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Chase County Kansas Obituaries
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McDonald, Matt MATT McDONALD IS DEAD
Matt McDonald died at his home in Strong City this (Wednesday) morning, December 15th, following a brief illness as the result of pneumonia. His death has come as a great surprise and severe shock to his family and his many Chase county friends
The funeral services will be held at St. Anthony's Catholic Church Strong City, Friday morning, Dec. 17th, after which interment will be made in the Catholic cemetery north-west of Strong City.
The death of Mr. McDonald marks the passing of one of Chase county's oldest pioneers and best known men.
Matt McDonald was born on August 25th, 1851, in Sandusky, Ohio, and died on December 15th 1920 at his residence in Strong City.
This, in brief, is the statement of the opening and closing of his life. Yet within the period of his birth and his death, the history of the world has changed many times. In fact, into the sixty-nine years, of his life was crowded a thousand years of history.
His father, Alexander McDonald, an Irish exile, came to the United States to find that which belongs to everyone, freedom. The Civil War, came on and with an Irishman's joy
he follewed the flag of his adopted country and died in battle at Franklin, Tennessee.
He was a first cousin of General James Shields, who led the assault at the Belem Gate; the entrance to the City of Mexico in the Mexican War, was shot through, but lived to become a Brigader General of volunteers in the Civil War, and
to enjoy the distinguished honor never conferred before or since upon any American citizen that of being a United States Senator from, three states.
Matt McDonald, the subject of this sketch, inherited some of his sire's, fine fighting spirit, and although only a child, he entered the Union Army as a drummer boy, and served with efficiency and honor until taken out of the services by his widowed mother, who with him and his brother, George, came to the wild frontier of Kansas in 1863, took up a claim and settled on Diamond Creek in Chase County.
This Irish' mother had the spirit of the Spartan. She had already made sacrifice for her country in giving her young husband to the cause of freedom. She now was willing to give her life and that of her sons to the extension of civilization on our western frontier. She lived with her boys through years of hardship.
She saw her son, Matt, engaged in Indian frontier fighting, and bearing a man's part in the struggle against a savage foe who fought to keep back the advance of a new era.
Although a mere boy, he did not shrink from any task that was imposed upon him, and took the place of a man in the lines.
He was with the relief that came from Fort Sheridan to Colonel Forsythe and his heroic men at the Arickares. He was personally complimented by General Custer for special work performed. He is one of the characters in Mrs. Margaret Hill McCarter's great story, "THE PRICE OF THE PRAIRIE."
The life of Matt McDonald was an open book that every one could read. He was consistent in all things that go to make the best in life. He despised sham; he loved the true, the beautiful, and the good. His official life as Probate judge of his county for eight years was as clean as his private life.
He never use his office oppresively, and never took wrongfully from widows and orphans. He was strictly honest in all matters and insisted on others being the same. He was as consistent in his friendship. There were a certain few of his soul. He had thousands of acquaintances who ordinarily might be considered friends, but who never enterd into the innermost recesses of his life.
His mother lived to see her sons prosperous and respected citizens and when she passed away, she had the pleasure of knowing that every duty performed, and every sacrifice she had made, had brought their reward.
Matt McDonald married Miss Rettiger, who was a devoted wife and mother. He could not have made a better choice, as she was a woman of great common sense and treasuredn highly all the domestic virtues. The children of this union were 2 sons and a daughter who may look back with love upon these parents who sacrificed much, and loved to make them happy. As they grow older, they will realize, mare fully the great love of their parents, and will be proud as
the years roll on of the record made by their father.
For two years preceding his death, he was the National Commander of. Frontier Veterans. These Veterans are the remnants of the Old Guards of Indian fighters. The writer had the honor of delivering the address of welcome to these Veterans more than a year ago at Wichita. Some of them were with Custer fighting the Sioux, others were with Sheridan fighting Comanches and Arapahoes. Others were in the Nineteenth Kansas, who with Governor Crawford of Kansas, in the winter of '68 finished up Black Kettle and his band of Cheyennes in the Washita mountains.
These men in selecting him, conferred an honor which he prized. That it was worthily bestowed, goes without saying. That he maintained the dignity of the position in certain. Possessing the fine characteristics of a gentleman, the ruggedness of a soldier, and the daring of a frontiersman, he carried his honors easily, and the old fighters were
proud of him.
The days of trial and Indian fighting are over. The campfires have passed away. The grim fighters have passed into the land of shadows, and taken the long, long, trail. We know that some time and somewhere, there will be a meeting of those who suffered much, loved much, and died to make the world better because they had passed through. Matt McDonald belongs to this class�he made the world better because of his life.
He died as he lived - a consistent Christian gentleman.�John Madden.
Chase County Leader News, Cottonwood Falls, Kansas, Dec 15 1920.
by Lorna Marvin
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