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� 2008, Mount Mora Burial Records

Record Last Updated On: 6/4/2021
Name: Rufas Lee McDONALD
Death Date: JAN/5/1923 Interment Date: JAN/8/1923 Birth Date: MAY/19/1832
Age at Death: 90y7m16d Cause of Death: Acute Bronchitis
Location at Death:  St. Joseph, Missouri
Physical Location at Death: 811 N 9th
Sex: M Nativity: AMERICAN Ethnicity: CAUCASIAN
Occupation:MERCHANT & MANUFACTURER
Military Branch: Military Rank: War Service:
Other Special Distinctions/Memberships:
Child of: Daniel McDonald & Martha McMurty
Spouse of: Mary Wilson
Mother of:
Father of: Marie McDonald, Maggie B McDonald, John R. McDonald, Mattie L. McDonald, Robert Wilson McDonald, Anna McDonald, Marie McDonald
Other Known Relatives:

Father-in-law of Harry L George, known for his vast collection of Native American Relics.

Brief Biography:

RUFUS L. McDONALD is one of the largest wholesale dry goods merchants in St. Joseph, and indeed of the west He is also an extensive manufacturer of gentlemen's furnishing goods, operating a large factory. This house is one of the oldest west of the Mississippi, having been founded in 1846. In 1853 Mr. McDonald became a member of the firm, and three years later the business passed entirely into his hands. He is one of St. Joseph's most eminent merchants and public-spirited citizens, and his business, which has continued for thirty-six years, is one of the great and invaluable factors in this city's mercantile prosperity. Our subject is Vice-president of the Schuster-Hax Bank and a Director in the Merchants' Bank. Mr. McDonald's birth occurred May 19, 1832, in Harrodsburg, Mercer County, Ky. His father, Daniel, was born and reared in Washington County of that state, while his paternal grandfather, Alexander McDonald, was born in Virginia. He was one of the earliest settlers in the Blue Grass region, where he entered a tract of land and engaged in general farming. He was of Scotch descent and a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Daniel McDonald was also a farmer and for some years was a merchant in Harrodsburg. In 1866 he removed to Andrew County, locating on a farm eight miles northeast of St Joseph, where his death occurred at the age of seventy three years. The maiden name of our subject's mother was Martha McMurtry; she was born in Washington County, Ky., and was a daughter of one of the pioneers of that county. B. L. McDonald, whose name heads this sketch, is the oldest of his father's family, and was reared on a farm. In 1851 he struck out for himself and came to St. Joseph, where for two years he worked at a clerkship. He then obtained an interest with the firm of Donnell & Saxton, dry goods merchants, and this move was the foundation of his later success. In St Joseph Mr. McDonald wedded Miss Mary Wilson, who was born in Randolph County, and is a daughter of Gen. Robert Wilson, one of the early settlers of Howard County, Mo., where he located in 1818. He afterward removed to Randolph and later became a resident of St. Joseph. He served for several terms as state Senator and was also a United States Senator. Our subject and wife have six children: John I., a graduate of Yale College, and now manager of the factory; Robert W., who is in the wholesale department; Maggie, wife of H. L. George, also connected with the firm; Mattie L., wife of John Dolman, Jr.; Annette and Maria, who are attending school in Massachusetts. The family are members of the First Presbyterian Church, of which Mr. McDonald is a Ruling Elder. In politics he supports the Democratic party. (Source: Portrait and Biographical Record of Buchanan and Clinton Counties, Missouri. Publ. 1893.

Epithet:

McDonald was one of the largest of the wholesale dry goods merchants in St. Joseph, and indeed the West, for gentlemen furnishing goods and he operated a large local factory. Rufas, the nephew of Dr. Silas McDonald, married the daughter of Senator Robert Wilson.

Tombstone Material: N/A Tombstone Shape: N/A Tombstone Condition: N/A
Vault Type: Burial Number: 9451  
Mausoleum: N Ashes: N  
Other Relatives in Plot: Mary Wilson McDonald, Marie McDonald, Marietta Motter McDonald, Robert Wilson McDonald,Katherine Heddens McDonald, Mrs. L M McDonald
Lot Owner: R LMCDONALD
Lot Location:
Block Location: 21
Section/Range Location: C
GPS Coordinates:
Funeral Home: HEATON-BEGOLE
Funeral Home City/State: St. Joseph, Missouri
Cost of Interment: $0.00 Date Paid:
 
Photo(s):

photo and biography part 1
Courtesy Of:
 
Photo(s) of Tombstone:

Rufas McDonald
Courtesy Of:

Refus McDonald memorial oeintation
Courtesy Of:Mount Mora Board
 
Other Photo(s):

Photo and biography part 2
Courtesy Of:
 

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