San Francisco County
A. J. McDONALD
A. J. McDONALD,
the well-known publisher of photographic views of California, 2110 Fillmore street, San Francisco, was born in St. Andrews, Canada West,
in 1840. Both branches of the McDonald family are of Scotch extraction,
the first emigration to America being from the Highlands of Scotland prior to
the Revolutionary war. Leaving home at the early age of seventeen, he came
to the United States, and landed in Chicago in July, 1857. In the fall of
the same year he went to New Orleans, and came north the following
spring. After an extensive tour of the western States he settled in
Liberty, Missouri, where he learned the wagon and carriage-making
trade. At the breaking out of the war he came north, and soon after, at
Ogdensburg, New York, enlisted in Company K, Eighteenth New York Infantry,
Newton’s Brigade, First Division of the Sixth Army
Corps. He served under McClellan, Burnside and Hooker, and after the
expiration of his term of service he went to Buffalo, New York. There he
learned the photographic art, followed that profession in Pennsylvania, Ohio
and West Virginia, and subsequently went to New Orleans, Louisiana, where he
remained a number of years devoting himself to his profession. In June,
1887, Mr. McDonald came to San Francisco, and since that time he has been
principally engaged in publishing photographic views of California for the
trade, his work being of a high order and commanding a ready sale.
His only
son, George A., is in business with him. Mr. McDonald’s father, John B.
McDonald, came to California in early pioneer days. He was engaged in
mining up to the time of his death, which occurred in 1856.
Archibald
McDonald, an uncle to A. J. McDonald, was born in St. Andrews, Canada, April
15, 1828, coming to California in 1852, and after spending two years in the
mines he located in the then thriving city of Benicia, Solano county, where he
was joined by his brother James, and both opened and started the first carriage
and wagon manufactory in the State. In 1855 Mr. McDonald made a trip to
Massachusetts and married Susan Atwood, and returned to California with his
wife and infant son, Edgar, in the early part of 1857. On the death of his
brother James in 1858 he entered into the mercantile business, which he carried
on successfully until 1875, when he was appointed Postmaster and also assumed
the management of Wells, Fargo & Co.’s Express business at Benicia, which
position he held continually for twelve years. Mr. McDonald served as City
Councilman, was elected twice as Mayor, and was School Trustee for fifteen
years, discharging all his duties with credit and honor to himself and
constituents. As a School Trustee he was always up and doing, an ardent
supporter of our system of education. The large school building in Benicia
stands as a monument to his untiring efforts in that direction.
As a citizen he was one of the foremost, and was always
to be found zealously laboring and planning for the advancement of
Benicia. Of a quick and excitable disposition, he nevertheless was one of
the first to forget and forgive, charitable and generous, with an open hand and
heart to all worthy in need, as many of the poor can attest. Upright,
honest and fearless in his every-day life, and of good, sound judgment, he was
much sought after for advice and assistance. He died January 9, 1887,
leaving a widow and eight children and a sister to mourn his loss.
Transcribed
by Donna L. Becker.
Source: “The Bay of
San Francisco,” Vol. 2, Pages 476-477, Lewis Publishing Co, 1892.
© 2006 Donna L.
Becker.