Obituary

Richard Hildreth McDonald was born in Iowa on March 10, 1844 and made that his home until he came to Kansas in the fall of 1861 and located in Halstead. He enlisted in Company M Second Regiment, Iowa Cavalry, and was with his command in the New Madrid and Island No. 10 expeditions, and at Fort Pillow, and was afterward at Farmington, Corinth and Iuka and Franklin and Nashville, where Hood made his raid. After his defeat, his command followed him to Dectur, Alabama and returned to Selma. He was mustered out in September 1865.

On August 23, 1866, he married Jenny Sweesy, a native of Pennsylvania. They had four children, Charles IIl, Thomas C. and twins, Lulu and Lucie. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and Clerk of the School Board of Halstead.

He was a pioneer farmer in Harvey County, Kansas. He owned 160 acres on Section 30, Rural Route, Halstead. One hundred acres was in cultivation. His ground was all enclosed with hedge fence and forty acres was fenced in with wire for pasture. Two acres were in ordhard and one acre was cultivated timber. He had a dwelling, stable, granary and cattle sheds. He had seven horses, twenty-six head of cattle and thirteen hogs. In 1882 he raised seventy acres of wheat with an average of thirty-two bushels per acre.

Mr. McDonald died November 5, 1914 after an illness which had extended over a period of about two years. His ailment was Bright's disease and at times, several months ago, it was thought the end was near, but he would rally and within a few days, he would be able to come to town and mix with his friends on the street, his last trip to town being about three weeks before his death. He died at the age of 70 years, 7 months and 25 days.

He was one of the few early homesteadeers who continued to live on the claim and in the affairs of the community, he always took an important partk being especially interested in the Old Settlers organization of which he was elected President in 1907.

Besides his widow, he is survived by four children, Charles H. McDonald of Wichita; Clifford McEonald of Rialto, California; Mrs. Lulu Miller of Sierra Madre, California and Mrs. Lucie Roerts of Dallas, Texas; four grandchildren; one sister, Mrs. W. H. Judson lf Bessemer, Alabama.

Funeral services were in Halstead and he was buried in the Halstad, Kansas cemetery.