HarryMcDonaldFamily

=Harry and Sarah (Baldridge) McDonald family=

Harry (b. 11 Jul 1822) was the son of Henry and Laura (Wallace) McDonald. Sarah (b. 1822) was the daughter of Robert and Susannah Baldridge.

Harry and Sarah were married in 1843, when they each were 20 years of age. The McDonald homestead house was expanded and they lived with his parents.

Harry worked closely with his father, Henry, in both their agricultural pursuits in the Oak Creek valley and in the regular freight runs, expanding theses over the years. Harry was particularly involved, from the early years, in the development, care and selection of the animals used in each of their business endeavors. Sarah was a full partner in each of Harry's activities as well as continuing a growing involvement, over the years, in the Baldridge agricultural and especially cattle raising activities.

Sarah did not have difficulties with her pregnancies as her mother-in-law had had. Sarah and Harry had a daughter, Caroline in 1843; sons, Thomas in 1845, Patrick in 1847, and Alex in 1849; followed by daughters Mahala, in 1852, and Rebecca, in 1855.

The Civil War played a big role in the life of this family. Their son, Patrick, joined the Rebels and they never heard what became of him. Their oldest son, Thomas, joined Union forces and died with many of his comrades at the Battle of Shiloh. Their youngest son, Alex, stayed with Henry McDonald in the Oak Creek valley during the war, living mostly in the caves along the ridge.

Harry, Sarah, Caroline, Mahala and Rebecca, escaped the valley during the war and lived in the Jefferson City area of the state.

In 1864, Caroline married her valley neighbor, Lewis Truesdale, during an authorized leave from his service in the Cavalry Regiment organized by his grandfather, Colonel Jake Patton.

In Jefferson City, Harry joined forces with Jacob Weston who also ran a freight line in central Missouri. Their combined Weston-McDonald Freight Line flourished providing war-time freight services. Following the war, Harry and Sarah, Mahala and Rebecca retained their residence near Jefferson City. Caroline and Lewis returned to the Oak Creek valley and worked closely with Daniel and Jane (Truesdale) McDonald in continuing their family agricultural and freight line interests there.