Alex McDonald

Alex McDonald

Birthday

Alexander (Sandy) McDonald was born to Angus and Catherine McDonald on May 2, 1869, in Charlotine Township in Glengarry County Ontario; the third oldest of seven children.



Wandering Years

Alex attended the county school in Glengarry and then worked for awhile for his uncle in a general store. In the 1880's he took out a homestead in North Dakota but after two years he left for Winnipeg. His brother John, who later fought at Batoche, was stationed there. From Winnipeg, Alex went to High River, Alberta, to take out another homestead, land which was adjacent to John Ware, the famous calf roper. As well as homesteading, Alex brought horses to Edmonton to sell during the time the Edmonton -Calgary Railway was being built (1892). It was one such trip that he decided to stay in the St. Albert area as he liked it so much.

Planting Roots in St. Albert

In 1892 Alex purchased a farm, in partnership with Mr. Chisholm, on the southeast corner of 137th Avenue and the St. Albert Trail. In 1893, he met Sarah McDonald. In 1895, Alex dissolved his partnership with Mr. Chisholm and he and Sarah lived for a brief period on River Lot 9, four miles west of St. Albert. That same year Alex purchased River Lot 8. While building their log house near the Sturgeon River which flowed by the property, they lived in a small cabin located nearby. Mr. Bellerive assisted with the building of the house.



Putting Food on the Table

Alex did mixed farming and bought his first tractor, a Fordson, in 1918. Alex also did other odd jobs to supplement the farming incoming from selling cream at a railway station in St. Albert, which was later shipped to the creamery in Edmonton, to working as a grain buyer at the Gillespie Grain Company. From 1918 to 1922 was in partnership with Joe Jacobs. Together they bought a threshing mill and did custom threshing in the surrounding area for four years.

Epitaph

Alex McDonald and his wife Sarah were dedicated, persevering, stoic and proud pioneers. Their days were certainly fulfilled by hard work on their farm and related activities. They relaxed through entertainment with their family, friends and neighbors. They enjoyed many picnics by the Sturgeon river with friends and relatives from Edmonton dropping by to enjoy the farm animals and the fresh country air.

Alex and Sarah were always there to give a helping hand to anyone in need. They were known for their generosity and kindness to others and were well respected in the district. Alex McDonald suffered a stroke at home and passed away on December 28, 1940, at the age of 80. He was buried at the St. Albert Cemetery.