LENVIL McDONALD was born in 1768ca in Chatham County, North Carolina. He died 1858ca in Jefferson County, Illinois. It is believed he was the son of DUNCAN MCDONALD and CHRISTINA MCFALE(McFail). He married LURANEY TAYLOR about 1790ca. She the daughter of THOMAS TAYLOR and ELINOR DODSON.
Family stories and facts about LENVIL McDONALD:
Lenvil was a farmer and champion amateur boser of Illinois. It is told he was approached by three strangers while cutting wood one evening. One said, "I hear you say you're the champion prizefighter of Illinois. I think I am." With that Lenvil drew a circle on the ground with a stick and he and the stranger proceeded to fight. After the contest the stranger picked himself up from the ground, shook hands and said, "You're the champion !"
The first known record of Lenvil in Illinois was the 1920 federal census. On 3-18-1836 he purchased 40 acres of land in Jefferson County from Robert Stockton. Again on 7-25-1838 he purchased 10 acres from Matthew Taylor.
Lenvil's brother WILLIAM is said to have been a Methodist minister.
It is believed Lenvil and Luraney Taylor McDonald had the following children: (* indicates our line)
1. John - born 1790 NC
2. Celia born 6-15-1793 NC
3. James - born 1797
4. Elinor
5. Elizabeth
6. Thomas - born 1803
7. William - born 1811
8. * Joseph - born 1815, Tennessee
Lenvil married (2) Eliza ______. She died in about 1845 and is buried beside Lenvil in Jefferson
County, Illinois. Their children:
9. James Eli - born 1836 Illinois. Married Caroline Taylor
10. Olive
11. Mary
* JOSEPH McDONALD "Joe":
Born 1815ca in Tennessee. First married to ELIZABETH ESTHER TAYLOR, daughter of
THOMAS TAYLOR and CHLOE MODGLIN, on 3-2-1832 in Monroe County, Illinois. Marriage
license shows consent of both fathers: LENVIL McDONAL and THOMAS TAYLOR.
It is said that Joseph's first wife was killed when lightning struck their home in Illinois. Lenvil was blinded by the lightning at the same time. Children of Joseph and Elizabeth:
1. Lucretia - born 1833ca, St. Clair Co., Il. Died 1928ca. Married (1) Amos Fairchilds;
(2) William Chesser; (3) _____ Morgan.
2. * Lewis Martin - born 1-16-1835 in Jefferson County, Illinois. Died 5-22-1924 in Cochise
County, Arizona. Married Hestran Elizabeth Taylor 9-5-1856, Gillespie County, Texas.
3. Isack Rufus - born 1839 in Jefferson County, Illinois. Died 1905ca in Texas. Married Polly
Jane Lockhard 10-25-1860 in Texas.
4. Clarissa - born 1843ca, Jefferson County, Illinois. Married (1) Jacob Banta; (2) E. "Joseph"
Garcia.
5. Gillet - born 1846, Jefferson County, Illinois. Died 8-8-1864 in Gillespie County, Texas.
Married James T. Taylor 11-2-1863 in Gilliespie County, Texas.
After the death of Elizabeth 1847ca, Joseph married RHODA NELSON, in Jefferson County, Illinois on February 16, 1849. Rev. E. Lacey the minister. She the daughter of HIRAM and MARY NELSON.
About 1854 Joseph and family, accompanied by the NELSONS and one or two other families (writer believes Taylors and Fairchilds) migrated to Texas. In March 1854 they landed at Powder Horn, Texas, apparently coming down the Mississippi River. They eventually moved to San Antonio and in 1855 came to live near Fredricksburg in Gillespie County.
The McDonalds later deeded land for a school at Spring Creek near Fredricksburg. Names of organizers of the present St. Anthony's Parish (Catholic) included MRS JOE McDONALD dated 12-13-1908. The land for the Catholic cemetery was purchased from Joe McDonald for $50. (from book "Here's Harper).
Children of Joseph and Rhoda Nelson McDonald:
6. Mary Elizabeth - born 1850 Jefferson Co. Illinois. Married John Strong
7. Merinda Melvina -biorn 1852 Jefferson Co., Illinois. Married Benjamin Casey 1868 Texas
8. Samantha - born 1855 Texas. Died 11-1-1950, Texas. Married James T. Taylor 1870
9. William Jefferson - born 1858ca Texas. Died 1932ca. Married Rebecda A. Chesser 1874.
10. Levy Allen - born 1861ca Texas. Died 1932ca. Married Mahala McDonald
11. Joseph Jr. - born 1864 Texas, died 1936ca. Married Thella Reeh 1881 Texas
12. Benjamin Franklin- born 1866 Texas. Died 1918 NM. Married Lizzie Taylor 1885 Texas
* LEWIS MARTIN McDONALD
Born 1-16-1835 in Jefferson County, Illinois. Died 5-22-1924 in Cochise County, Arizona. Buried at Cottonwood Canyon Cemetery, Douglas,Cochise County, Arizona. Married 9-5-1856 in Gillespie County, Texas to HESTRAN ELIZABETH TAYLOR, daughter of MATTHEW M. TAYLOR AND HANNAH AXLEY. She born 12-5-1834 and died 8-19-1902 at Duncan, Arizona.
