Father: William Shepherd MCDONALD, (son of Peter Croll MCDONALD), b. 3 Nov 1855, Glamis Angus Scotland, d. 1 Sep 1936, Summerville Missouri, bur. Bethel Cemetery
************ Some family lore on this couple comes from Lavon Schwarzenholz now deceased and is certainly subject to corrections by the Cooper family with additional information. Most info comes from official sources.This is the half brother of Daniel McDonald and the son of Peter McDonald and Margaret Stewart McDonald. This is another half brother of Daniel McDonald, William is born in 1855.according to his extracted birth record. His middle name is Shepherd according to a FS Submission Addl Birth info comes from an 1861 census where his age is listed as 6 years old in the parish of Glamis, Cottertown of Hayston, While he states on the 1900 census for Texas County Missouri that his birth year is 1859, by the time of his death in 1936 he has corrected his birthdate on his tombstone to 1855. The older census is probably more correct as it is closer to his childhood.Forfarshire(now Angus)Scotland. Most of his growing up years are spent in Angus/Forfarshire County in the parish of Glamis. Prior to coming to the US, he moves up in Old Monkland Whifflet Scotland as in 1877 he signs his younger brother Stewart's death certificate. there. William advises on 1900 census that he immigrated to the United States in 1881. On the 1930 Census in Summerville Mo he states he came in 1883 but it may be just sloppy writing or a faulty memory. . . . He states that he was naturalized in 1884. He declares in 1900 census that he and wife Anna have been married for 18 years which means that he married her in the United States. On the 1910 census both of them state that they were married for 25 years which would have made their marriage date closer to 1885. . However she immigrated in the same year 1881. This is borne out by her birthplace as Scotland as well. New information gives her last name as Annie McRitchie. This is given on her son William's death certificate in 1920. And indeed there is a record in the index of Scots origin records of an Ann McRitchie marrying at William McDonald in the year 1880 in Perth Scotland. suggesting both US census years were incorrect and he married her in Scotland in 1880.Also , further info on the 1930 Census indicates they may have been married closer to 1880. William states he.was 24 years old at marriage and he indeed would have been nearly 25 in 1880. Because I do not have complete access to the actual record I cannot verify the Perth couple is them but all info suggests it. . Nevertheless in 1900 Census she states that she has borne 7 children and only three are still living. This couple must have lost several children. . Family story has it that William was also in Cook County Illinois where he owned several apartment buildings there. His appearance in Chicago for a time is suggested as all three of his remaining children Lillie, Willie and Maggie are listed on 1900 Census having been born in the state of Illinois. Therefore for the years of 1890-1896 this family is in Chicago or near the area where Daniel's other brother Andrew resides. However, there is other information that the children were born in Missouri as. on the 1930 census the children's births are all listed as being born in Missouri.I do not believe that the children were born in Missouri as on son William's death certificate he officially lists his birthplace as Cook County Illinois. (See attached photocopy on son William). Whatever the story, by 1900 Anna and William and familiy are in Summerville, Texas County Missouri. . William and Annie are living in Summerville Missouri Carroll township with their three children Lillie (10) Willie (7) and Maggie (4). A family story by my Aunt Lavon Schwarzenholz has him farming, owning a bank and President of the Banker's Associaton plus managing his Chicago real estate with the help of partners. However on none of the census's does he ever mention banking This entry from the Houston Herald“ MR WS McDonald prominent farmer citizen of nearby Summersville was a caller last week and renewed a subscription for himself and his son in law Arvel Cooper Nov 21 1935” In 1910 Census all are accounted for and well in this family.,still living in Texas County Missouri, same township of Summerville. In 1920 a new son joins them, however it is said again by LaVon Schwarzenholz that the boy Lee is adopted. They must have at least visited Illinois or still had connections there at this time. Lee was born in Illinois around 1911 as in 1920 he is 9 