The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1891-02-08
J. r. MCDONALD.
Treasurer of the State of California
Elected November, 1891.

Treasurer of the State of California
Elected November, 1891.
Mr.. Mcdonald was born in Scotland,
September II, 1928. His parents immi-
grated to the United States when he was
years of age, and made final settlement
in Illinois, where now stands Murryville,
in Morgan County. This was about
twelve miles south of Jacksonville. and
there his father bought tract of land and
entered upon farming, but the same year
he died, leaving eleven children. The es-
tate had then to be managed by the
mother and sons, so that at the age of 10
the subject of this sketch was put to work
in the cultivation of corn, then the prin-
cipal agricultural product. In 1915, Mr..
McDonald's mother died, and the family
began to scatter, and at the age OILS he was
left to care for himself. This he did, and
attended school for two terms at Jubilee
College. He then turned his attention to
merchandising, as q clerk in his brothers
store. Soon after, the gold fever seized
upon the country and young Mcdonald,
in company with some youths of his ac-
quaintance, came to California, arriving
at Ringold, August Is, 1850. He spent
three years in the mines and in 1858
settled at Haywards, Alameda County,
and engaged in farming and mer-
chandising, and so impressed him
self upon the people that he was
elected Public Administrator of the
county. In 1850 he was sent as an AL
ternate Delegate to the national conven-
ton that nominated Abraham Lincoln, and
filling delegates vacant place, caSta vote
for that remarkable man OF the nation.
On his return Mr.. Mcdonald engaged in
merchandising at Walnut Creek. lie
soon after removed to Healdsburg, and
from there went to Grayson, Stanislaus
County, where he has since had his home.
In 1882 he was q candidate for the Assem-
bly,, but Democracy was too powerful in
that section for him to succeed. In 1876
Mr.. Mcdonald, with others, origin
ated and preached the idea of watering
the lands in the west-side country of the
San joaquin Valley, and with energy
pushed bill rejecting the idea to pass
age in the Legislature, and the West-Side
Irrigation District bill became law. He
was the chief in that scheme, and led it in
all its trials for years. 1t was the first
practical irrigation work upon the district
principle. The scheme failed for several
reasons, not necessary to recapitulate.
but not because OF want of faith or
energy in its promoters. The princi
pies remained, and being sound, are
to-day the basis of what is known
Us the Wright bill system, and under
which irrigation works are successful
and the people are enabled to marry land
and water at the minimum output of
money and time. 1t is the only system
that has yet been brought forward by
which poor men may combine and irri-
gate their lands from natural water
sources. From the fact that he was the
first to propose the district system, and
SO long and untiringly kept the idea to
the front, Mr.. Mcdonald takes pardon
able pride in his record as a believer in
and promoter of irrigation in California
Mr. Mcdonald had so established himself
in the confidence of the people of his re-
gion, had SO won their regard and esteem,
that they made him known tar beyond
the confines of his community, SO that
when he came forward as candidate for
State Treasurer for the Republican NOM
ination, there were thousands who knew
of him and his labors in the interests of
the farming class, and he was nominated
in 1890 without difficulty, and in the cleo
ton that followed he proved to be invalu-
able support to the ticket, his strength con-
tibuting largely to the party triumph. He
is man of simple tastes, strong conyic-
tons of right, directness in business,
clearness of judgment and of unhesitating
decision of character. His people
say of him that he is beyond
reproach, and that his name is
the synonym for fair dealing. He is
an energetic man and in whatever COM
munity he resides, will make himself
felt in it, as one in favor of all true pro-
gressive schemes. Sacramento will have
reason to be gratified if she interests the
new State Treasurer in her welfare. So
say the people of his home, and we be-
lieye them