John McDonald

John McDonald, also known as “McDaniel,” was born around 1834 in Lenox, Pennsylvania.

John left Pennsylvania and moved west, eventually settling in western Michigan.

John stood 5’11” with hazel eyes, brown hair and a fair complexion and was 27 years old and probably still living in Allegan County when he enlisted in Company I on May 29, 1861. He may have been shot in the right hand at some point during the war. Although he was reported to be absent sick in the hospital from October of 1862 through August of 1863, he was in fact discharged for consumption on November 28, 1862, at the Third Corps hospital near Fort Lyon, Virginia.

After he left the army John quite possibly returned to Allegan, and mau have in fact reentered the service as a private in Company I, Third Michigan cavalry on August 17, 1863, at Saugatuck, Allegan County for three years, and was mustered the same day. He was reported as a blacksmith as of November 1, 1863, and was mustered out of the service on February 12, 1866, at San Antonio, Texas.

In any case, John eventually returned to Allegan where he was residing in 1894.

He may have been the same John McDonald who was working as a laborer and living with his wife, Ohio native Maria (b. 1845) and their son Alliso (b. 1867) in Hamilton, Heath Township, Allegan County in 1870. (Timothy and emeline McDowell were living in Casco, Allegan County in 1870).

In any case, John settled back in Ganges.

In 1890 he applied for and received a pension (no. 623239).

John died on March 11, 1912, probably in Ganges and was buried in Taylor cemetery, Ganges.

In 1912 his widow applied for and received a pension (no. 742924).