years old. and references his birth states as Illinois. It is said that this boy goes to college. Also in 1920 there is one additional child in the household,It is a 3 and 1/2 months old year old daughter named Velma. While it lists her as William and Annie's daughter this is doubtful for two reasons. Firstly, William is 60 and more importantly Annie is 62 . She would have had to borne this child around 59 years old. Also,Lavon says that the daughter of William and Annie , Maggie , had at least two children in her life and one or both may have been illegitimate. . In 1920 Census Maggie does not appear to be married when she has this child Velma, she is listed as single in her father's household and with the name McDonald.(See further notes for Maggie McDonald for more info on this situation). In the 1930 Census William, Annie, daughter Lillie are still living in Summerville, Texas County. However, also in the household is Velma now 13 and another child Jessie who is 4& 3 months old. ^^^^^ Note I am uncertain as to who Jessie McDonald is She is listed in her grandfather's William McDonald's household in 1930 I should note that. while at first glance I thought this was Maggie's other rumored illegitimate daughter, I now do not believe that to be so. Here is the reason why, on the 1930 Census Trafford who is definitely Maggie McDonalds natural son is 4 years and 8 months old Jessie is 4 years and 3 months old. . In order for Maggie to have given birth to both Trafford and Jessie she would have had to have them 5 months apart .Obviously it takes nine months.unless Jessie was five months premature Doubtful. .Jessie must be their daughter Lillie's child as son William died way before Jessie was born. . It is possible that this is also their adopted son Lee's daughter, Lee supposedly went to college and perhaps Jessie stayed with her grandparents. Although on some Cooper family websites (Orvil Cooper is the husband of Maggie McDonald ) Velma is not listed at all in relation to Maggie and Orvil, Gail Meeks a Cooper family historian and Orvil's niece confims that .Velma is Maggie McDonald's daughter and was adopted by Orvil Cooper. She is unaware of who Jessie is. Both children are now listed as granddaughters in 1930 and both bear the last name McDonald, although this could be a census taker's error as one Cooper family site has Velma as a Cooper, but perhaps was not adopted until after 1930.. . Right next door to William in 1930 is daughter Maggie with her husband named Arvil or Orvil Cooper. With them amazingly is a son named Trafford. This son's middle name is listed as Waylan in Cooper genealogy records on World Connect. . However newspaper articles in the Houston Herald of Texas County Missouri reveal this child's name as Trafford Whalen. If so it does suggest that the family or William McDonald and his half brother Daniel may have been in contact as Daniel ends up having a grandson named Trafford Whalen, surely not a common name and an unusual choice for both of these families.The distance between Lawrence County MO and Texas County is approximately 105 miles, surely close enough for a visit from time to time. For more on the name Trafford, see under notes on both Trafford Waylan Cooper and Trafford Whalen. In 1936 William passes away and is buried in the city of Carroll , Texas County in the Bethel cemetery. New info from his official death certificate confirms his exact birth date as Nov 3 1855 and his place of birth is very spefically listed as Cottertown of Hayston Scotland , father Peter and mother unknown. He died according to the coroner of acute indigestion complicated by myocarditis. His son in law Arvel Cooper signs his death certificate as informant. At the time of his death, Lavon Schwartzenholz a family aunt reports that his partners in the bank and who are overseeing the apartment buildings in Chicago swindle his wife Annie out of most of his money. She is forced to sell the farm it is said and around a year after his death, despondent it was said by my aunt Lavon Schwarzenholz,,, she commits suicide. Indeed she is buried in the same cemetery in 1937. Also it is apparent from cemetery records that two of her additional children Lillie and Willie proceed her in death. (Dates of their deaths on their notes) Only adopted son Lee and daughter Maggie McDonald Cooper live on in the area and Lee is buried in a Texas County cemetery years later(See notes)Efforts to locate Lee's descendants are ongoing 1900 Census T-623-905 Carroll Township Summersville, MO Texas County June 12, 1900 McDonald, William M W Born