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A successful member of the
Macleod bar is John Walter McDonald, who is serving as King's Counsel,
to which position he was appointed in 1919, and he is also mayor of
Macleod. He was born near Toronto, Ontario, on the 21st of May, 1879, a
son of Donald and Flora (McDonald) McDonald, who were natives of the
community in which their son was born. The father was a successful
farmer and construction carpenter. His death occurred in 1919, at the
age of eighty-nine years, and Mrs. McDonald died in 1921, when
seventy-four years of age. To them four children were born, John Walter
being the second in order of birth. The eldest son, William, is living
in Toronto, retired; Anna, the third member of the family, is the wife
of Edward Hall of Toronto; and Norman is employed in the post office in
that city. The family were reared in the faith of the Presbyterian
church.
In the acquirement of his
education John Walter McDonald attended the schools of his birthplace
and subsequently was graduated from the Richmond Hill high school. In
1905 he was graduated from the University of Toronto with the LL.B.
degree, and in that same year the B. C. L. degree was conferred upon him
by the Osgoode Hall Law School. He practiced in Toronto until 1907,
having an extensive general clientele and he then came to Macleod,
associating with the late Malcolm McKenzie for three years, after which
he formed a partnership with D. G. McKenzie and they later took into the
firm, T. B. Martin, and are now practicing under the style of McDonald,
Martin & McKenzie. In 1919 Mr. McDonald was appointed King's Counsel and
he was made Crown prosecutor in the same year. He was prosecuting
attorney for the Basoff murder case in 1920 and for the Zitto murder
case in 1921, and he has won widespread recognition for the success he
has achieved in handling criminal cases. In 1923 he was elected mayor of
Macleod, by acclamation and well merits the honor thus conferred upon
him.
In 1907 was celebrated
the marriage of Mr. McDonald to Miss Margaret Somerville, a native of
Ontario, and a daughter of Dr. Somerville. To their union two children
have been born: Jack and Audrey, both living at home.
The religious faith of
Mr. McDonald is that of the Presbyterian church. In politics he
maintains an independent course, giving his support to the man he thinks
best fitted for the office without regard to party principles. Along the
lines of his profession he is a member of the Dominion and Macleod Bar
Associations and he is president of the latter body and president of the
Macleod Board of Trade. Both as a representative of his profession and
as mayor Mr. McDonald is held in high regard in Macleod, as in all of
the relations of life he has manifested qualities which entitle him to
the respect and esteem of his fellow townsmen. |
