JOHN JAMES C. and K. NOBLE McDONALD, of Robinson township, are among the largest landholders in the northern part of the county. They are grandsons of John McDonald, who was born in Lishavanich, County Fermanagh, Ireland, April 30, 1730. John McDonald emigrated to this country in 1773, and purchased a tract of land called Mt. Pleasant, on Robinson's run, now included in Robinson and Mt. Pleasant townships. In 1775 he settled on the Mt. Pleasant property, and afterward bought other lands adjoining Mt. Pleasant, called Blackberry Plain, Gooseberry Thicket, Highlands and Primrose Hill. He also bought large tracts in Allegheny and Beaver counties, and in West Virginia. All these lands were well located and are now very valuable. On April 28, 1778, he married Martha T. Noble, daughter of Col. Noble, who lived in Allegheny county, near Noblestown. They had six sons - Andrew and William (twins), John, James, Alexander and Edward - and four daughters - Margaret, Martha, Elizabeth and Mary - all now deceased. The eldest son, Andrew, was a graduate of Jefferson College, studied for the ministry, and was pastor of White Oak Flats Presbyterian Church for a number of years. The surviving children of Rev. Andrew McDonald are Andrew (a farmer), Abram (a boatman) and Mrs. Bryne. John, the third son of John McDonald, was a distinguished member of the Pittsburgh bar, and contributed by his wealth and public spirit to the early improvement of the city of Pittsburgh. He was a prominent real estate owner in that city, and built the old "St. Charles Hotel," at first called the "Exchange Hotel," where the "Anderson House" now stands, and he was at one time president of the Bank of Pittsburgh. He married and reared a family, still represented in Pittsburgh. The remaining sons, William (twin of Andrew), James, Alexander and Edward, gave their attention to farming. The four daughters, Margaret (wife of Dr. Glenn), Martha (wife of George Allison), Elizabeth (Mrs. John Mitchell) and Mary (wife of Rev. William Nesbit), were more than ordinary women in mental endowment, usefulness and piety. Grandfather John McDonald died, in 1817, on his own farm, "Mt. Pleasant," Washington county, and was buried in Raccoon cemetery. He was a man of wealth as well as moral worth. He gave his aid in first organizing the Raccoon Church at Candor. James Cooke, maternal grandfather of the subjects of this sketch, was an officer in the Revolutionary war, and soon after the close of that struggle came to Cross Creek township, this county, where he purchased a large tract of land and passed the rest of his days. He married Martha McCombs, and descendants are still to be found in Cross Creek township.
James McDonald, better known as "Colonel McDonald," father of the subjects of this sketch, was the fourth son of John McDonald, and was born August 29, 1783. He received his education at a subscription school of the vicinity. His father gave him part of his Washington county lands - which were then a wilderness, and which he improved. On September 25, 1825, he was united in marriage with Juliana Cooke, daughter of James Cooke, who resided near Cross Creek village, this county. They had four children: Martha Malvina, Margaretta Jane (deceased July 24, 1874, aged forty-two years), John James C., and K. Noble. The mother, at the age of eighty-five years, April 29, 1881, passed from earth at the old home, where her surviving children now live. The father passed his entire life on this estate, dying on April 3, 1863, and was buried in the Raccoon cemetery. He was the owner at the time of his death of a large farm of 1,000 acres. In his political affiliations he was originally a Whig, then, on the organization of the party, became a Republican, and was active in the interests of the cause, but no office seeker. At the beginning of the Rebellion of 1861, he was heard to utter these words: "This war will never be ended until every slave is free." He was noted through life for the possession of a strong, independent will, but was always found a ready and kind sympathizer for the afflicted and distressed. He was a regular attendant and liberal supporter of Raccoon Presbyterian Church, in which he was raised, and which his father aided in first organizing.
The two sons, John James C. and K. Noble, live on the home farm with their sister, and carry on farming, giving their attention to raising fine stock, more particularly horses, making roadsters a specialty. They are Presbyterians, and in politics have always been Republican.
Text taken from page 972 of:
Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893).Transcribed January 1997 by Lee Weller of Kingston Beach, Tasmania, Australia as part of the Beers Project.
Published January 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.[ [Back to Beers Table of Contents] [Back to Beers Project Page]