Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1883-11-14
JOSEPH MCDONALD.
A SeIf-Made Man and a Possible
President.
PEN PICTURE OF HIS HOME LIFE
The Sturdy Stock From Which He Sprang,
His Struggles For Advancement
and How They Have Been
Rewarded.

lnDIASAPoLIs, November 13.-Ex Senator
McDonald's home is plain two story
frame house, brown in color but a few
squares distant from the business portion
OF the city, and situated on one of the most
prominent residence streets. 1t is in the
immediate vicinity OF half dozen sanctu
aries. Its lawn is limited in size, and is
embellished with single forest tree. A
dozen steps, more or less, lead to the front
entrance. Its interior throughout is char
acterized by
PlaInness Yet Richness.
The Senator has an extensive library. In
his early life he was fond of history, later
he read poetry, and during the past few
years he spent much time in the study of
political economy. The works of the au-
thors OF the three branches of literature are
found on his library shelves.
| saw the distinguished lndiauian as,
with his wife, he returned from drive
this morning. The Sedator owns team of
horses that are driven by an old colored
man who has been with him since the war.
Mr.. Mcdonald was looking
| The Picture Of Health,
apparently having given little considera.
tion to his political chances. He is man
above the avefage in SIZE, being of the
| David Davis type. His face is clean shaven,
but little tuft Of grayist hair protrudes
| from unCer his chin. His gray eyebrows
are noticeable, because Of their extending
| from his forehead half inca or more, anu
are in marked contrast with his shining
| blue eyes. There is no hair on the top Of
| his head hut from its sides there hang gray
| locks having a tendency to cur at their end.
| The Senator'S Dress ~ Plain Black.
and he wears generally a tall, black, silk
hat. The present Mrs. Mcdonald is his
third wife. Her girlhooI, as a Miss Farms
worth, was passed at Madison, Ind, where
sne Was ROied for her beauty. That char
acteristic still makes her one of the most
prominent ladies Of society. Her hair is
almost snow.white, while she is not aged,
end her bright eyes sparkle rs tue ripping
brook flowing in the sunshine on the
mountain side. She is an intelligent lady,
and, as would naturally be the case be-
cause OF the prominence given her hus-
b: nd
Aspires 10 Social Distinction.
The Senator was first married on Christmas
day, lSi4, 10 a Miss Buell., of WiIiamsport,
Ind She was the daughter of physician,
q woman of lOvable character, and con-
spiCuous for her benevolence. Four child. |
rem were the issue of the marriage, two OF
whom have died. One of the remaining
sons is at home, and au occupant OF his |
fathers office; the other is married a resi- |
dent OF Peru, Ind, and travelling auditor OF |
the Wabash road. In lS72 the Senator's |
first vile dead, and two Years ofterward he |
again married, to Miss Vance, OF Craw- |
fordsville, who died live months later. |
Shortly after his career in The United States |
Senate
Mr.. Mcdonald WIS Married
to tie lady who now enjoys with him his
pros perity.
The soCia! qualities of tae Senator gain
hifel.Ulp nv friends. In conversation he is
nent men Of the country. Senator va
hees and he were college boys together, |
and since that time they have been on
most intimate terms. While in the Senate |
Mr.. McDousd ralned frieniS on both sides |
of the chamber. lie is u great admlrer OF 1
ex-senator Conf ling, aud 10 intimate with |
Senators Beck. Bayard and ,ul,bury. The
ambition of the mother OF the ex-senator |
was 10 make him
A Worthy Member of Society.
She was woman OF more than ordinary
intelligence and refinement, and often she |
she wrote sketches and scraps OF song Tor
the amusement of her children. Her an
cesturs were French Huguenots, who oriSi, |
ually located in New Jersey, but afterward
moved to Ohio. Her maiden name was |
Elesnor Piatt She was welded to John |
Mcdonald, the father o. the ex-senator,
during the early part Of the century. On
August ~, 1910, Joseph +. was born In
Butler county, Ohio. The father was ol
Scotch extraction, and native OF Penusyl-
yania. He was farmer,
Industrious and SeICSacrifcing.
The couple were members Of the United
Presbyteran church. To-day the ex Sena
tor and his wife, while they belong to no
denomination, can lie found almost every
sunday in attendance at the Second Pres
hvterisn church of this city, the church of
which Rev. nr. Bartlett, formerly OF Chi
cseo. but now of Washington, had charge.
The father of young Mcdonald did not live
long after the birth of the son. Several
wears later the widowed mother married,
Ter second husband being man named
Kerr, an Irishman, q farmer and the father
| of seven children, four boys and three girls.
He Was Noted for His FrugaIity.
| When the ex-senator was seven years Old
his rsrents removed to Indiana, settling
| near Charlottesville. and entering land.
| Tnirty years later Mr.. kcrr died.
! senator Mcdonald and his wife are ire
ouert attendants at the theatre. He ap-
Il
| another The two are lovers OF company,
| and often entertain friends and acquaint-
] srcts As a host the Senator is said To be
| a suCcess but not so successful as Blame,
| who is accorded the honor OF being the
| most entertaining host in Washington.
| No one eljOys walking more than the
| Senator and in company with his vile
| he is
Often Seen on the streets.
! Worthy unfOrtu mates will Ind Mr.. NC
IDopald willing to listen 10 their griefs ana
! sorrow and ready 10 render temporary ald.
| While not wealthy, he Is in comiortao!e
| circumstances His iSw practice probably
| amounts TO S2OOun year. he contributes
| lberally 10 the church At which he attends,
| and gives without show 10 benevolent eu'
| terprises.
| Every morning. unless OFT of the city or
| indlSr0sed, The senator msy be found Ia
his office a. O'Clock. There ne remains
throughout the day, only Leaving TO 20 to
the court room. His Office is plainly iur
nished. His own desk Is beside a troat
window looking out upon the Custom
House. When Mr.. Mcdonald was mere
boy be determined to make
rne Profession of Law His Life work.
Attyelye years of age he was apprenticed
to the saddlers' trade at Lafayette. For
nearly six years he served as an apprentce,
being released from the last three months
for fidelity to the interest OF his employers
These three months he spent in studyins'
During his apprenticeship he had access to
the library OF government official, ana
what spare time he could find was devoted
| IN the English branches. He entered Wa
bash College at Charlottesville in 1888, sup
porting himself by plying his trade. Two
wears later he was a student at Asoury
University, Greencastle, the insntut,pa
which was recently endowed by W. Z. y
PAW, said to be the weaith!est man IN 'h7
State.
Mr.. .xcDonnId bid Nat Graduate.
diploma and degree were given him