(1824-15 March 1913), soldier. (A. J. MacDonald, Capt. MacDonald). Born in GC. Parents: John MacDonald and his wife Janet MacIntosh. When he was about 18 years old, he joined the U. S. Army at Oswego, N. Y. He served, before the Civil War, as a soldier in California during the gold rush, and in Virginia. Then in the Civil War, he is said to have served “in 15 of the most important battles.” (obituary) He was at the 1st Battle of Fredericksburg (Dec. 1862), Gettysburg (July 1863), and Selma Heights (April, 1865). He was promoted during the war to lieutenant, second lieutenant, and, finally, captain. After the war, he was stationed at Richmond and at Little Rock, Arkansas. His gravestone in Cornwall records the death of a six-year old son at Little Rock in 1868.

     Returning to his native Canada, he settled in Cornwall in 1868 on what became known as The Capt. MacDonald Road. The Cornwall Standard-Freeholder of 15 March 1946 has a letter from his daughter Dr Macdonald thanking members of the Cornwall city council who voted for retaining the name of The Capt. MacDonald Road. During the Fenian raids, he took part in the defence of Canada, with the militia rank of major. Intent upon wearing his U. S. Army uniform at this time, he was persuaded to allow the buttons, with their eagle design (the American eagle), to be replaced with buttons representing a beaver. His uniform thus altered is preserved today in the regimental museum of the SDG Highlanders in Cornwall. He was a member for many years of the separate school and high school boards in Cornwall, and he was secretary-treasurer of the latter board. Presumably he was one of the numerous Canadians who received American Civil War pensions. He died at his home in Cornwall. (six children surviving him) Six other veterans of the Civil War formed an honour guard at his funeral. He was married, by the early 1860s, to Bridget Moran (1835-1904), who was born in Queen’s County, Ireland. His grave in St. Columban’s cemetery, Cornwall, is marked by an impressive monument sheltered by two small but rugged oak trees. And a street near the cemetery is called “Capt. MacDonald.” For another captain in the American Civil War, see the entry for James A. Lothian.

     Capt. MacDonald’s daughter, Dr Emma Moran Macdonald (1867-1946), already mentioned, taught in separate schools in Cornwall and Alexandria, and taught for many years at CCVS (Cornwall Collegiate and Vocational School). Deeply interested in Roman Catholic education, she conducted morning prayers for Catholic students at CCVS and conducted religious instruction classes for them on Friday evenings; she also gave special noon classes in English to French-Canadian students (one of her students was Lionel Chevrier). She had a doctorate in literature (doctor in letters degree) from the University of Ottawa, awarded 15 Sept. 1920, this being the first degree awarded by the University of Ottawa to a woman. In late 1901, being then principal of the Alexandria Separate School, she was reappointed for the year 1902, and in 1910 she got a B. A. from Queen’s University.

Cornwall Freeholder 21 March 1913, repr. Fraser Obits. 124-125 * information from gravestone, St. Columban’s cemetery * career described, 20 Years Ago column, Standard Freeholder 22 March 1933, & in SFH 1946 as cited above * Boss 201 * listed as officer, U. S. A. General Army Register * the National Archives, Washington, has no military file for him, and reports that his pension file, represented now only by a number, was lost before it was transferred to the archives * obituary of his daughter Mollie MacDonald, SFH 5 April 1944 * Dr Emma Moran Macdonald: her obituary, with report on funeral, SFH 15 & 16 July 1946, Glengarry News 19 July 1946; Ostrom 268 (a hostile account); Villeneuve 146-147; Fraser (1959) 259; Senior 304; GN 4 Jan. & 22 Nov.1901, 29 April 1910; records & archives, University of Ottawa