About 1900 Lewis Martin McDonald moved his family west to Arizona. There they became cattle ranchers. The children of Lewis Martin and Hestran are:
1. Alonzo - born 1859ca, Texas. Died 1918ca, Cochise County, Arizona. Married Amy
Fairchilds 1885 in Texas.
2. James Harvey "Buddy" - born 3-1-1861 Texas. Died 1919ca Arizona. Married Annie Strong
1886.
3. Tohesann Elizabeth - born 1863 Texas, died 1896 ca Az. Married Charles Sands 1879.
4. Lewis Martin Jr. - born 1866 Texas, died 1888, Texas
5. Geneva Hannah - born 1868 Texas, died 1949ca Texas Married Alfred Nelson
6. Wm. Spencer - born 3-6-1871 Texas, died 1-14-1958 Az. Married Rhoda Garcia 1899
7. Solomon Levine "Feller" - born 1873 Texas, died 1944 Az. Married Sarah Bowman 1906.
8. Charlotte Jane "Lottie" - born 1875 Texas, died 1939 Az. Married John Hazelwood.
9. * Davis - born 2-16-1877, Texas, died 11-19-1945 Az. Married (1) Fannie Elizabeth Bowman
6-8-1905; (2) Permelia Jane Banta Taylor.
* DAVIS McDONALD Born 2-16-1877 Fredericksburg, Gillespie County, Texas. Died 11-19-1945 San Simon, Cochise County, Arizona. Married (1) Fannie Elizabeth Bowman, daughter of Wm Bowman and Emily Lacey. She born 5-23-1883 Pearsall, Texas, died 7-19-1938 Cochise County, Arizona.
Davis, lovingly referred to by all as "Papa", was a cattle rancher in the Douglas, Arizona area many years. Many stories have been told about his dealings with the now famous John Slaughter. The children of Davis and Fannie Bowman McDonald:
1. Rex - born 4-24-1906, Cochise Co., Az. Died 5-19-1995 Douglas, Arizona. Married Mollie
Lewis 5-9-1925. No children.
2. * Marjorie Gertrude - born 1-7-1908 Douglas, Arizona. Died 7-29-1972 Douglas, Arizona.
Married (2) Vivian Bass; (2) Charles Rollin Johnson 12-27-1935.
3. Star - born 3-19-1913 Douglas, Arizona. Died 11-3-1976 Tucson, Arizona. Married Asa B.
Crenshaw 2-8-1930.
4. Sunshine - born 3-19-1913 (Twin to Star). Died 1993 Douglas, Az. Married Ishmal Fairchilds
1929.
5. Lotta Esther - born 12-3-1917 Douglas, Az. Died 1998 Benson,Az. Married Oliver Ward
1938.
6. Aaron William - born 6-3-1921 Douglas, Az. Died in Arizona. Married Delores ______.
One child Bell McDonald.
* MARJORIE GERTRUDE McDONALD:
Born 1-7-1908 in Douglas, Arizona. Died 7-20-1972 in Douglas, Arizona, buried Calvery Cemetery, Douglas Arizona. Maried (1) Vivian Bass 11-24-1926 at Lordsburg, New Mexico. He was son of Edwin W. Bass and Susan I. Chisum, born 1901, died 1933. Issue:
1. Lora Evelyn Bass - born 12-23-1927 Douglas, Arizona. Married Riley William Miller 1-6-1946.
One son - Rollin Joel Miller - 1946-1968.
Marjorie married (2) Charles Rollin Johnson 12-29-1935 in Deming, New Mexico. He the son of Charles and Lillian Clark Johnson. Born 6-12-1909, Grant County, New Mexico, died 1992 at Bisbee, Cochise County, Arizona. Their children:
2. Maurice King - born 2-9-1939 Douglas, Arizona. Married Carol Johnson 10-17-1960 Miami, Oklahoma. She the daughter of Vernon and Lela Walters Lawson, born 6-27-1941 in Muskogee County, Oklahoma. Their children:
3. Darnetta Jo - born 6-26-1940 Douglas, Arizona. Married (1) Eldon Miller; (2) James R. Brown. Her children:
There are many stories about our branch of this McDonald family. From the Indian raids and deaths in Gillespie County, Texas to the battles with John Slaughter on the Arizona ranges. I have also collected info on Joseph's brothers Thomas and Eli and their families. Please feel to contact me if you want to know more about these families.