ANGUS JOHN AND AMY EVANS McDONALD

Angus John McDonald was born on May 27, 1864 in Canada. His parents were Colin and Isabella Grant McDonald. Angus married Amy Evans on February 18, 1895. Her parents were John and Rebecca Gronsberry Evans.

Angus and Amy had the following children:

1. Angus Grant McDonald was born November 19, 1896 in Lakefield Township. Angust Grant died on April 3, 1929 of dropsy and is buried in the Lakefield Township Cemetery. Noted on his death certficate was the following: “Chronic Endocarditis long duration existing since childhood".

2. Lillian McDonald was born March 30, 1899 in Lakefield Township. She married Fred L. Stollsteimer on November 25, 1925 by Albert E. Siebert, Minister of the Gospel in Merrill, Saginaw County, Michigan.

3. Isabelle was born May 18, 1901 in Lakefield Township. She married Carl McQuiston on October 21, 1931 in Merrill, Saginaw County, Michigan by Minister J.H. Jonette.

4. Colin J. McDonald born in 1909 and died 1964.

    

In 1896, Angus J. owned and operated 40 acres in Section 4 on Ederer Road between Meridian and Fenmore Roads. His neighbors were Colin McDonald, Martin Zuber/Suber; F.H. Stevenson, and Patrick O'Connor. By 1916, Angus J. had added his father's, Colin McDonald's, 40 acres to the west of his first 40 acres. Thus he owned 80 acres of land. In 1916, his neighbors were: Louis Francetic,  Joseph Suber, Mary Conklin, Patrick O'Connor and Herbert J. Wilson

The following was found about Angus J. McDonald in a book “Looking Backward” History of Merrill and Jonesfield Township, Saginaw County, Michigan written by W.G. Shannon page 32: “After Will Stevenson left the marshal job, the town (Merrill) remained fairly quiet until the adjacent counties of Gratiot, Montcalm and Midland went dry, local option. The working boys started coming to Merrill to patronize the local gin mills. Once in a while they got a bit obstreperous, leading Mr. R.T. Maynard, the mayor at the time, to hire Angus J. McDonald for the marshal job. McDonald was a rawboned Scotsman, strong as any man, but also quiet and easy going. Some of the so-called tough guys bragged to anyone who would listen that, if McDonald tried to arrest them, he would get the fight he deserved. When McDonald heard about the threats, he just shook his head. When the loudmouths were in town, he just walked up and put the arm on them saying, “Come on boys, we're going to jail. They gave no argrument and followed McDonald, much to the delight of many whom laughed about the incident for weeks afterward.”

Angus J. McDonald along with Thomas Wall, and John R. Shannon started and organized the first farmers co-op Union Store.

Also, found in another book “Lest We Forget” written by Myron F. Gulick on page 124 states the following about Angus McDonald: “People making Merrill grow and prosper included the following people ….... Angus McDonald. These persons have passed on, but Merrill is better off for their being here. We are all better to have known them.”

Angus J. died on November 14, 1932 in Lakefield Township and Amy died on February 3, 1935 in Lakefield Township. They are both buried in the Lakefield Township Cemetery.

SOURCES: 1896 and 1916 Lakefield Township Plat Map; Angus Grant and Isabelle's birth record; Amy and Angus J. and Angus Grant's death record; Amy's obituary; Isabelle and Lillian's marriage record; Lillian and Fred obituaries; the books Lest We Forget and Looking Backwards.