Archibald McDonald ~ 1844-1909

MCDONALD, REHKOPF, DUNN, BROWN, TADE

Posted By: Volunteer - Rhonda Rankin Rowe
Date: 2/19/2002 at 09:46:39

Sudden Death of A. McDonald at Bonaparte

Citizens of the county were shocked Tuesday morning by the word that Mr. A. McDonald, a prominent citizen of Bonaparte, had suddenly expired at 11:30 o’clock the night previous. Mr. McDonald, for a series of years, had been in the mercantile business in Bonaparte, and Monday of this week had been in the store all day attending to his duties and arranging a holiday display of goods. He expressed himself that day of feeling in excellent health, though on Sunday, for the first time in his life, he suffered a brief attack of heart inaction which lasted only a short time. About 11:00 Monday evening, leaving Mrs. McDonald in the sitting room, he went upstairs for the night, but in a few moments she heard him call and hastened to him. She found him suffering with another attack of heart oppression and assisted him downstairs into a chair, then called Dr. Cresap over the telephone, but before the dr. arrived, her husband was dead. Heart failure is what Dr. Cresap informed us was the cause. The deceased was one of the best and most useful citizens of Van Buren County. He was a lifelong acquaintance and dear friend of the senior editor of the Republican and a longtime acquaintance and friend of the junior editor. We loved Archie as an upright citizen and a thorough gentleman, and mourn him as such, joining our sorrow with that of the bereaved relatives.

Archibald McDonald was born in Fort Madison, Dec. 1, 1844, which made his age 65, Wednesday of last week. He came to Van Buren County with his parents three years later, and since then his home has been here except for two or three years. During his early manhood he taught school and in 1873 was elected county superintendent of schools, serving one term. Later he entered the mercantile business at Bonaparte as a partner in the firm of McDonald and Meek, which firm continued in business until about three years ago, when it was dissolved, since which time he has been manager of what is known as the Boston Store in that place. His first wife was Miss Mary Rehkopf of Bentonsport, who died about 18 months following their marriage. One daughter Mrs. Mary Dunn of Kansas City, was born to this union. Later he married Miss Cora L. Brown also of Bentonsport, who with two children, Brown A. of Des Moines and Mrs. Gertrude C. Tade of Harrisburg Township, are left to mourn the death of devoted husband and father. The funeral will be held at 1:00 Thursday of this week from the Presbyterian Church in Bonaparte, Rev. Duty preaching the discourse. The burial will be at the cemetery there, the Masonic Order in charge of the services at the grave, and escort of Knights Templar being present.

Source; Iowa Rankin and Jenny Matheson newspaper clippings