Nov 1859 40y Married 18 years Born Scotland immigrate 1881 Farmer McDonald, Anna W Female wife Dec 1857 42y married 18 years Born Scotland immigrated 1881 McDonald, Lillie W F dau Jan 1890 10y IllinoisMcDonald, Willie W M son July 1892 7 yrs IllinoisMcDonald, Maggie W F dau Jan 1896 4yr IllinoisMcDonald, David W M brother Dec 1840 59yr single Scotland immigrates 1871 1910 Census Carroll Township Summerville, Texas County MO 1910 McDonald, William head M W 45 born Scotland immigrates 1881 married 25 years McDonald, Annie wife F W 47 born Scotland married 25 years McDonald, Lillie dau F W 16 born IllinoisMcDonald, William S son M W 13 born IllinoisMcDonald, Maggie dau F W 11 born Illinois 1920 Census Carroll township Summersville, MO Texas County Missouri McDonald, Wm head M W 60 born ScotlandMcDonald, Annie M wife W F 62 born ScotlandMcDonald, Lillie W F dau 25 single born IllinoisMcDonald, Maggie W F dau 22 single born IllinoisMcDonald, Willie M W son 20 single born IllinoisMcDonald, Lee M W son 9 single born IllinoisMcDonald, Velma F W dau 3 1/2 born Missouri1930 Census Township Caroll Summerville Texas County Missouri McDonald, William S 72 White Male Owns home married at 24 Farmer immigrates 1883 born Scotland parents born ScotlandMcDonald, Annie 74 married at 26 born Scotland parents born Scotland immigrates same year McDonald, Lillie dau born Mo parents born Scotland occupation illegible McDonand,Jessie 4 1/2 born Mo parents born Mo granddaughter McDonald, Velma 13 born Mo parents born Mo granddaughterCemetary INFO below McDonald's~ where buried Ancestry.com forum query reply These are the McDonald's listed in the Texas Co. MO cemetery books- Carroll, Texas, MO Bethel Cemetery William S. McDonald 1855 - 1936 beside Annie McDonald 1853 - 1937 beside Lillie F. McDonald 1893 - 1932 beside William McDonald 1896 - 1920 David McDonald no date - Nov. 4, 1907 age 63 yrs. ………… Burdine, Texas, MO Cabool City Cemetery Lee H. McDonald 1910 - 1969 beside M. Fern McDonald 1916 - 1968 ………………..
Mother: Annie MCRITCHIE, (daughter of (Private)), b. 17 Dec 1853, Scotland, d. 26 Nov 1937, Summerville Missouri, bur. Bethel Cemetery
Annie 's maiden name can be found on her son William's death certificate as McRitchie. While the dates of her and William's marriage on the US Census seems to be all over the place, there is a marriage on an Annie McRitchie and William McDonald in Perth Scotland in 1880. This fits the last known US census as she states she was 26 when she was married and her husband William was 24. Since William was born in 1855 he would have been around 26 in 1880 and this fits. I believe that because they immigrated together they were indeed married in Scotland. The only other thing about this woman is that supposedly after her husbands death she and a daughter , it would have to be Maggie as Lillian is dead by her father's death date, go to Illinois to take care of William's property. Supposedly his partners swindle William's widow out of most of his money. This forces Annie to sell the farm and she commits suicide about a year after his death. There is some evidence for this chronologically as she does die about a year after William (Source Lavon Schwarzenholz). Her birth year varies on different census in Missouri. One census in 1900 has her born in Dec 1857, In 1910 Census she claims to be 47 putting her birth year in 1863. In 1920 she says she is 62 putting her birth year at 1858 and finally on her tombstone it lists 1853. I have used the tombstone date. Note an update Annie McRitchie McDonald died of commiting suicide by jumping in a well at the age of 83 one year after William McDonald'd death verfied by her actual death certificate. The doctor attended her after so they must have retrieved her body. Her death certificate alleges she was born in Glasgow which is Lanarkshire where William was living with his parents and brothers before he came to the US. . This verifies two family stories by Lavon Schwarzenholz who knew she commited suicide. And also Donnie Lee Cooper her great grandson who said there was a vague family rumour that a McDonald was killed by jumping in a well and it was over money.Note that Donnie Lee Cooper was told the story that she was actually thrown in the well by her husband or son. It could not have been William her husband as he was dead. Her biological son William Jr predeceased her, however Lee her adopted son was alive. However, I find this doubtful as the death certificate does not indicate any investigation. It is an interesting antidote though.
Married 1880 Perth Scotland
Children: