James, a resident of
Minneapolis; and Mary, Walter, Edith, Millard and Joseph. The last named
departed this life in 1895. Millard served with the aviation forces during the
World war. Mr. McDonald passed away August 13, 1910. His wife died on the 9th of
April, 1922. Mr. McDonald was long very active in connection with the Catholic
Orphans' Home, of which he was a trustee for many years and St. Stephen's
Catholic church numbered him among its devoted com-municants. His political
endorsement was ever given to the republican party from the time when age
conferred upon him the right of franchise, but he never sought nor desired
office, content that his public duties should be done as a private citizen. He
was interested in progressive measures, however, and withheld his support and
cooperation from no plan or movement that was calculated to benefit Minneapolis
or advance her trade. He deserved much credit for what he accomplished in a
business way and could truly be called a self-made man, as his prosperity
resulted entirely from his individual efforts, his close application and his
determined purpose.