(8 Aug. 1889-11 March 1959), Yukon old-timer. (A. J. MacDonald, known as “Hardrock” MacDonald; sp. also Allan and “Hard Rock” ) His death certificate gives his date of birth as above and his place of birth as Ontonagon, Mich., but there appears to have been no Michigan registration of the birth. His parents may have been (temporarily) a part of the GC migration to Michigan, attracted to Ontonagon as a mining and lumbering centre, but then returning as some migrants did to the home county. At any rate, the Glengarry News of 6 Dec. 1940 reported that “Mr. Allan John MacDonald, Yukon Territory is holidaying at his home 6th Kenyon.” The Glengarry News obituary said his age at death was unknown, and that he was believed to have been “born near Alexandria, a son of John Allan McDonald, Fassifern.”

     His short but impressive obituary in the Whitehorse Star, published under the title “Hardrock Dies at Dawson,” called him “One of the most famous of Yukon oldtimers,” and said that he “came from Glengarry, in eastern Canada,” and had spent most of his 40 years in the North in the Mayo area. The obituary added, “In the mid 1930s, Hardrock made his legendary walk from Mayo to Aklavik in 17 days, carrying only a rifle and a sack of salt.” He was also remembered for having one summer walked the several hundred miles from Keno (near Mayo) in the Yukon to Norman Wells, when the oil discoveries at the latter place awakened his interest. In the last summer of his life, Hardrock worked with public works dept. surveyors north of Mayo. He died at Dawson, probably at a hospital operated by nuns. The Mayo history Gold & Galena (which includes a splendid photograph of him) calls him ”a well-known prospector who explored much of the northern territory,” and “a prospector of incredible endurance,” and dates his association with the Mayo area from about 1920. The Whitehorse Star obituary states that “he worked in mines most of his life,” and he is variously cited as a prospector and miner. He was unmarried. For another GC connection with Mayo, Y. T., see the entry for Dr Donald D. R. (Randy) McLennan.

Whitehorse Star 12 March 1959, Glengarry News 26 March 1959 * Gold & Galena: index & p. 408 (has biog. entry & various notices) * death certificate, Yukon; enquiries in Michigan for a birth certificate proved unsuccessful * Polk’s Yukon Gazetteer and Directory 1915-1916 p. 637 (Alexander J. MacDonald, described as “miner,” just possibly Hardrock under a mistaken name)