George G. McDonald
George G. McDonald, London, is a retired farmer, and has been a resident of Madison County for three-quarters of a century. He was born in Washington County, Tenn., on Christmas Day of 1803. He is a son of James McDonald, a native of Botetourt County. Va. He left his native State when quite young, and emigrated to Tennessee, where he married Nancy Cook, a native of New Jersey. They came to Ross County, Ohio, in the winter of 1806-7, and the following spring came to Madison County. He located on a farm in Union Township, six miles from the present site of London, and on the Georgesville pike. He was a farmer by occupation, and a pioneer of that part of Madison County. There was only one house in what is now the village of London when he came to this county. and Indians and wild beasts were entirely too plentiful for comfort. Twelve children were born to Mr. and Mrs. McDonald, six living, and their ages are as follows: daughter, eighty-one; our subject. seventy-eight; daughter, seventy-six; daughter, seventy-four; daughter, seventy-two; and son, fifty-nine, an average of over seventy-three years each. This is probably the highest average of any family in Madison County. Our subject was the third child and second son, and in early life assisted his father in the general duties of the farm. He way accustomed to clearing land, and burning up the walnut timber to get it out of the way. His mother was a good scholar, and taught him what early education he possessed. He married Melinda Ferguson, a native of Lexington, Ky., and a resident of Franklin County, Ohio. He remained with his father three years after marriage, and then purchased 385 acres of land in Deer Creek Township, where he resided until 1878. In the meantime, he had increased his farm to 623 acres. His original farm he gave to his daughter, and now owns and farms the remainder, 288 acres. In 1878, he removed to London, where he now resides. He has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal denomination fifty-five years, probably as long as any present resident of Madison County. He was formerly a Whig, but became a charter member of the Republican party on the date of its organization. He has always enjoyed perfect health, and to use his own language-" When I am a little indisposed, I don't take any medicine, but just starve the sickness away. I find that the best plan." Thirteen children have been given to him, only one living -- Mary A., wife of "Judge" Robert C. Fulton, of Columbus. " Uncle George," as he is familiarly known to the greater part of our readers, possesses a most remarkable memory. He can relate many stories of " days gone by," when the little band of pioneers in this county had all they could do to keep body and soul together, and wait for the day when the white settlers would predominate. He has been a "tiller of the soil" for three-quarters of a century, honest in every action, and enjoys the true esteem and respect of every citizen in the county.
From HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY - W. H. Beers [Chicago, 1883]