Allen McDonald
Allen McDonald (July 22, 1803 – November 25, 1862) was a Scott County elected official who died during the Civil War while enlisted in the Union army.
See Also: Scott Countians killed in war
Biography
Born July 22, 1803, Allen McDonald was the son of James McDonald (1758-1848) and Sarah Cox (1776-1873). His father was a veteran of the Revolutionary War who moved to the Winona area after the war. He was originally from North Carolina, and enlisted in the North Carolina militia from Burke County, N.C.
Allen’s siblings included Elihu Gregory, Amos McDonald, George McDonald, James McDonald, Nancy Lewallen, Samuel McDonald, Emilia Lawson, Sterling McDonald and Sarah Reed.
He married Lakie Jane Jeffers (1805-1849). Following her death, he married Lakie’s niece, Christina Lawson (1830-1902) on Christmas Day in 1849. His children included Elihu McDonald (1825-1902), James McDonald (1829-1910), Caroline McDonald (born about 1830), Amos McDonald (born about 1832), Sarah McDonald (born about 1834), Nancy McDonald (born about 1836), Almira McDonald Carroll (1838-1915), Alenisey McDonald (born about 1841), Amanda McDonald Frost (born about 1853), Scott McDonald (born about 1856), and Julian McDonald (born about 1860). His children also included Emsley Melton Jeffers (1830-1890), Emily Jeffers York (1838-1930) and Mary “Polly” Jeffers Gibson (1841-1911).
Allen McDonald was Scott County’s first county court clerk. He also served as a deputy marshal, and justice of the peace.
Civil War
McDonald enlisted in the Union army and was assigned to Co. G, 7th Tennessee Infantry.
Samuel Roberts, founder of the Brynyffynon Welsh colony near present-day Toomey Road west of Oneida, referred to McDonald as “Capt. McDonald,” saying he furnished supplies to McDonald and the Union troops “during the Rebellion.” He refers to lodging, supper and breakfast he provided to McDonald when a “band of rebels were pursing after him” on Aug. 20, 1862, as well as other meals provided to McDonald and some of his men.
McDonald was captured by Confederate forces on Sept. 12, 1862. He was held as a prisoner of war in Knoxville, Tenn., and was either paroled due to sickness or managed to escape. He arrived at Andrew Lawson’s home in Scott County, on Nov. 10, 1862. According to a pension file, “the rebels were raging through the country and that it was impossible to get a physician.” McDonald died of “camp fever” at Lawson’s home on Nov. 25, 1862.
It should be noted that Roberts’ last notation involving McDonald was that he provided dinner to McDonald and four of his men on Nov. 8, 1862.
McDonald’s rank is in question. He was listed as a lieutenant in prisoner of war records, and as a private in the muster roll that records his death.
Aftermath
It isn’t known where McDonald was buried. He had a brother who died in the Civil War: James McDonald. He also had a nephew, Samuel McDonald, who died during the war.
Christina remarried to Greenberry Bowling (1828-1901) in 1864. She had two more children: William Isom Bowling (1866-1933) and Henry Elza Bowling (1867-1940). She and Greenberry later divorced, and she married William A. Felty. She died in 1902 in Oklahoma.