John L. MacDonald

John Louis MacDonald (February 22, 1838 – July 13, 1903) was a United States representative from Minnesota and a member of the Democratic Party.

John L. MacDonald
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Minnesota's 3rd district
In office
March 4, 1887 – March 3, 1889
Preceded byHorace B. Strait
Succeeded byOsee M. Hall
Member of the Minnesota Senate
from the 21st district
In office
January 3, 1873 – January 1, 1877
Preceded byRobert H. Rose
Succeeded byWilliam Henry
Member of the Minnesota Senate
from the 18th district
In office
January 3, 1871 – January 1, 1872
Preceded byWilliam Henry
Succeeded byGeorge Washington Batchelder
Member of the Minnesota House of Representatives
from the 18th district
In office
January 5, 1869 – January 2, 1871
Preceded byWilliam Henry
Succeeded byW.V. Sencerbox
Personal details
Born
John Louis MacDonald

(1838-02-22)February 22, 1838
Glasgow, Scotland
DiedJuly 13, 1903(1903-07-13) (aged 65)
Kansas City, Missouri
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseMary Hennessy
ResidenceShakopee, Minnesota
OccupationAttorney

Early life

MacDonald was born February 22, 1838, in Glasgow, Scotland.[1] He immigrated to Nova Scotia, Canada, with his parents. In 1847, the family settled in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They again moved in 1855, to Minnesota, and settled in Scott County, where MacDonald studied law.[1]

MacDonald was admitted to the bar in 1859 and commenced practice at Belle Plaine, Minnesota. He served as a judge of the probate court of Scott County in 1860 and 1861. During the Civil War he was commissioned to enlist and muster volunteers for the Union Army. He also served as prosecuting attorney of Scott County in 1863 and 1864.

Political career

MacDonald served as county superintendent of schools in 1865 and 1866. He was elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives, serving in 1869 and 1870; and then served in the Minnesota Senate in 1871 and from 1873 to 1876.[2]

He ran unsuccessfully candidate for attorney general in 1872 on the Democratic ticket. He was then elected mayor of Shakopee in 1876. He was elected judge of the eighth judicial district of Minnesota in 1876 for a term of seven years and reelected without opposition in 1883.[1]

In 1886, he was elected as a Democrat to the 50th congress; he subsequently resigned as judge.[1] He served in Congress from March 4, 1887, to March 3, 1889. He ran again in 1888, but lost. He subsequently returned to being a lawyer in Saint Paul, Minnesota. In 1898, he moved to Kansas City, Missouri, where he continued to practice law.

Death

MacDonald died from heart disease at his home in Kansas City on July 13, 1903.[2] He was working as a lawyer until his death. He was buried at St. Mary's Cemetery in Kansas City.

References
  1. Shutter, Marion D.; McLaine, J. S., eds. (1897). Progressive Men of Minnesota. The Minneapolis Journal. pp. 308–309. Retrieved February 2, 2023 – via Internet Archive.
  2. "Judge MacDonald Expires Suddenly". Minneapolis Daily Times. July 14, 1903. p. 3. Retrieved February 2, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
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