Putnam patriot., 1916-01-14
EDITOR MACDONALD
Died At His Home This Morning From
Old Age
Probably Oldest Printer and Newspaper
Man in the Country


Alexander Walter Macdonald, sedi-
tor of the PATRIOT, died at his home
on Oak Hill at 1880 this Thursday
morning in the 94th year of his age.
He sustained shock little over four
years ago ard since that time has been
confined to his home. He WAS af1lict-
ed with no disease. Death was due
solely to body worn out with old age.
He died in sleep with no pain or suffer.
ing.
Mr.. Macdonald was born in Quebec,
Canada, July 4th, 1922. His parents
were of ilong-lived, hardy Scotch
stock, William and Mary (McWhalter)
Macdonald, who migrated from Scot
land to Nova Scotia and found their
way into Canada. His education he
secured in Canadian schools just across
the border. He also attended an aca-
denny in st. Adams, VT, and later the
Clinton Liberal Institute, near Z tiea,
Ny.
At the early age of 10 years he was
the trade, working from 5 O'Clock in
the morning TO 8 at night. The first
paper with which he was connected
was the "British Colonist" published
in Stanstead Plains, Canada. From
there he went to st. Adams and later
started out into the world. He walk
ed from St. Adams to New York by
slow stages working his way along MS
journeyman printer. He arrived in
New York when he was IL years old
and occurred employment on the big
daiies in Newspaper Row. He has
been heard to say that at that time the
papers were printed on Washington
ana Franklin hand presses and around
what is now 14th street was nothing
but vacant lots. 1t was iafter he had
been in New York for time that he
recognized the desirability of further
education in pursuing his chosen life
work which led him to attend the
Clinton Liberal Institute.
Later he was connected with news
papers n the middle west but eventu
ally returned to New York, where,
with partner, be started the Scien-
tific American. The paper was suisse
Mr.. Macdonald remained rs foreman
of the composing room.
While working in Newspaper Row
Mr.. Macdonald, with a number OF
other young men, was Undue ID by
Horace Greedy, then editor of the Tri.
bune, to purchase building lots and
erect homes in Mount Vernon, which
at that time was considered little more
than wilderness. Here he lived I'm
Til June 1882 when he came TO Putnam
and bought the Patriot. AS soon as
the purchase was made he left for
Mount Vernon to bring on his family
and when he reached there he received
telegram from l.. o. Williams, then
foreman of the office, that Union
Block had been destroyed by fire and
with it his newly acquired newspaper
He received assurances from his friends
that they would do all possible to help
him and undaunted by his loss and
the disaster he returned with his
family and Immediately bought the
QUILTING of new plant which was
for time located in the Hathaway
block. lie had remained as editor of
the paper up to the time of his illness
four years ago. After a few years Mr..
Williams WAS admitted as partner
and the paper was conducted under
the firm name of Macdonald IL VIII
iiams. From the age ,of ten years to
the age of 80 Mr.. Macdonald had stood
at the case setting type, probably a
record in point of time. He twas con-
sidered one OF the fastest hand COM
positors in New York and was awarded
prize for speed in competition. His
editorials he set himself at the case
without notes or copy and so machine
like had he become in composing that
he could carry on "a conversation and
set type at the same time.
Mr.. Macdonald was married in 1916
to Miss Mary Ormsbee, OF Fayette,
Maine, who died lin 1872 leaving one
son, Walter A. Macdonald, who died
few years ago in Portland, Maine. He
was again married in 1878 to Miss
Sarah l.. Ormsbee, who with three
children, Mrs. Louise M. Holmes of
Mount Vernon, n. Y, Arthur s. Mac
donald and Mrs. Helen M. Wiley,
both of Putnam, survive.
MI. Macdonald was republican in
politics. he never sought or held pub
lie Office but devoted the columns OF
his newspaper to the best interests OF
ihe community it served. He was OF
strong religious character and was
close student of the Bible which he
read in several languages and he was
never happier than when discussing
religious questions.
The funeral services will be held at
the home on Oak Hill at 10 O'Clock
Saturday morning, Rev. r. ID. Sargent
of the congregational church and Rev.
g. II. Stone of the Advent church Of
ficiating. Burial will be in New bos-
ton cemetery. The services Will be
private and the family especially re-
quest that no flowers be sent.