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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Grant County, Arkansas published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1889.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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William D. McDonald, surveyor of Grant County and farmer of Merry Green Township. Among the prominent men of this county the name of William D. McDonald should not be omitted. He was born in Calhoun County, Miss., January 30, 1854, and is the son of John McDonald, of South Carolina nativity, who was born in Newberry District in 1814, remaining there until eighteen years old when he went to Alabama and there married Miss Ann Hannah, a native of that State. After their marriage they resided in Alabama for some years, then moved to Mississippi and after a residence of seventeen years went to Arkansas, taking up their abode where he now resides. He has served as justice of the peace for two or more terms and has also been a member of the school board for a number of years. W. D. McDonald came to this State and county with his parents when quite a young child and received a good education in the district schools and afterward at the Sheridan High School. That he improved all the opportunities offered him is shown by his career since then. He commenced teaching in 1876 and continued to do so for a number of years; but still not satisfied with his qualifications he attended the Sheridan school for two years. In 1878 he is found in the “Old Star State” (Texas) where he taught for two years, but though he was devoted to his school and the advancement of his pupils, he still found time to become interested and attracted by one Miss Nancy Sanders, a native of Grant County. Mr. McDonald was bereft of his wife in 1880, who left four children. After her death he returned to Arkansas and in 1883 married his present wife, a charming widow, Mrs. Emily V. Sudduth (nee Rushing), a daughter of Rev. J. Rushing. They settled on the farm where his wife had previously resided. Of this happy marriage three children have been born. Mr. McDonald was elected justice of the peace before he moved to Texas and served one term to the entire satisfaction of the community. On his return from Texas he was elected surveyor of the county. Mr. McDonald and his estimable wife are members of the Baptist Church to which they give their valuable and substantial support, as do they in all enterprises worthy of assistance, Mr. McDonald is a member of the Agricultural Wheel.

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This family biography is one of 68 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Grant County, Arkansas published in 1889.  For the complete description, click here: Grant County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

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