Category Archives: Grand Rapids

A Scandal in Koochiching County circa 1918!

Koochiching County, Minnesota’s north boundary touches the Canadian border. Koochiching broke off from Itasca County and became its own county in 1906.  Keith’s father, Ronald (R.S.) was there to help plat the town of International Falls and at one point … Continue reading

Posted in Alberta, Bemidji, Brainerd, CANADA, Genealogical Research Tips, GRACE & RONALD MCDONALD, Grand Rapids, Grande Prairie, International Falls, Itasca County, Keith B. MacDonald, Koochiching County, MCDONALD/MACDONALD etc., Minnesota | Tagged , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Life in Bemidji!

Archie’s sons decided that their parents were getting too old and brought them down from Chichester to Bemidji after 1901.  Why they went to Bemidji instead of going to International Falls may have had something to do with access.  It … Continue reading

Posted in Alberta, Barclay Surname, Beltrami County, Bemidji, Chichester, Genealogical Research Tips, Gordon McDonald, GRACE & RONALD MCDONALD, Grand Rapids, Grande Prairie, International Falls, Itasca County, Minnesota, Quebec, Vivian McDonald McKanna | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

The Migration to Minnesota Begins for the McDonell’s!

Ronald S. McDonald, Keith’s father and my grandfather, appears in the Minnesota State Census for the year 1895.  He is living in Hennepin County, Minnesota.  He has been living in Minnesota for 4 years.  This may mean he might have left home right before the … Continue reading

Posted in Alexander McDonald, GRACE & RONALD MCDONALD, Grand Rapids, MCDONALD/MACDONALD etc., Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota, Miriam's Notes | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

An Unexpected Tragedy!

It was close to the Christmas of 1911 and Grace was pregnant with her 8th child.  Something went wrong.  She had the baby prematurely.  The baby Grace Elizabeth died on December 22, 1911. Grace died the following day on December 23, 1911.   The … Continue reading

Posted in Barclay Surname, GRACE & RONALD MCDONALD, Grand Rapids, International Falls, Koochiching County, Minnesota | Tagged , , | Leave a comment