My Genealogy Hound

J. SHARP McDONALD, oil and gas producer, Sewickley. Rev. McDonald, grandfather of J. S. McDonald, was one of the pioneers at Logstown, Pa. A century ago he preached as a local Presbyterian minister near Sewickley valley and at Logstown, whisky and corn chiefly constituting his salary. His son, Capt. John McDonald, was a native of Hopewell township, Beaver county, Pa., and was one of the early keelboatmen who took boats from New Orleans to Pittsburgh; afterward he was a pilot, and captain of several boats. He also built and owned the Pickaway, Sligo and Palo Alto, passenger packets, later the Youghiogheny, doing a large towing business from the Beaver canal to Pittsburgh, where he later engaged in the coal business. His wife, nee Rachel Oliver, was the mother of the following-named children: Capt. John V. Josh, David A., Marshall, William, Joseph, J. Sharp, Elizabeth, Phoebe, Anna and Mattie. At the age of seventeen years he engaged in the coal business, and during the war furnished coal to the government at New Orleans, Vicksburg and other points. He also was one of the contractors who furnished the stones for the jetties. He was formerly interested in the railroad business, but is now engaged in the production of natural gas. His wife, a daughter of William Colville, an ex-soldier, is one of the most noted singers in the state, her style of music being oratorical and dramatic. She has been identified with every good cause in Pittsburgh and vicinity, and has aided by the music of her voice and talent many churches, the poor and many benevolent societies, being a great favorite with the G. A. R. all over the country, the G. A. R. Post No. 3, of Pittsburgh, in recognition of her many kind acts, having elected her unanimously, and made her by a special act of the commander a member of the post, August 29, 1881, and presented her with a gold badge, being the only one in existence in the United States.