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Donald D “Mac” McFadgen

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Donald D “Mac” McFadgen

Birth	:	6 Oct 1843 Renfrewshire, Scotland
Death	:	16 May 1903 Birmingham, Jefferson County, Alabama, USA
Burial	:	Hillside Cemetery, Valley City, Barnes County, USA
Coordinate	:	46.9338989, -97.9736023
Description	:	From "Barnes County History", published 1976. Among the first settlers in Barnes County was James McFadgen. Born in Scotland in 1812, he married Mary Shaw and they migrated to Canada, where he entered into a business partnership which failed in due time. To this union were born four sons and four daughters. Donald D. McFadgen, son of James McFadgen, was commonly known as "Mac." He left the family home in Fergus, Ontario and, according to one account, became a supervisor of a construction gang for the Northern Pacific Railroad and was with the surveying party that picked the crossing... Read More	From "Barnes County History", published 1976. Among the first settlers in Barnes County was James McFadgen. Born in Scotland in 1812, he married Mary Shaw and they migrated to Canada, where he entered into a business partnership which failed in due time. To this union were born four sons and four daughters. Donald D. McFadgen, son of James McFadgen, was commonly known as "Mac." He left the family home in Fergus, Ontario and, according to one account, became a supervisor of a construction gang for the Northern Pacific Railroad and was with the surveying party that picked the crossing place on the Sheyenne River in Barnes County. Donald D. McFadgen resigned his position early in 1872 and returned to the Cheyenne River Valley in May of that year. He built a log cabin in the vicinity of what is now the Mercy Hospital, planted a vegetable garden and settled down to await the arrival of the railroad. He was soon joined by another early arrival, one John Morrison, who also built a log cabin where the Valley City Tourist Park now stands. According to early accounts, he operated a trading post from his cabin, patronized by the half-breed French trappers living in the riverbank where the College Footbridge is now located. With the coming of the railroad on September 15, 1872, Donald D. McFadgen and John Morrison decided that they had best file on the land on which they had squatted and so they went to Pembina and filed pre-emption claims in 1873. Their lands straddled the Sheyenne River. However, they first built a tent hotel and restaurant to take care of the railroad men and itinerants passing thru. The final county organization was completed in 1878 and McFadgen was elected the first sheriff of Barnes County. This not being a lawless country, the first jail was not too well built and the very first prisoner promptly escaped and Mac had to track him down and re-incarcerate him. The second court house was built in 1883 and it contained not only a new jail but an apartment for the sheriff. Mac sent for the rest of his family and his father and mother and three sisters came to join him in what were then considered the most palatial living quarters in Valley City. Mac McFadgen was re-elected sheriff for three consecutive terms. He ruled with an iron hand and the record shows that not one single individual was sent to the Territorial penitentiary from Barnes County during Mac's term in office. It simply was not good policy to commit serious crime while he was sheriff. After retiring from the sheriff's office, Mac returned to his farming operations but the lure of the railroads soon called him and he returned to railroad work in 1887 and moved his family to Birmingham, Alabama. He died in Birmingham on May 16, 1903 at 62 years of age from a throat ailment. He left a wife and one child. There is a memorial for Donald D. McFadgen in Birmingham, Alabama. 46162223 Unsure if he was buried in Alabama or North Dakota, however, he is listed in Hillside Cemetery, Valley City.

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is Donald D “Mac” McFadgen's memorial?
Donald D “Mac” McFadgen's memorial is located at: Hillside Cemetery, Valley City, Barnes County, USA.
When did Donald D “Mac” McFadgen death?
Donald D “Mac” McFadgen death on 16 May 1903 in Birmingham, Jefferson County, Alabama, USA
Where are the coordinates of the Donald D “Mac” McFadgen's memorial?
Latitude: 46.9338989
Longitude: -97.9736023

Family Members:

Parent

Mary Shaw McFadgen

(1819 - 1902)

Spouse

Siblings

John McFadgen

(1849 - 1910)

Flora McFadgen Moore

(1850 - 1936)

Alexander McFadgen

(1857 - 1915)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Hillside Cemetery
Valley City, Barnes County, USA
Coordinate: 46.9338989, -97.9736023

2. Saint Catherines Cemetery
Valley City, Barnes County, USA
Coordinate: 46.9253006, -97.9730988

3. Woodbine Cemetery
Valley City, Barnes County, USA
Coordinate: 46.9227982, -98.0186005

4. Maryvale Convent Cemetery
Valley City, Barnes County, USA
Coordinate: 46.9555000, -98.0221630

5. Memory Gardens Cemetery
Valley City, Barnes County, USA
Coordinate: 46.9180984, -97.9111023

6. Salem Methodist Church Cemetery
Valley City, Barnes County, USA
Coordinate: 46.9827600, -97.9171000

7. Prairie Rest Cemetery
Barnes County, USA
Coordinate: 46.8772011, -97.9231033

8. Wooland Family Cemetery
Cuba, Barnes County, USA
Coordinate: 46.8588287, -97.9202121

9. Zion Getchell Cemetery
Valley City, Barnes County, USA
Coordinate: 47.0080600, -98.0667500

10. Oriska Cemetery
Oriska, Barnes County, USA
Coordinate: 46.9342003, -97.8043976

11. Saint Bernards Cemetery
Oriska, Barnes County, USA
Coordinate: 46.9267006, -97.7983017

12. Faith Lutheran Church Cemetery
Barnes County, USA
Coordinate: 46.9356003, -98.1605988

13. Zion Lutheran Cemetery
Valley City, Barnes County, USA
Coordinate: 46.8699200, -98.1449920

14. Camp Arnold State Historic Site
Oriska, Barnes County, USA
Coordinate: 46.9932800, -97.7911000

15. Ringsaker Cemetery
Barnes County, USA
Coordinate: 46.7757988, -98.0603027

16. Sacred Heart Cemetery
Sanborn, Barnes County, USA
Coordinate: 46.9244003, -98.2264023

17. Fairview Cemetery
Sanborn, Barnes County, USA
Coordinate: 46.9225006, -98.2264023

18. Saint Peters Cemetery
Sanborn, Barnes County, USA
Coordinate: 46.9653015, -98.2478027

19. Free Methodist Cemetery
Pillsbury, Barnes County, USA
Coordinate: 47.1249600, -97.9078700

20. Morton Cemetery
Barnes County, USA
Coordinate: 47.0980988, -97.8106003

21. Sheyenne Valley Cemetery
Kathryn, Barnes County, USA
Coordinate: 46.7324100, -97.9815000

22. Holy Trinity Cemetery
Fingal, Barnes County, USA
Coordinate: 46.8054400, -97.7426300

23. Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery
Fingal, Barnes County, USA
Coordinate: 46.7421150, -97.8715057

24. Holy Trinity Catholic Cemetery
Fingal, Barnes County, USA
Coordinate: 46.7677994, -97.7881012