An Illustrated History of the State of Washington, by Rev. H.K. Hines, D.D., 
The Lewis Publishing Co., Chicago, IL., 1893, pages 429-430A portrait of Mr.
McDonald appears between pages 428 and 429

	JAMES R. MCDONALD, one of the prominent railroad developers of the State was
born in Glengarry, Canada, April 16, 1844. His father, Donald McDonald, was born
in Inverness, in the highlands of Scotland, and in early manhood emigrated to
Canada, where he engaged in farming and in the lumbering business. He was
married in Canada to Miss Ann McDonald, also of highland Scotch ancestry. James
R. was reared upon the farm and was afforded the usual educational advantages
allotted to farmers' sons. At the age of nineteen, he went to Detroit, Michigan,
and passed three years in the lumbering business, in which occupation he bad
received practical training under the guidance of his father. About 1866 he went
to the source of supply in the lumber regions of the Saginaw valley, where he
began by driving team, subsequently acquired an interest in the business, and
eventually became an extensive operator, continuing about fifteen years and
attaining a high degree of success.
	Learning of time extensive lumbering interests of the Puget Sound district,
in 1883 Mr. McDonald visited that favored spot and became so much impressed with
the great wealth of timber bordering the Sound that he at once purchased 10,000
acres of land in Mason county. In the spring of 1884 he organized the Seattle
Lumber Company, of which he was elected secretary. The company established one
of the largest lumbering plants in Washington. Under his management some thirty
miles of railroad were constructed for the purpose of reaching the timber lands
of his company, and the town of Shelton was created. In 1886 he was elected
president of the company, and in 1889 bought an interest in the Pacific mill in
Tacoma. These industries were successfully continued up to 1890, when the
several interests were merged into the Washington Southern Railway Company and
incorporated with a capital stock of $15,000,000, the intention being to extend
their road to the Straits of Fuca, and to connect with the northern and central
trans-continental routes. Mr. McDonald was elected president of the company.
Preliminary surveys have been made and plans are being consummated looking
toward rapid construction. Mr. McDonald was also an active participant in the
organization and construction of the Seattle, Lake Shore and Eastern Railroad,
and acted as president for about five years, until the road was sold to the
Northern Pacific Pacific company, in February, 1890.
	Mr. McDonald was married in 1870, to Miss Harriette F. Felton of Bay City,
Michigan. Two children have blessed this union: Donald J. and Harriette A.
	Although Mr. McDonald has been interested financially in other business
enterprises, his especial attention has been given to his timber and railroad
interests, in the management of which he has achieved conspicuous success. From
his arrival on the Sound his faith in Seattle's future greatness has been
unlimited, and he stands among the foremost to contribute to such enterprises as
tend to the development and prosperity of this city of his adoption.

Submitted to the WA. Bios Project in October 2003 by Jeffrey L. Elmer

* * * * 

Notice: These biographies were transcribed for the Washington Biographies
Project. Unless otherwise stated, no further information is available on the
individual featured in the biographies.