Multnomah County OR Archives Biographies.....Donaldson, Alexander MacGregor  May 11, 1854 - January 12, 1925
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Ila Wakley iwakley@msn.com January 23, 2011, 11:36 pm

Source: History of the Columbia River Valley From The Dalles to the Sea, Vol. III, Published 1928, Pages 773 - 774
Author: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company

     ALEXANDER MACGREGOR DONALDSON.  The life of Alexander MacGregor Donaldson 
was adventurous and picturesque, replete with hardships and dangers. His 
determined spirit, forceful nature and mental endowments enabled him to 
surmount obstacles and difficulties which would have completely discouraged 
many men, but he pressed steadily onward, becoming one of Portland's most 
useful citizens. A native of Scotland, he was born on Loch Fyne, May 11, 1854, 
and received his education in the excellent schools of that country. There he 
learned the carpenter's trade and when a young man severed home ties, coming 
to the United States in the hope of bettering his fortunes. He first located 
in Fall River, Massachusetts, and obtained work at his trade, also being 
employed in the building of boats. Endowed with a fine physique, he became 
widely known as an athlete and held many records. He excelled in pole 
vaulting, broad and high jumping and other manly sports and won several prizes 
at the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia in 1876.

     Mr. Donaldson remained in the east until 1880, when he yielded to the 
call of the west and journeyed to California. Later he came to Portland and 
engaged in carpentering for some time, afterward becoming connected with the 
local fire department. In 1898 he joined the rush of gold seekers to Alaska 
and spent more than three years in that country, profiting only in experience. 
His cabin in Dawson City was destroyed by fire while he was absent on a 
prospecting trip which took him a distance of forty miles and he lost over two 
thousand dollars in provisions and supplies. Courageously facing this 
misfortune, he returned to Portland and again started at the bottom. Through 
strenuous effort and tenacity of purpose he steadily advanced and in 1902, his 
ability won for him the appointment of superintendent of streets. Mr. 
Donaldson acted in that capacity until his death on January 12, 1925, his 
retention in the office constituting indisputable proof of the quality of his 
service and the appreciation of his worth. At the time he took over the 
department he was provided with only forty-five thousand dollars to carry on 
the work but made good progress although handicapped by so small a sum, and 
later was supplied with adequate funds for street improvements. When death 
terminated his labors hundreds of competent men were employed in this 
department and Portland had about six hundred miles of well paved streets as 
the result of his expert management and tireless efforts.

     In 1887 Mr. Donaldson had married Miss Maggie Alexander, who passed away 
in 1895, leaving a family of four children: Bessie, who died in 1901; 
Margaret, who was married to J. Peters, of Portland; Alexander MacGregor Jr., 
who married Doris Summerlin, of Portland; and Dorothy Sears, who lives in San 
Francisco, California. On July 30, 1903, Mr. Donaldson was married in Salem, 
Oregon, to Miss Marion W. Smith, who survives him and occupies the Portland 
home at No. 858 Glenn avenue, north. She was an old friend of the family and 
when Mr. Donaldson went to Alaska she agreed to care for the children. This 
was a great responsibility for a young girl of eighteen but she proved equal 
to the task, although the money left for the support of the family was stolen 
on the night of the father's departure. Kind-hearted and self-sacrificing, 
Mrs. Donaldson gave to the children the loving care of a mother and has been 
rewarded by their deep affection and appreciation of her nobility of 
character. Mr. Donaldson was a member of the Washington Lodge of Masons and 
conscientiously adhered to the beneficent teachings of the order. His deep 
interest in Portland's welfare and progress prompted him to put forth his best 
efforts in its behalf and his labors were manifestly resultant. He had a 
strong sense of duty and honor and was accorded the respect and admiration 
which the world ever yields to the self-made man.

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