JOHN McDONALD is of Scotch-Irish lineage, born August 15, 1806, in Mercer County, Penn., and is a son of John and Jane (MeClintick) McDonald. Mr. McDonald received a very limited education, but sufficient, however, to enable him to stand in the front ranks of carpentering or mill wrighting-trades that he acquired when young. In addition to these trades he followed flat-boating for a number of years. His father removed to the Buckeye commonwealth and began settlement near Zanesville, in about 1811. When but nineteen years of age, John began life for himself, and in the fall of 1852 came to Princeton Township and entered 400 acres of land, southeast of where Wolcott now stands. He was married, October 22, 1829, to Miss Ellen Eckelbarger, of Zanesville, Ohio. To this relation were born nine children- Mary J., William, John, Sheldon, Julius, Charles, Hugh, Melissa and Robert S. ; of these children there are but four living. Mrs. McDonald died August 4, 1879. She was a consistent member of the Methodist Church until her death. Mr. McDonald is also a member of that denomination, having joined over a half century ago. He is a Mason, and once was a member of the Amity Lodge, No. 5, at Zanesville, Ohio. Politically, he has more faith in the Greenback party than any other.

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