====== McDonald, Donald John ====== (11 March 1879-21 April 1948), merchant. (Donald J. McDonald, D. J. McDonald, “Donald John,” commonly known as “Boots”) Born in or near Alexandria, GC, probably on Lot 33, 9th Concession of Lancaster Township, stated as his father’s residence in the baptismal record. Parents: A. D. R. Macdonald and his wife Rachel MacMaster. Donald J. (“Boots”) McDonald attended local schools and clerked in an Alexandria store then was in his own right for many years a well known figure in the merchant community of Alexandria, operating a grocery store which he began in Sept. or Nov. 1902, when he was still a very young man. After his death in 1948, his unmarried sisters Ella and A. N. (Annie) Macdonald continued to operate the grocery store for some years. In the summer of 1953, however, the premises were leased to Donald J. Gormley. It was reported at the time that the sisters “will continue to reside in their adjoining home. ” (//Glengarry News// 16 July 1953) The location of the McDonald grocery store at this time, and probably throughout its existence, was on Main Street, at the northeast corner of Main and Kenyon. (See Adelard Sauvé) Hunting and fishing were favourite recreations of McDonald. He was a cousin, through his mother, of Sir Donald Macmaster. (Ostrom) He was the brother of the postmaster A. Gordon Macdonald, of Kirkland Lake, and appears not to have married. Roman Catholic. The burial was at St. Finnan’s. The name of Boots, by which he was commonly known, was presumably in the family. J. Lockie Wilson, in his unpublished recollections of boyhood in Alexandria, remembered being sent by his aunt when he was a child (he was born in 1856), to make purchases for her from a MacDonald general storekeeper she called “Boots” and “Johnnie Boots.” Wilson reported that this general storekeeper had got the name because, as a child, he had been sent to school in his father’s boots when his own were being mended. ---- //Glengarry News// 23 & 30 April 1948 * //St. Finnan’s CRNI//, II, 363 * Ostrom 33, 241 * many notices of the store in //GN// over the years, e.g., 14 June 1907, 4 June 1909, and advert for “Donald John’s Cash Week End Specials,” with list of groceries and prices, 12 Dec. 1930, the name Donald John here perhaps indicating the name by which he wished to be known * bowler hatted, in fine group picture, c. 1940, //GN// 23 Feb. 2000 & again 15 Feb. 2006 [<6>]