The History of the Yakima Valley, Washington, Comprising Yakima, Kittitas and Benton Counties, The S.J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1919, Volume II, page 1043 JOHN J. MACDONALD. John J. Macdonald is one of those valuable American citizens that Scotland has furnished to this country. His innate thriftiness, enterprise and perseverance have led him to a successful position among the agriculturists of Yakima county, where he now owns a valuable property of about seventy acres. Especial credit is due Mr. Macdonald, for his enterprise along horticultural lines, as he has assisted in snaking fruit raising a prosperous venture in his district. He now has thirty-four acres in apples, using peaches and pears as fillers, and from his orchard he receives a very gratifying income. His progressive methods serve as an example to other horticulturists and he has greatly contributed toward prosperity in the valley. A native of Scotland, Mr. Macdonald was born September 17, 1869, and is a son of Mr. and Mrs. Alexander Macdonald who passed away in their native land. The father there followed agricultural pursuits throughout his active life and was esteemed and respected in his community. John J. Macdonald was reared in Scotland and attended the schools of his native land. When old enough he become connected with farming to some extent, acquiring a thorough knowledge of agricultural methods. It was in 1889, at the age of twenty, that he went to Portland, Oregon, selecting that city as his residence because he believed in its growth and that there he would find good business opportunities. For ten years he was connected with the firm of Olds, Wortman & King as manager of their cloak department. He saw the opportunities presented in the Yakima valley and in March, 1899, came to this district, where he opened a dry goods store, which he conducted until 1911. Then turning to agriculture, he acquired one hundred and twenty acres under the Tieton project but of this he later sold fifty acres and now has a tract of seventy acres which is highly developed. On his property he has built an excellent home as well as modern barns and other buildings needed for fruit storing and packing. He has installed modern machinery and added other equipment, so that his place is now among the best developed and most valuable of his neighborhood. Thirty-four acres of the land is planted to apples, with peaches and pears as fillers. The balance of the land is in hay, of which crop he raises a good quality. In March, 1898, Mr. Macdonald was united in marriage to Miss Jeannette Johnstone, a native of Victoria, Canada, and a daughter of J. S. Johnstone. To this union were born four children: Lyall, who is attending the State university at Seattle; and Ronald, Barbara and Margaret. Mr. and Mrs. Macdonald have many friends in Tieton and vicinity and all who know them speak of them in the highest terms. As one of the leading and substantial citizens and one of the foremost orchardists Mr. Macdonald has greatly contributed to the upbuilding and development of this region. He is ever ready to give his support to public projects of worth and as merchant as well as agriculturist has ever enjoyed the highest reputation. In his political affiliation he is a republican but outside of supporting party issues and candidates at the ballot box is not active. Both he and his wife are valued members of the Presbyterian church, in the work of which they take a deep interest and to which they helpfully contribute. There is great credit due Mr. Macdonald for what he has achieved, as he came to this country empty-handed and now has acquired a competence which places him among the men of affluence of his district, he being well entitled to the proud American title of a self-made man. ******************************** Submitted to the Washington Bios Project in January 2008 by Jeffrey L. Elmer. Submitter has no additional information about the subject of this article.