Daniel Born in 1813

Ireland, 1813. Daniel McDonald was born on December 25, 1813. This date appears on his tombstone (see Find A Grave).

Daniel was born in Ireland or Scotland, according to the U.S. Census: Ireland according to the 1850 and 1860 censuses and Scotland according to the 1870 and 1880 censuses.

White Hall, New York. Sometime before 1836, Daniel immigrated to White Hall, New York.

Eliza Born in 1816

Ireland, 1816. Eliza Young was born in Ireland on September 29, 1816. Her maiden name and her birth date appear on her tombstone (see Find A Grave).

White Hall, New York. Sometime before 1836, Eliza immigrated to White Hall, New York.

Daniel and Eliza Marry, Have 7 Children

White Hall, New York. Sometime before 1836, Daniel and Eliza were married. Sometime before 1836, Daniel and Eliza immigrated to White Hall, New York. The year 1836 is based on the birth year of their first child.

According to the U.S. Census, their first six children were born in the State of New York. The White Hall location is given as the birthplace in 1847 of Daniel and Eliza's son James in the WPA Survey for the cemetery where James was buried in Iowa in 1922. The information contained on that website was originally recorded by Iowa WPA (Works Progress Administration) workers during late 1930's. In 2006 it was transcribed into a searchable electronic format. The village of White Hall (now Whitehall) is located five miles west of the Vermont border at the south end of Lake Champlain and lies between Champlain and Lake George. In 1823, the Champlain Canal was completed to Whitehall. The Champlain Canal is a 60 miles canal that connects the south end of Lake Champlain to the Hudson River in New York. It was simultaneously constructed with the Erie Canal. See Champlain Canal map.

Daniel McDonald appears in the 1840 census in White Hall, New York. He has a wife and three children. He and his wife are age 20-29. The children, a boy and a two girls, are age 0-4. Daniel's occupational category is "manufactures and trades."

In 1836, Daniel and Eliza's first child Irene was born in Whitehall, New York.

In 1838, Daniel and Eliza's second child Robert was born in Whitehall, New York.

In 1841, Daniel and Eliza's third child Sarah was born in Whitehall, New York.

In 1842, Daniel and Eliza's fourth child Daniel was born in Whitehall, New York.

In 1846, Daniel and Eliza's fifth child Edward was born in Whitehall, New York.

In 1847, Daniel and Eliza's sixth child James was born in Whitehall, New York.

Wisconsin. Sometime between 1847 and 1850, Daniel and Eliza moved from New York to Wisconsin. In the 1850 census, they were living in Plymouth, Rock County, Wisconsin.

In 1853, Daniel and Eliza's seventh child Mary was born in Wisconsin.

In the 1855 Wisconsin State census, a D. McDonald was living in Washington Township, Green County. In the 1860 census, the family was living in Monticello, Washington Township, Green County. In the 1870 census, the family was living in Albany, Washington Township, Green County.

On November 3, 1868, Daniel and Eliza McDonnel's son Edward McDonnel married Olive C. Webster in Monroe, Green County, Wisconsin. They were married in a civil ceremony by S. W. Abbott of Monroe. Edward was listed in the marriage record as a farmer from Washington, Wisconsin. The bride was from Monroe. Witnesses were James McDonnel and W. E. McDonnell. This is the first instance of the surname being spelled McDonnel/McDonnell. In the 1870 census, however, Edward and Alice are living next door to Daniel and Eliza, and the name is McDonald.

On March 26, 1871, Daniel and Eliza McDonald's son Daniel married Ellen Flannery in Adams, Green County, Wisconsin. They were married in a religious ceremony by Levi P. Duncan of Adams, a Baptist minister. Daniel was listed in the marriage record as a farmer living in Washington, Green County. Witnesses were Adeline A. Duncan, wife of the minister, and Alex. E. Patterson, son-in-law of the minister.

Iowa. Sometime between 1875 and 1878, Daniel and Eliza, their sons James and Edward, and their daughter Mary moved from their farm in Washington Township, Green County, Wisconsin, to a farm in Coon, Buena Vista County, Iowa.

In 1878, Daniel and Eliza's son Edward and his family moved from the farm in Coon, Buena Vista County, Iowa to a farm in Silver Lake, Palo Alto County, Iowa. In October 1882, the railroad reached the area and a depot was built. The railroad had acquired 80 acres for a townsite, and by 1883 several businesses had been established. In 1895, the town of Ayrshire was incorporated.

Between 1880 and 1883, the McDonald name was changed to McDonnel. In the U.S. censuses from 1840 to 1880, the name was McDonald. The tombstones of Daniel and Eliza, who died in 1883, show McDonnel. The McDonald name appears in some records even into the 1950s. Sometimes the name was McDonnell.

