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The war took toll of
another life when Dr. John Phelan MacDonald passed away, for ill health
which finally terminated in his demise was directly traceable to his
army service, he was for a number of years a prominent physician and
leading citizen of Edmonton, as well as an honored veteran of the World
strife. A native of Perth, Ontario, he was born on the 25th of May,
1868, and supplemented his early educational training by study in the
Perth Collegiate Institute, while later he attended Kingston College and
eventually became a student in McGill University. Still later he took
postgraduate work in the universities of Edinburgh and Glasgow,
Scotland, and in Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts. his
educational training, however, was not continuous, for through a period
of ten years he devoted his attention to the profession of teaching
before entering McGill to prepare for the practice of medicine and
surgery. When he had completed his professional course he concentrated
his efforts and attention upon active practice, in which he continued
throughout his remaining days, although a part of this time was spent in
the military service of the country. He was for an extended period
overseas with the Royal Army Medical Corps in the imperial forces and
returned to Canada in broken health, his condition being attributable
largely to his arduous work with the colors. He served overseas from
November, 1915, until August, 1919, with the Fifty-eighth Scottish
General Hospital and the Fifty-fifth division in France. He was also for
six months with the Army of Occupation in Germany and was especially
mentioned for his work in connection with the sanitation of camps, while
numerous camps throughout the British army were copied after the system
which he inaugurated.
In the year 1897 Dr.
MacDonald was united in marriage to Miss Gertrude Kenney of Montreal and
they became the parents of four sons and a daughter, who survive the
husband and father. Dr. MacDonald was a Roman Catholic in religious
faith and a Liberal in his political belief. He belonged to the Ancient
Order of Foresters, the Sons of Scotland and the B. A. Y. N. and he was
also a member of the Central Alberta Medical Association, of which he
was at one time president. He died on the 20th of November, 1920, and
few funerals in Edmonton, military or otherwise, have been more
impressive or more largely attended than that of Dr. MacDonald. The
services were held in St. Joachim's church and although it is not
customary in that church to depart from the mass Father Daniel, who
conducted the services, deemed it proper to say a few words as to the
character of the man who had made such a host of friends and admirers in
Edmonton and spoke most fittingly of his ability, his humor, his
personal worth and his high rank as a physician, as a military official
and as a private citizen. Be was a great humorist and his presence was
eagerly sought at dinners and all kinds of functions, as he was the
spirit and life of every gathering he attended, his witticisms and
drollery changing many a dull evening into one of mirth and laughter.
This attitude toward life made him of great value in his profession,
especially overseas, in his capacity of medical officer in the Imperial
army. his charity was known far and wide and he died a comparatively
poor man, having given away a fortune to alleviate the suffering of
mankind during his lifetime. He was indeed one of the best known
physicians of Edmonton and one of the most capable and his high
professional standing and service were matched by his personal
qualities, which made for popularity and endeared him to all by whom he
was known. |
