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Nelson McDonald, farmer, section 11, Sheridan Township, was born in upper Canada, Houghton, Norfolk County, district of Tolbert, Canada, March 23, 1826. He is a son of Peter and Amanda (Smith) McDonald, the former a native of Canada, the latter of Connecticut, and died in 1874. Nelson lived in Canada until 1855 when he came to Newaygo County and homesteaded 240 acres of wild land in Sheridan Township,. He owned 210 acres, having given his sons 150 acres. He had 120 under cultivation. He was married in upper Canada, April 11, 1848, to Amanda E., eldest daughter of Moses S. and Joanna Austin (Hindes, the former a native of New York and the latter of upper Canada; they moved to Newaygo County, where the father died, in the fall of 1880, and the mother lived in Garfield Township. Mrs. McDonald was born in upper Canada, November 10, 1826.
Mr. And Mrs. Nelson McDonald were the parents of 11 children: Melvin, Peter, Franklin, Cylcia V., Arminta, Amos, Amon, Ida, Edith. Horatio died at the age of 22, and one daughter, Mary, died in infancy. Mr. McDonald has held the office of Highway Commissioner for several every year after he settled in this township. Mr. McDonald and wife were members of the Fremont Grange. In politics he was a National Greenbacker.
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