The McDonald Clan
John McDonald, born 1843, was the first McDonald of our family to establish himself in the United States. At the age of 14 or 16, he stowed away on a ship from Scotland to the U. S., settling in Raceland, LA. On 5 January 1869, he married Celeste Felice Hebert at the Sacred Heart Church in Montegut, LA.
He was a farmer, who may have had a brother living in Mississippi. Marriage records from Louisianna state that his parents names were Micheal McDonald and Catherine Tierney.
John died 14 days before his son, Thomas James, married Ella Clotile
Guidroz. His daughter-in-law, Ella
Clotile Guidroz McDonald (John's daughter-in-law), claims that John fought in the Spanish-American War, which was fought April-August 1898.The family lived between Lockport and Raceland in LaFourche Parish, which is where John died. John wanted to go back to Scotland to see his family and to see about his inheritance, but his wife, Felice Celeste Hebert, wouldn't let him. John's brother (name unknown) is buried in Mississippi (locadtion unknown).
John was a farmer; he was a big man and he had very large hands. John liked his "whooskey".
The family attended either St. Mary's Church in Raceland; or The Holy
Savior Church in Lockport.
The Gathering of the Clans
Louisianna Gen Web Page
Of days winter and cold I watch from sunbleached sands
And look beyond the sky's edge toward this otherr land.
Pride flows hot in this eager blood born unto this place.
But to the past I would follow away from this time and space.
Thoughts create reflection of thistle and tartan splendour.
Old worlds renewed like the lovers' kiss, I crave the sweet and tender.
One foot leading to the future, the other in yesteryear.
Many generations have left her shores, yet still I must travel there.
And born far away I hear the call, my feelings forever roam.
Two worlds two minds I live them both, this new land
and Scotland...my homes...
By Paul Watson
Please contact Larry Jones, Pittsburgh, PA ljems@pitt.edu for more info
Last update 6 January 1997