Clark, Robert Carlton, Ph.D. "History of the Willamette Valley Oregon."  Vol. 3.
Chicago: Chapman Publishing Company, 1927. p. 352.
 
R. N. MacDONALD

     Gifted along mechanical lines, R. N. MacDonald has wisely developed his
talent and is now classed with the foremost automobile dealers of the Willamette
Valley. He is a pioneer in this industry, which has constituted his life work,
and for four years his activities have been centered in Salem. He was born
August 4, 1882, in West Harrisville, Michigan, and his parents, Reynold N. and
Margaret (MacDonald) MacDonald, were natives of Scotland. They went to Canada in
youth and were married in that country. Subsequently they crossed the border
into the United States, settling in Michigan, where the father passed away,
while the mother's demise occurred at Buffalo, New York, in 1901.
     R. N. MacDonald, Jr., was educated in the public schools of the Empire
state and chose the trade of a machinist. He became connected with the
automobile industry during the early stages of its development and aided in
making the Conrad Steamer in 1899. He assisted in constructing the first
Fierce-Arrow car equipped with two cylinders, which was placed on the market in
1901 and had a speed of thirty miles. Mr. MacDonald was also one of the builders
of the Pierce-Arrow and Morelock one-cylinder machines and became recognized as
a master craftsman. At Forrestville, New York, in 1910, he demonstrated the
speed of the Chalmers No. 40 and was awarded a silver cup. He drove a
Pung-Finch, a Detroit car, in the first race on the Kenilworth track at Buffalo,
New York, and later participated in an endurance run from that city to Rochester
and return, taking three days. In 1905, in company with J. B. McDaniel, he drove
from Buffalo to Erie, Pennsylvania, a distance of one hundred and eighty miles,
and completed the trip in six days, establishing a record at that time. He
frequently entered contests with Barney Oldfield, Eddie Ball and Robert Lidel
and was also associated with other automobile racers of note, In 1905 Mr.
MacDonald embarked in business in Buffalo and his garage was among the first
operated in that city. From 1907 until 1911 he resided in Westford, New York,
acting as agent for the Buick, Ford and Pope-Hartford cars. In the latter year
he located in Jamestown, New York, and for five years handled Ford, Thomas,
Chalmers and Regal automobiles. Returning to Buffalo in 1916, he purchased a
number of Liberty cars, which he sold until November, 1918, and then came to the
west. For five years he controlled the Packard agency at Boise, Idaho, and in
1923 came to Salem with Vick Brothers. In July, 1924, he took over the Packard
agency, which he held until November, 1925, when he secured the Marmon agency,
and has since added the Chandler. The building which he occupies is ninety by
seventy feet in dimensions and advantageously located on the corner of Ferry and
Carthage streets. He handles a complete line of automobile parts and operates a
well equipped service station. Mr. MacDonald controls the sales of the Marmon
automobiles in five counties and his trade in the Chandler cars is drawn from
four counties. His annual sales amount to a large figure and he is also
president of Mac's Drive Yourself Company, which rents automobiles of all kinds
without drivers. He is likewise the executive head of the Willamette Auto Supply
Company, wholesale and retail dealers in tires, accessories and gasoline, and a
Triangle Company which renders service to dealers and automobile users. This
idea originated in Mr. MacDonald's fertile brain and branches are now being
established throughout the Willamette Valley. Endowed with initiative and
foresight, he always has some new plan in the making, and his executive capacity
is indicated by the extent and prosperity of the business which he controls.
     In 1903 Mr. MacDonald was married in New York to Miss Maude Schisler, a
native of Canada, and they have become the parents of a son, Reynold J. (Ill),
who is attending the University of Oregon. Mr. MacDonald belongs to the
Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and the Ad Club, while, his political
allegiance is given to the republican party. Through concentrated effort and
honorable methods he has become a power in his chosen field of endeavor and the
respect accorded him is well deserved.

     
*******************

Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in December 2013 by Diana Smith.
Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned
above.