John Edmund McDougall Biography


	This biography appears on pages 1382-1384 in "History of South 
	Dakota" by Doane Robinson, Vol. II (1904) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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	JOHN EDMUND McDOUGALL, a representative citizen of Britton, 
Marshall county, as the name implies, comes of staunch Scottish lineage 
on the paternal side, and he is a native of Prince Edward Island, having 
been born in the village of Campbellton, on the 24th of February, 1860. 
He is a son of John and Grace (Mercerau) McDougall, the former of whom 
was born on Prince Edward Island, while the latter was a native of New 
Brunswick. The paternal grandparents of the subject were of pure Scotch 
lineage, being representatives of the sterling clan McDougall, of the 
highlands of the fair land of hills and heather. Both were born in 
Scotland, whence they emigrated to America about the year 1820, settling 
in Malpeque, Prince Edward Island, and there passing the remainder of 
their lives. The mother of the subject represented the Scotch, Irish and 
French strains, her father having been a Scotchman. She died when our 
subject was but thirteen years of age, and his father subsequently 
married Miss Jennie McLean, five sons and four daughters having been 
born of the first union and one son to the latter union. The father died 
in the month of May, 1902. 

	John E. McDougall was reared on the homestead farm and received 
his educational discipline in the public schools of his native place. He 
remained at home until he had attained the age of twenty years, having 
in the meanwhile learned the carpenter's trade. At the age noted he went 
to Maine and thence to Massachusetts, being absent about nine months, 
after which he returned home, where he remained a few months, at the 
expiration of which, on November 23, 1880, he started for the west, 
locating in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where he engaged in the work of his 
trade. In November, 1883, he went to Norton, Massachusetts, where was 
solemnized his marriage to Miss Isabel R. Munro, and six weeks later he 
returned, with his bride, to Minneapolis. In August, 1884, a son was 
born to them, Edward James, who was graduated in June, 1904, from 
Pittsburg Academy, Minnesota, and is now at home. On the 26th of 
December, 1884, Mrs. McDougall was summoned into eternal rest, her 
remains being interred in Maple Hill cemetery, Minneapolis. On the 25th 
of May, 1886, Mr. McDougall left Minneapolis and came to Britton, 
Marshall county, South Dakota, where he has ever since maintained his 
home. During his residence in Minneapolis he followed his trade, having 
been for three years foreman for the firm of McCleary & Quigley, and 
thereafter having been independently engaged in contracting and 
building, in which line of enterprise he has successfully continued in 
Britton, many evidences of his skill and ability being found here. He 
has ever accorded an unwavering allegiance to the Republican party, in 
whose ranks he has been an active and valued worker, having been a 
member of the state central committee for two years, and also having 
served as a member of the county central committee, while in 1896 he was 
president of the Republican club of Marshall county. In May, 1904, he 
was nominated by the Republican party for lieutenant governor. In 1900 
he was captain of a Roosevelt rough-rider company, which had a 
membership of seventy-five and which was much in evidence during the 
campaign of that year. In November, 1900, Mr. McDougall was elected to 
represent his county in the lower house of the state legislature, having 
been the first Republican elected to this office in the county in four 
years. His record was such that a further manifestation of popular 
appreciation was given in the election of November, 1902, when he was 
elected senator from the thirty-second district, comprising the counties 
of Marshall and Day, being thus a member of the upper house during the 
eighth general assembly, in I903, and being made chairman of the 
appropriation committee, while he was also assigned to other important 
committees, proving an efficient working member of the deliberative body 
and still farther fortifying himself in popular esteem. On the 14th of 
October, 1884, Mr. McDougall united with the Andrew Presbyterian church, 
in Minneapolis, and in 1887 was admitted by letter to the First 
Presbyterian church of Britton. He organized a Sunday school in the 
church in January of that year, and continued as its superintendent for 
the long period of ten years, at the expiration of which he resigned, 
and during the ensuing four years refused to accept the position again, 
though urged to do so. In January. 1901, however, he again resumed the 
duties of the superintendency, and has since continued to fill the 
office, his earnest and zealous labors being greatly appreciated, while 
he is also active in the other departments of church work. 

	In July, 1883, Mr. McDougall became a member of the Independent 
Order of Odd Fellows, and in January, 1888, he was primarily 
instrumental in the organizing of Britton Lodge, in Britton, having been 
its first noble grand and having represented the same in the grand lodge 
of the state. He is also affiliated with the Ancient Free and Accepted 
Masons, of which he was worshipful master for two years, while he has 
also served as treasurer and chaplain of the same. He is identified with 
the Royal Arch Masons, and also with the local organizations of the 
Ancient Order of United Workmen and Mutual Benefit Association. On the 
3d of August, 1901, he was mustered into the South Dakota National Guard 
and on the same day was elected captain of Company A, Third Regiment, 
located in Britton, while on the 1st of April, 1902, he was promoted to 
the office of major of the First Battalion of this regiment, of which 
office he remains incumbent at the time of this writing. 

	On the 13th of June, 1893, Mr. McDougall consummated a second 
marriage, being then united to Miss Nettie A. Marsh, of Britton. She was 
born in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and is a daughter of George J. and Amanda 
Melvina Marsh. Her mother is dead, while her father resides near 
Kalamazoo, Michigan. Mr. and Mrs. McDougall have two children, Tyrrell 
Glenn, who was born on the 29th of March, 1894, and Portia Lois, who was 
born on the 24th of November, 1896.