Richard S MCDONALD, (son of Donald "Daniel " MCDONALD), b. 1 Sep 1888, Kansas, d. 21 Mar 1963, Spokane Washington Veterans Hospital, bur. Chattaroy Cemetery, Spokane Washington
Most info about this child is provided through family lore. Richards birth year is in conflict as on 1900 Census he is listed as having been born in 1886 and is 13. However, his draft registeration and tombstone list birthdate as Sept 1 1888. All info states he was born in Kansas and attempts to locate which county are underway. It could be Bourbon County Kansas if the family story that they were trying to claim land in Fort Scott soon after their journey from Scotland is true.The S in his name could be Stewart but it it just as likely it is Stark the maiden name of Margaret Marnie's mother. Recently, Daniel McDonald's obit revealed that at the tender age of 14 Richard witnesses his father's gory death in a farming accident. Daniel's obituary fromLawrence Chieftain, reprint of Lockwood Times Dade County Feb 14 1901 paper. read<“ Mr McDonald who resided with young son on a small farm near Round Grove was driving his team and wagon last Friday near the farm of Mr Tillman Crouse His little son got out of the wagon to walk and the team then became frightened it is said by some other horses and ran away with terrific speed throwing Mr McDonald out of the wagon and against the rocks or other objects with such force that he was terribly crushed and mangled on his breast and head. The boy narrowly escaped being run over. Mr McDonald was found by Mr Crouse or some of his family and takes to the Crouse home and Dr Massey here was called by telephone who went there but the most that could be done was to alleviate his suffering. He died on Sunday and was buried at Round Grove on Monday. We understand that Mr McDonald owned the small farm where he resided and that some of his family reside at Stotts City. ”> Surely this young son could not have been his son Alexander as Alexander was 35 at the time It was probable it was Richard. Perhaps after the loss of his father and mother it gave him a certain wanderlust to get away from farming and the place of such a traumatic incident. Richard first appeared in another census in 1910 in Chattaroy , Washiington, which is a logging community in Spokane County Washington. The household head is not legible but appears to be a man of French extraction, James Larfraneger as far as can be seen. The info on index is as follows from official site Last Name: McDonald First Name: Richard Age: 23 Birthplace: Kansas County: Spokane Precinct: Chattaroy Enumeration District: 133 Page Number: 313A Line Number: 36 VolunteerNotes: There are a page and a half of other men there and probably all are members of same logging crew. . Richard McDonald fought in WW I. Information from his draft card reads date of birth Sept 1, 1888 Natural born citizen born Kansas. Was working at the time for William Raggins in Harrington Washington at time of draft registeration. He lists himself as single(which he appeared to be all his life) Says that he has no mother, father nor siblings under 12 at time of draft.. No draft exemption. Physical info described as height medium, build medium, eyes gray and hair dark. No lost appendages, signed Spokane June 5 1917. When Richard comes out of service he appears to have worked in Washington State as a logger once again, I found him in 1920 census in Elk township in Spokane Washington in another logging camp where he lists himself as head of household but it says it is a logging camp,so he had his own tent!, In 1930 he appears in the household of another logging man. in Blanchard Washington. Blanchard Washington at this time was just winding down as a town as logging was just about over there. It become somewhat of a ghost town after the 1930's. . . He may have visited home to according to an Aunt and a family photo taken in Kansas City Kansas. He did not make it home for either of his half sister's funerals in 1950 (Ann)and 1962(Julia). However he must have returned to Chattaroy Washington as he dies there on March 21, 1963 and is buried in Chattaroy Cemetery. His gravestone sites his service in WW I by his brigade the 166th Depot Brigade as a private.It has been said that he died actually in a Veterans hospital in Spokane. Information provided by my Aunt Lavon Schwarzenholz in this case, as in many cases in this genealogy was the difference in finding him. It would have been difficult to locate him in any case with no clues from her as to his whereabouts. From his obit it is learned that his nickname was “Whispering Dick” Obit reads as follows McDonald, Richard Whispering Dick passed away March 21 at his home Route 1 Spokane. Half brother of Mrs Julia Cowell Jacksonville, Florida Funeral arrangements will be announced later Hazen and Jaeger Funeral home N 1306 Monroe, a further obit annouces funeral arrangements Services Wed April 10 at the Gothic chapel of Hazen and Jaeger funeral home address as above Services Ray Fitzhugh Chattaroy Cemetery. “ NOTE THAT I HAVE NO INFO THAT EVER PUT MY GREAT AUNT JULIA COWELL IN JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA. WHOEVER DID THE OBIT WAS MISINFORMED.