Benjamin F. McDonald Biography


	This biography is from "Memorial and biographical record; an illustrated
 	compendium of biography, containing a compendium of local biography,
	including biographical sketches of prominent old settlers and 
	representative citizens of South Dakota..." Published by G. A. Ogle & 
	Co., Chicago, 1899. Page 707

	Scan, OCR and editing by Maurice Krueger,mkrueger@iw.net, 1998. 

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BENJAMIN F. McDONALD. Among the better class of agriculturist of Hand 
county, the gentleman whose name heads this review should be given a 
foremost place. He is making a success of this vocation on section 
fourteen, in Burdett township, near the town of Burdett, where he has 
resided since the pioneer days, and enjoys a wide acquaintance, and is 
accorded the highest esteem. 

Mr. McDonald was born in Chester county, Pennsylvania, April 13, 1824. 
His grandfather, Benjamin McDonald, was of Scotch descent, and located 
in Pennsylvania in the early days of its history. He was a soldier in 
the Revolutionary war. Our subject's parents, Charles and Elizabeth 
(McHenry) McDonald, were natives of Pennsylvania. The father was a 
mason by trade, and also followed farming. He died in his native state. 
Our subject had two brothers and six sisters. One brother is the only 
surviving member of the family, aside from the subject of this review. 

After completing his education in his native state, Mr. McDonald 
followed farming until the beginning of the Civil war. He enlisted as 
corporal in Company E, One Hundred and Seventy-fifth Pennsylvania 
Volunteer Infantry. His duty lay mostly in North Carolina and Virginia, 
and for about one year he was in the service, and was fighting 
bushwhackers. At the close of his service he returned to Pennsylvania, 
and engaged in farming in his native state kind county, until 1879, 
when he moved to Lynn county, where he resided four years. He went to 
Hand county, South Dakota, in 1883, and filed a claim on section 
fourteen, in Burdett township, where he has since resided. He engages 
in general farming, and is interested in stock raising. His farm is 
well improved and evidences skill and untiring energy. 

Our subject was married December 17, 1857, to Mary J. Dance, a native 
of Pennsylvania. Their home has been blessed by the presence of their 
two sons and one daughter. Their names are as follows: Joseph S., Lewis 
F., and Lizzie S., now Mrs. J. H. McGinnis. Mr. McDonald is a member of 
the Church of England, and also the G. A. R. He has aided in the 
upbuilding of his county, and has taken an active interest in 
educational matters, and has served as treasurer of the school board. 
He advocates Republican principles.