ALEXANDER W. McDONALD was born in Maury County, Tenn., September 2, 1837, and is a son of Allen and Temperance (Henderson) McDonald, born Maury County, October 16, 1800 and March 23, 1805 respectively. After attaining his twenty-first birthday the father followed farming and attained a comfortable competency. The mother died October 30, 1848, and September 27, 1849, he took for his second wife Olivia C. Caskey. His death occured June 26, 1862. Alexander W. has always followed the life of a farmer. In 1861 he enlisted in Company F, First Tennessee Cavalry, but at the end of three years was detailed to superintend a saddle factory, serving in this capacity until the close of the war. During his war campaign he was orderly sergeant. After his return home he engaged in the saddlery business in Culleoka, which he followed very successfully several years. He then resumed farming and the lumber and saw-milling business. At the end of a few years he sold out and began keeping a confectionery store in Columbia and was engaged in the book and stationery business, and later sold pianos and organs. August 21, 1865, he married Sarah D. Gracy, born October 26, 1843, in Giles County, daughter of Joseph B. and Elizabeth (Bradshaw) Gracy. They have nine children: Barnet A., born in 1866; William E., in 1868; Lizzie E., in 1869; Donald G., in 1871; Alexander N., in 1873; James B., in 1875; Luther B., in 1878; John O., in 1881; and Lura, in 1883. Mr. McDonald and his family are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. He is a well educated man and is recognized as an upright and honest citizen.

Source: History of Tennessee: From the Earliest Time to the Present; Together with an Historical and a Biographical Sketch of Maury, Williamson, Rutherford, Wilson, Bedford and Marshall Counties. Nashville, Tenn: Goodspeed Pub. Co, 1886.