MCDONALD, Archibald: 1844-1909

MCDONALD, REHKOPF, DUNN, BROWN, ALSTON

Posted By: Volunteer: Sherri (email)
Date: 6/13/2013 at 12:17:54

ARCHIBALD MCDONALD.

Archibald McDonald was __ at Ft. Madison, Iowa, Dec. ??, 1844, and died at Bonaparte, ??, Dec. 6th, 1909, aged 65 years, 5 days. He was the oldest ?? of Charles and Martha McDonald. Four years later the family moved to a farm in Harrisburg township, Van Buren county, where he attended the district schools and later the high school of Mt. Pleasant and Oskaloosa.

After teaching several terms ?? Van Buren county he went California and taught school while there. Returning to ?? he was employed as a teacher in the graded schools of Bonaparte, Bentonsport and Vernon. In 1873 he was elected Co. Supt. of schools and served one term of two years. In Baraboo, Wis. on Nov 10th, 1874, he was married to Mary L. Rehkopf of Bentonsport, Iowa. To this union was born one daughter, Mrs. Madeline Dunn of Kansas City, Mo. His wife died Sept. 25, 1876, at Bentonsport.

He married Miss Cora L. Brown of Bentonsport, on February ??, 1882. To this union three children were born: Brown Archibald, Gertrude Alston and Martha E., who died in infancy. He united with the Presbyterian church at Bentonsport, March 16, 1873, and transferred to the church at Bonaparte in January, 1903.

In 1877 he was in Texas amd the next year went to Colorado where he taught school for two years. In 1881, he succeeded Wm. J. Johnson in the firm of Christy & Johnson. The business was conducted under the name of Christy & McDonald until the death of Mr. Christy in J???, 1887. R. Elmer Meek purchased the Christy interest in 1888, and the firm name became McDonald & Meek and so remained until Mr. Meek was elected county treasurer in 1906, which caused the dissolution of the firm.

Since then Mr. McDonald had been manager of the Boston Sto?? Mr. McDonald became a member of Bonaparte Lodge No. 73, A.F. & A.M., Sept. 1st, 1871, and w?? Master of the lodge two years. He was exalted in Lafayette Chapter No. 61, R A.M., February 29th, 1872, and served as secretary for many years. He ?? been a member of El Cha??? Commandery No. 28, K.T. of Keosauqua, since Feb. 20, 18??. At the time of his death and for several years previous he was treasurer of the lodge and charter.

He was also a member of Magnolia Chapter No. 276, O.E.S. He had six sisters and three brothers. His father died Ju?? 8th, 1876, and his mother N?? 19th, 1899. He is survived by his widow, one son Brown A., two daughters, Mrs. Madeline Dunn and Mrs. Gertrude Ta??, and two grandsons. Two sisters, Miss Mattie McDonald and Mrs. Charles E. Rau of Mason City, Iowa. Two brothers, Charles W., of Council Bluffs and Robert E, of Harrisburg township, this county.

The funeral was held, Thursday, Dec. 9, from the Presbyterian church, the Rev. George Duty, former pastor, delivering the funeral address. The Masonic ritual was given at the cemetery by Bonaparte Lodge No. 73, A.F. & A.M., under escort of a delegation from El Chanan Commandery, ?? which the deceased had long been a prominent and estemed member. Magnolia Chapter, O.E.S., was also in attendance.

A large concourse of relatives and friends attended to show the love and esteem for the g??? man so suddenly taken from ??? community, and among those from a distance were Brown McDonald, Des Moines; Mrs. Madeline Dunn of Kansas City; Mr. and Mrs. Charles Rau and M?? ?????? McDonald of Mason City.

Source: Van Buren Co. Genealogical Society Obituary Book C, Page 110, Keosauqua Public Library, Keosauqua, IA