BIO: Mrs. Mary C. McDONALD, Clearfield County, PA
 
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From Twentieth Century History of Clearfield County, Pennsylvania,
and Representative Citizens, by Roland D. Swoope, Jr.,
Chicago: Richmond-Arnold Publishing Company, 1911, pages 518 & 519.
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  MRS. MARY C. McDONALD, widow of William Henry McDonald, and daughter of David 
J. and Keziah (Wilson) Cathcart, resides on her valuable farm of 116 acres, 
situated in Knox township, Clearfield County, Pa., in which section she is well 
and favorably known.  Her father was born in Ireland and was ten years old when 
he came to America, landing at New York.  After his marriage he and his wife 
lived in Clearfield County, Pa., where all of their children were born.
  Mary C. Cathcart remained with her parents until her marriage.  She attended 
the Turkey Hill School near her home three months in the year, during girlhood 
and later has the advantages of one term in the Jordan Township school and one 
term at Centerville.  In January, 1862, she was married to William Henry 
McDonald.  He was born in Indiana County, Pa., a son of Robert and Lydia (Potts) 
McDonald, with whom he moved to Jefferson County, settling on a farm, farming 
and stockraising being his business through life.  On June 27, 1862, he enlisted 
for service in the Civil War, but returned home in March, 1863, on account of an 
attack of typhoid fever.  Subsequently he was drafted but did not again face the 
hardships of a soldier's life, hiring a substitute who took his place.  For 
sixteen years he resided in Jefferson County, having previously lived in 
Clearfield County after marriage and there Mr. and Mrs. McDonald's oldest son 
was born, John W.  He was married first to Elizabeth Dougherty and after her 
death to Anna Sours Donahue.  For some years he engaged in lumbering in Elk and 
Potter Counties and then located in Tioga County, where he is in the hotel 
business.
  After Mr. and Mrs. McDonald moved to Jefferson County the first time, four 
children were born, namely:  David Aaron, William Henry, Daniel Alfred and David 
Austin.  They then moved to Indiana County and while living there two more 
children were born, namely:  Reuben M. and Dessa Ellen.  They returned to 
Jefferson County, where James Armand, the youngest son was born.  In April, 
1879, Mr. McDonald and family came to Knox Township, Clearfield County, where he 
bought the present homestead and with the help of his sons, cleared almost the 
whole of it.  He made many improvements and built the present substantial barn.  
Mr. McDonald was a highly respected citizen of Knox Township, a man of good 
business capacity, of honorable character and of a kind and friendly nature.  He 
was a Democrat in his political views but never accepted any public office 
except that of school director, and belonged to no organization except the Grand 
Army of the Republic.  His death occurred November 8, 1904, at the age of sixty-
four years and his burial was in the Mt. Zion Cemetery attached to the Methodist 
Episcopal church in Knox Township.
  Since the death of her husband, Mrs. McDonald and her son, William Henry 
McDonald, manage the farm very successfully, carrying on general agriculture.  
Mrs. McDonald has a very pleasant home, keeping everything in good repair, and 
takes pleasure in hospitably entertaining her many friends.  A coal bank on the 
farm is profitably worked and there is also a valuable clay deposit.  Mrs. 
McDonald is a member of Mt. Zion Methodist Episcopal Church and is deeply 
interested in its mission and charitable work.