John McDonald III was born 29 Dec 1803 in Tennessee to John McDonald II and his first wife, Mary E. Melvin.

He moved from Tennessee to Ohio as a very small boy, about 1806, when his parents joined a family wagon train with his grandfather John McDonald I, several of his uncles, and several related families. The family settled in Madison County before it was officially formed in 1810. They were pioneer farmers there, taking down trees and digging out stumps to clear areas in the forest on which to raise crops and animals.

John grew up on his father's farm and remained in Madison county after marriage, farming his own land in Deer Creek Township next to his father. He married a local widow, Sally McCoy (married name Davidson), on 19 March 1825. Their children were all born and raised in Madison County, though several migrated further as adults.

John died on Christmas day 1884.

Bio by Annemarie Hanlon with thanks to Jean Quentmeyer for 1860, 1870 and 1880 census transcripts.
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1850 United States Federal Census of Deer Creek, Madison County, Ohio
John McDonald Jr., 46, born (c. 1804) Tennessee, farmer - $ 6,100 real estate
Sally McDonald, 44, born (c. 1806) Virginia
Thomas McDonald, 22, born (c. 1828) Ohio, farmer
Joseph McDonald, 19, born (c. 1831) Ohio, farmer
Mary M McDonald, 17, born (c. 1833) Ohio
Sarah A McDonald, 15, born (c. 1835) Ohio
William D McDonald, 13, born (c. 1837) Ohio
Sylvina T McDonald, 11, born (c. 1839) Ohio
Philomalia C McDonald, 9, born (c. 1841) Ohio
James M McDonald, 7, born (c. 1843) Ohio
Albert S McDonald, 4, born (c. 1846) Ohio
Sarah F Bowdle, 1, born (c. 1849) Ohio
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1860 United States Federal Census of Deer Creek, Madison County, Ohio
Post Office: Lafayette
John McDonald, 56, born Tennessee (abt 1804)
Sally McDonald, 54
Philomelia C McDonald, 19
James McDonald, 17
Albert McDonald, 14
Barbara J. McDonald, 19
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1870 United States Federal Census of Deer Creek, Madison County, Ohio
Post Office: Lafayette
John McDonald, 66, white, born Ohio (abt 1804)
Albert McDonald, 25
Ukina Husk, 38
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1880 United States Federal Census of Deer Creek, Madison County, Ohio
Household Members: Name Age
James McDonald, 37
Lucy A. McDonald, 33
Stella McDonald, 14
John McDonald, 11
Sarah E. McDonald, 9
Perry McDonald, 6
Imogene McDonald, 4
Albert Sweet, 21
Gertringa Tinder, 29
John McDonald, 76, white, widower, farmer, born Tennessee (abt 1804)
notes: John was the father of James, the head of household. John stated his father was born in Maryland, his mother in Virginia.
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