Daniel Dies in 1883 at Age 69

WPA Survey     Find A Grave

Daniel McDonald/McDonnel died on July 30, 1883. He was buried at the Garton Burial Ground in Marathon, Fairfield Township, Buena Vista County, Iowa (now Smith Cemetery).

Tombstone for Daniel and Eliza Young McDonnell, Garton Burial Ground, Marathon, Fairfield Township, Buena Vista County, Iowa.

Eliza Widowed at Age 67

Iowa, 1883. Eliza was widowed at age 67 upon the death of her husband Daniel.

Eliza Dies in 1883 at Age 67

WPA Survey     Find A Grave

Eliza died on October 16, 1883, two and one-half months after her husband Daniel died. She was buried at the Garton Burial Ground in Marathon, Fairfield Township, Buena Vista County, Iowa (now Smith Cemetery). She had been a widow for two and a half months.

In the 1885 Buena Vista County census, James McDonnell was shown as a farmer in Section 4 of Fairfield Township, age 35 and born in New York, living with his daughter Clara McDonnell, age 8 and born in Buena Vista County. Living next to them were Arthur Garton, age 33 and born in Wisconsin, and Mary (McDonnel) Garton, age 32 and born in Wisconsin. In the 1900 U.S. Census, James McDonnell was divorced and living with his sister Mary and her husband Arthur Garton in Poland Township, Buena Vista County. In the 1920 U.S. Census, James McDonnel was widowed and living with his sister Mary and her husband Arthur Garton in the town of Marathon, Poland Township, Buena Vista County.

According to the 1895 Palo Alto County census, Edward and Alice McDonnel's children Edwin and Robert were born in Wisconsin in 1870 and 1872; Ella was born in Buena Vista County in 1877; and Mary, Lettie, and Arthur were born in Palo Alto County in 1880, 1885, and 1887. No religion was shown for the family except for Alice, who was shown as a Mormon.

In the 1900 U.S. census, Edward and Alice McDonald had a farm in Silver Lake Township, Palo Alto County, Iowa. Their children Robert, Mary, Leticia, Arthur, Edith, and Carl lived with them. Their son Edwin, who married Florence Virgil in February 1910, was not living with his parents.

In Silver Lake Township in 1908, Ed McDonnel had 80 acres in Section 33 and Ed McDonnel, Jr., had 80 acres in Section 21. The 1908 Patron's Reference Directory for Palo Alto County shows that Ed. McDonnel was a farmer and stockraiser in Section 33 of. Silver Lake Township, P.O. Ayrshire, since 1878. The 1954 Palo Alto County Farm Directory shows Carl McDonnel as a renter Section 33 of Silver Lake Township, Ayrshire Post Ofice 1. Many McDonnnels are buried in Silver Lake Cemetery in Ayrshire, Palo Alto County, Iowa (see Find A Grave and WPA records). Cathy Joynt Labath provided much of the information for Palo Alto County on her Celtic Cousins website.

In the 1910 U.S. census, Ed and Alice McDonald had a farm in Silver Lake Township, Palo Alto County, Iowa. Their children Robert, Letta, Arthur, and Carl lived with them.Edward and Florence McDonald had a separate farm in Silver Lake Township. Their son Merle lived with them.

In 1911, Edwin and Florence McDonnel moved to Lake Wilson, Murray County, Minnesota. In the 1920 U.S. census, Edward and Florence McDonald owned a farm on State Road in Lake Wilson Village, Chanarambie Township, Murray County, Minnesota. Their son Merle lived with them.

In 1922, James McDonnel died and was buried in the Poland Township Cemetery in Marathon Bena Vista County, Iowa. The WPA Survey says he was born in White Hall, was the son of Daniel and Eliza McDonnel, was the husband of Clara Thompson, and was the brother of Mrs. Mary Garton and Edward McDonnel.

In 1923, Edwin and Florence McDonnel and their son Merle moved to 420 Weber Avenue, Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Edwin was employed by John Morrell & Co. for 18 years before retiring in June, 1942. He attended the Methodist church. Many McDonnnels are buried in Hills of Rest Memorial Park there (see Find A Grave).

Daniel and Eliza: 7 children, 14 grandchildren, 7 great grandchildren

3rd Cousins

Daniel and Eliza Young McDonald/McDonnel and Selected Descendents

In 2005, Peter and Marilyn went to niece Heidi Varro's wedding in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. While there, they met Michael McDonnel, Marilyn's third cousin, once removed, who happens to live in Sioux Falls. In 2012, Michael had his Y-DNA tested. He is descended a group called Cenel Moain, a subset of Cenel Eoghain, a subset of Northwest Irish (M222). See: Deep Ancestry: Genealogy and DNA.