The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-03-21
APIONEER PRINTER.
F. P. Baker Writes of S. D. Macdon-
aid Who Died Last Week In
Chicago.
Station B, Topeka, March 20, 1900.

Station B, Topeka, March 20, 1900.
To the Editor of the State Journal.
I notice in your issue of this date that
S. D. Macdonald died on the 18th in
slant. 1t seems to me that there is due
the memory of one of the earlier and
most progressive citizens of Kansas,
something more than this brief notice.
He came to Kansas in 1857 or 1858 and
settled at Quindaro. one of the notaDle
towns of the state in that day, in wy
andotte county, and there established
the Wyandotte Gazette. He owned the
paper and the building in which it was
published. He did the printing for the
Wyandotte convention, and as pay for
the same, received $1,000 in scrip, but
when he was compelled to realize on it
obtained only $500. I think the paper
suspended publication for about a year
but was started again with r. B. Tay-
Tor as Mr. Macdona1d's partner. The
partnership lasted but few weeks, and
at it's conclusion Mr. Macdonald leased
the paper to his late partner, Taylor.
1t was not long until the building and
contents were destroyed by fire. This
disorder left Mr.. Macdonald almost
penniless. After the fire he came to To-
peka and worked at the case on the old
Kansas State Record until August 20,
1862, when Ed Ross, afterwards United
States senator from Kansas, but then
the proprietor of the State Record, sold
the paper to Mr.. Macdonald and the late
F. G. Adams, and himself entered the
army.
In January. 1853, I purchased the in
terest of Judge Adams. in the paper
and it was conducted by the firm of
Macdonald & Baker until February 1,
1868. During the five years of our part
nership there was never a lar" be-
tween us. On the contrary, 1 always
found him an honest, industrious man,
well disposed toward all, genial and
considerate. At the date last mentioned
L bought Mr.. Macdonald's interest in
case as long as I published it.
When I sold the franchise of the
State Record office to the Common
wealth company in 1871 Mr.. Macdonald
and G. D. Baker bought the material
and conducted the Record as a weekly
newspaper for three or four years. In
the year 1875, I think. Mr.. Macdonald
removed to Denver and started the
Denver Republican which venture, how
ever was not a financial success, and
he disposed of it and returned to To-
peka, working most of the time at the
case on the State Journal When the
State Journal introduced linotypes to
do its typesetting, Mr.. Macdonald re-
moved to Chicago and has since lived
there with his son, Duncan Macdonald,
until his death. He was a. member of
the Kansas legislature in 1865. In 1871
he was secretary of the State Editorial
association.
His family are remembered most
pleasantly in this city. There were three
sons and three daughters, one of the
latter being the first wife of Mr.. W. C.
Campbell, late of this city, and another
the wife of Mr.. Hill, of New York city.
Mrs. Macdonald was and still is wo-
man of great brilIiancy. Among the old
settlers she is recalled as a leader in all
social and charitable events, a position
which she held for many years. She is
now living with her son, in Chicago. /
feel that 1 owe it to my old partner in
the State Record to furnish you with
this sketch.
F. P. BAKER.