Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-12-15
Mr.. MD0NALD DEAD.
THE Ex-NINisTER TO PERSIA
PASSES AWAY AT LYNCHBunG.
1 SKETCH OF HIS CAREER.
uts service 20 His City, His state,
and the United states-Promf-
pcnt In Both journalism and
politics. iI

IyNCHBURG. VA. December IL--(Spe-
.isl)-Hon. Alexander Mcdonald died in
,sls city shortly after noon to-day. the
disease that carried him OF being pneu-
monla.
MI Mcdonald was born In Lynchbarg
vshrlaTy q. 1888. His father, Rev. James
Mcdonald. for many years a well-known
minister Of the Baptist church, died a
long time ago, and his mother, who was.
rrIor TO her marriage. a Miss Rose, has
also been dead many years. From the
alder Mcdonald, a man OF force and
ability. the son inherited many OF those
Qualities Of mind and heart that dis
,irrplshed him throughout life, and en-
aided him TO win the esteem and respect
~ his fellow-citizens. His infancy, his
,.5r,b. and his manhood, for the most
mart. were all passed in the city Of his
birth Few Lynchburgers were more
wildly or more generally known in Vir-
.sr.s than Mr.. Mcdonald. q fact due 10
f.s prominence in all public movements,
and 90 the positions of Importance 10
which he was either appointed or elected
81 various stages OF his career.
ENTERS NEWSPAPER LIFE.
Mr.. Mcdonald engaged I'm the news
rapfr business at an early age, and con-
,;-rad I'm 10 in various capacities until
b. was selected by President Cleveland
~ Minister TO the Persian capital. one
m his first engagements in this field of
work was with a temperance paper, pub
r.rei in Scottsville. This, however,
was only temporary. for he soon re-
turned 10 Lynchburg. and became con-
r.--sd as city editor. about the year 1850
with the Virginian. with which paper he
was closely Identified for many years. In
The year 1851 he was appointed postmaster
OF Iynchburg by Abraham Lincoln, TO
succeed the late Major II. II. Glass, who
was the incumbent of the Office at that
fine. But before the appointment was
carried into effect Virginia seeded, and
ths President OF the Confederacy con-
raued Major Glass In office.
AT the outbreak Of the war between
the states Mr.. Mcdonald volunteered in
The artillery service. Returning 20 Lynch
burg after the war, ne entered again into
newspaper work as city editor of the
Vreinian. which place he filed until 1881,
when he accepted the position OF editor
ln-chief Of the Lynchburg News, then
owned and conducted by Mr.. A. Waddill.
I'm the year 1851, Mr.. Mcdonald organized
@ stock company and purchased the Nir-
einian OF which he assumed editorial
charge This was his last venture in the
field Of Journalism, for after the Virginian
was merged into the News by purchase
IN February, 1898. his connection with
newspapers was severed, and as he was
appointed Minister to Persia later in the
same year. he never after that time en-
gaeed actively in any literary work.
Tor many years Mr. Mcdonald was
secrotary and treasurer of the Lynch
burg Agricultural and Mechanical So
clety. and as such contributed largely to
the annual exhibitions given under its
auspices.
IN POLITICS.
In the field of politics. Mr.. Mcdonald
before the war was a Wing, bus after
the war became an earnest advocate OF
the principles of Democracy, and in every
campaign was a vigorous and earnest
worker for the success OF the Democratic
candidates. both privately and through
the editorial columns Of his paper When
he announced himself a candidate for
the State senatorship, from LynchbuTg,
as the successor Of the late r. j. Flokes,
he was nominated after an exciting con-
test with Major Otey. and was elected by
large majority. In the Senate he i'm
mediately won the respect and esteem of
his coneagUes.
Mr.. Mcdonald visited Europe on three
different occasions. As United States
Commissioner he was sent to the Vienna
Exposition, and some years later to the
Paris Exposition. He proved himself
worthy Of both honors.
He was a lifelong, consistent, and de-
voted member Of the Episcopal church,
having been in his native city prominently
identified with the congregation OF ST.
Paurs For a long time he was mem
ber OF the yestry OF the church, and for
Years the register OF that body. In all
religious work he was ever deeply ana
actively interested, and IN st. PauPs for
the last quarter OF a century his was one
q the most familiar figures. He was
also a member Of the Young Mems Chris
tan Association, and kept up his mem
bership even while in far away Persia.
LAST ILLNESS.
For year or more Mr. Mcdonald has
been in feeble health, but until very re
Gently his condition was not regarded
AS serious While in Persia he contract
Cd bronchial trouble, which, despite the
Efforts OF the best physicians, became ag-
gravated with time. and when he arrived
IN this country few weeks ago he was
weaker and more debilitated than he had
been since the trouble began. AFTER
few days sojourn in New York he went
70 Washington. where he severed his last
Official connection with the state Depart
ment, bringing 10 a close service non
orable 10 himself and TO the country.
On reaching Lynchburg on Tuesday nc
registered at the Arlington Hotel, ana
there remained confined to his room untl
last Friday when. on the advice OF MS
physician he was removed 10 ST. An
drcw's Home. his disease having developed
into pneumonia.
After lingering for hours, apparently az
the point OF death, Mr.. Mcdonald rallied
this morning sufficiently 10 recognize ms
friends, and remained In semi-conscious
condition for some time. The end came
peacefully At his bedside were MS
nieces. Mrs Otway Allen and Mrs. u.
Rand. Wexford. and his nephew, MT
Dudley Mcdonald, Of Richmond. his
sister. Mrs. Mary Rudd, Of Union, w.
Va, arrived shortly after her brother
died
The funeral will take place tomorrow
afternoon at $50 o'clock, from st. PAU
church Tho recfor Rev Il Nj. Carson,