Frank Henry McDonald
Two years before Ohio was admitted to statehood and among the very earliest of the settlers of this fair section of the beautiful Miami valley which later came to be organized as Greene county, the McDonald family had gained a foothold here and ever since has been honorably represented in this county. It was in the year 1800 that Isaiah McDonald and his wife Edith settled here, taking possession of what later came to be known as the "Stone-Quarry Farm," not far from where the beautiful city of Xenia later sprang up, and there established their home. One of their grandsons, Wilfred McDonald, in June, 1831, married Martha Lyon and made his home on that farm. To that union were born eight children, of whom the subject of this memorial sketch was the last-born. Two of these children died in childhood and the others were as follows: Hampton, who went to California in the days of his young manhood, lived there for fifty years and died while on his way back to his boyhood home in this county; Emily, who married William Rogers and spent her last days in Xenia; Columbus, who died in California; Willis, a farmer, who enlisted for service in the Union army during the Civil War and died in a hospital while thus serving his country's cause; America Jane, who is still living and making her home with her sister-in-law, Mrs. Anna E. McDonald, widow of the late Frank Henry McDonald, in Xenia; and Melvin, who died in Montana.
Frank Henry McDonald was born on the old "Stone-Quarry Farm" in Xenia township on September 2, 1839, and was there reared to the life of a farmer, receiving his schooling in the neighborhood schools, and was living there when the Civil War broke out. In August, 1862. he enlisted as a member of Company D, One Hundred and Tenth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and with that command was sent to Winchester, the regiment being attached to the First Brigade. Second Division, Eighth Corps, Army of the Potomac; later being detached for provost guard and picket duty and later assigned to the Second Brigade, Second Division, Sixth Army Corps. Mr. McDonald served until the close of the war, was present at and participated in the Grand Review at Washington and received his final discharge at Columbus on June 25, 1865. During this period of service he took part in many of the most desperate battles and engagements of the war and received one serious wound, a shot through the left thigh, which sent him to the hospital for some time. Among the battles in which he took part were those at Union Mills, Winchester, Stevenson's Depot, Wapping Heights, Brady Station, Mine Run, Locust Grove, the Wilderness, Spottsylvania, Ny River, Cold Harbor, Petersburg, Reams Station, Sailors Creek and Appomattox Court House, besides a number of minor engagements and brushes with the enemy.
Upon the completion of his military service Mr. McDonald returned home and resumed farming on the old home place and after his marriage in 1875 established his home there and there spent the rest of his life. He did well in his operations and became the owner of three hundred and thirty-five acres of land, continuing actively engaged in farming and stock raising until his death, which occurred on April 21, 1910. Mr. McDonald was a Republican, but was not a seeker after public office. He was an active member of the local post of the Grand Army of the Republic at Xenia and took an earnest interest in the affairs of that patriotic organization. He also was an active worker in the Methodist Episcopal church, as is his widow, and took a warm interest in church affairs.
On January 21, 1875, in Xenia township, Frank Henry McDonald was united in marriage to Anna E. Heath, who was bom in that township, a daughter of Thomas P. and Anna (Hook) Heath, both of whom also were born in this county, members of pioneer families, the former bom on a pioneer farm on the Wilmington pike and the latter, on the old Hook homestead place, and who made their home in Xenia township all their lives. Mrs. Anna Heath died when thirty-five years of age. Thomas P. Heath survived his wife many years, living to the age of seventy years. They were the parents of seven children, of whom Mrs. McDonald was the sixth in order of birth, the others being as follows: Joseph, deceased; Nelson, deceased; Sarah, who married Joseph McDartiel and is also deceased; Mary, who married Melvin Davis and who, as well as her husband, is now deceased; Charles, who enlisted his services in behalf of the Union during the Civil War and who died in 1864 while serving his nation's cause, and Corydon, who is still living, for years a resident of Goshen, Indiana.
To Mr. and Mrs. McDonald were born two children, Edith, deceased, and Thomas S., who was born on July 5. 1883, and who died at the age of thirty years. Thomas S. McDonald received his schooling in the home schools and at Dayton and remained at home, a valued assistant to his father in the work of developing and improving the home place, until his death. He was one of the most promising young men in his neighborhood and his early passing was greatly regretted by his many friends. He was a member of the local lodges of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. For some time after her husband's death Mrs. McDonald continued to make her home on the old home farm, which she still owns, but in the fall of 1914 retired from the farm and moved to Xenia, where she is now living, very pleasantly situated at 138 West Third street.
From History of Greene County Ohio, Its People, Industries and Institutions, vol. 2. M.A.Broadstone, editor. B.F.Bowen & Co., Indianapolis. 1918