Jack McDonald
Jack McDonald, brother to Ronald and Uncle to Keith, made his home in International Falls and lived a long life there. His formal name was John Archibald but everyone called him “Jack.” The photo of Jack was taken in his daughter’s home where she had it resting gently again a lamp in the living room.
On the 20 of August 1901 he married Sarah Maria Burns in Chapeau, Pontiac County, Quebec. Sarah was part of a very large family that settled in the Chichester/Chapeau area on the Upper Ottawa River. You can learn more about the Burns family.
He migrated with his wife and his parents to Bemidji, Beltrami County, Minnesota shortly after his marriage. Jack and Sarah spent about 4 years in Bemidji before they moved permanently in 1905 to International Falls. It is possible they had a child, maybe two, while living there and they did not survive.
Sarah and Jack McDonald – Int’l Falls
John (Jack) and Sarah McDonald’s children:
1. George Archibald/Alexander who was born February 28, 1907 and died on March 2, 1907. This information was taken from the birth register at the Koochiching County Courthouse in International Falls in 2000.
2. There is a baby buried in the family plot at the cemetery in International Falls named Emma Loretta born September 3, 1911 and died that following October 16, 1911.
3. Mary Catherine Genofevan McDonald was born 3 January 1913 in International Falls and died in 2007 in Otter Tail Co., Minnesota. Mary is buried next to her husband Gilbert Louiseau in the McDonald plot in the St. Thomas Cemetery that is a part of the Forest Hill Cemetery group in International Falls. Mary was 94 years old and I was very lucky to have known her. Mary and Gil had 3 children who are living and grandchildren.
Daughter Mary
Jack and Sarah made a good life for themselves in International Falls. Jack became well-respected in the town and ran for political office. There home was frequented by many friends. He was responsible for keeping the children warm and seeing that the boiler at the Alexander Baker School had warmed the building before school began. Jack was also a volunteer fireman with the International Falls fire department along with his brother Alex.
BJ MacDonald
The Man Who Lived Airplanes 