BIO: N. Abraham McDONALD, Huntingdon County, PA

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Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of the Juniata Valley: 
Comprising the Counties of Huntingdon, Mifflin, Juniata and Perry, 
Pennsylvania, Containing Sketches of Prominent and Representative 
Citizens and Many of the Early Settlers.  Chambersburg, Pa.: J. M. 
Runk & Co., 1897, pages 168-169.
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  REV. N. A. MCDONALD, D. D., Shade Gap, Huntingdon county, Pa., son of 
Charles and Mary (Foreman) McDonald, was born in Fannett township, 
Franklin county, Pa., January 30, 1830. His grandfather, Charles 
McDonald, a Scotchman by birth, came to America and settled in Franklin 
county, where he married Miss Gracey, and where both died. Their son, 
also named Charles, was born in Franklin county and was raised on a 
farm. He followed farming all his life. His wife was Mary Foreman. They 
had two children: Hadassah, widow of Mr. Shearer; and Rev. N. A. Both 
Mr. and Mrs. McDonald died in Dublin township.
  Rev. N. A. McDonald received his early education in the public 
schools of his native township, attending the same until he was ten 
years old when his parents removed to Dublin township, Huntingdon 
county, in the neighborhood of Shade Gap. Here his primary education 
was finished and a preparatory college course completed at Shade Gap 
Academy. In 1854 he entered the sophomore class at Jefferson College, 
Cannonsburg, Washington county, Pa., graduating in 1857. He commenced 
the study of theology at the Western Theological Seminary in Allegheny 
City, Pa., finishing the course in the spring of 1860. Immediately 
after this, he was ordained at Hollidaysburg, Blair county, and on June 
5, 1860, he sailed from New York to Siam, around the Cape of Good Hope, 
having been chosen to go as a missionary to that distant land. So 
slowly did they travel in those times that the trip required over 
eighty days. He remained in Siam for over twenty-five years, during 
which time he returned in the spring of 1870 on a furlough of one year. 
The journey back to Siam by steam vessel via San Francisco, the time 
being thus shortened to forty-five days. The missionary's duties in 
Siam were very many. He taught in the mission school; he was mission 
treasurer; for over twenty years he had charge of the mission press, 
and after two years' study of the language he preached in the native 
tongue. Mr. McDonald translated much of the Scriptures into Siamese; he 
had charge of the United States Legation for over five years and often 
served as interpreter for that body. In 1887, Rev. McDonald returned 
from the foreign field once more, this time to stay. In the spring of 
1860, just previous to sailing, he was married to Miss Eliza Dickson, 
daughter of Stewart Dickson. Though born in America, Mrs. McDonald was 
of Irish descent and had spent some time in Ireland. She accompanied 
her husband to his field of labor and was ever a valued helper in his 
work. She taught in the schools of Siam and did other mission work of 
noble character. She died in Mount Union, Huntingdon county, where they 
resided for a little more than four years before coming to Dublin 
township. Here the family now live, the father owning 160 acres of 
farming land, on which he has built a large substantial dwelling.
  Rev. and Mrs. McDonald had the following children: Harriet; Mary, 
widow of Wm. H. McFarland, who died in Siam of cholera, resides with 
her father; Charles, who died of cholera in 1873 and is buried in Siam; 
Jennie, deceased, was the wife of W. H. Harrison, of Mount Union, Pa.; 
Francis Charles, a graduate of Princeton College, class of '96. Rev. 
McDonald is in sympathy with the Republican party. He is respected by 
all, a man whom it is a privilege to call friend.

1850 Dublin Township, Huntingdon County census -
Mary McDonald, 62  
Abraham McDonald, 21  
Hedessa McDonald, 23