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In the last issue of this newsletter I recounted the story "Seeds From the Snow War" which you can find in the Summer 2006 issue. I told how I had this story published in a genealogical magazine and The Candian History Channel was interested in running a special on this tale. You may recall that before they ran the episode they wanted verification that Ken Mc Donald, grandson of Dougal, was indeed my cousin, they wanted DNA proof and I informed them that my mother was a Mc Donald but they could get a DNA sample from my cousin, Dick Mc Donald so that was what they did. I was excited by the fact that we would be on Candian TV.
They proceeded with the DNA analysis using Family Tree DNA, the number one genealogy DNA service. The process takes several weeks in a forensic lab but finally the results arrived and guess what?
Although Dick was a Mac Donald, Ken wasn't. Ken came from Swedish stock so he couldn's be descended from Dougal. It seems like the lady must have gotten her suitors mixed up, alas, no Mac Donald story on the "Ancestors in the Attic TV show.
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Scholarship Contest
Each year, Chestnutwood Business College of Santa Cruz sponsored a scholarship contest in the Hanford Journal. Three candidates were entered in the 1904 contest: Irwin McDiearan, Marion Hefton and our own Agnes McDonald. The first day's vote count was McKiearan 1200, Hefton 1800 and Aggie 64. Poor girl, she was off to a shaky start. Each day's paper carried a ballot readers could cut out and submit with their vote. Those first few days Agnes kept falling further behind. It was obvious the paper didn't want this to become a two man race, "Agnes McDonald will no doubt be polling a large vote soon as she has many friends who have promised her support." Winner of the contest would receive a six month scholarship to Chestnutwood College, a scholarship which would include "the commercial course in shorthand and typing, free."
By January 9, Aggie had fallen 2800 votes behind second place, Marion Hefton. By the 16th his lead was a 3000 vote margin. The gap was widening and the paper was worried as it stated: “It has been reported by someone (we hope not maliciously) that Agnes McDonald has withdrawn from the Hanford contest, she informs us that such is not the case and she is going to do her best to win. It is hoped that she will stay in the race for if she withdraws one of the prizes for Hanford will have to be taken down as there would then only be two contestants for two prizes.”
The contest would end March 1 and by February 1, our heroine was down by 4000 votes. The Journal reported: “Miss Agnes McDonald, a charming young lady of the capitol of Kings Co. was in Laton yesterday looking after votes in the journal scholarship contest. Miss McDonald is out after one of the scholarships offered to the contestants and if perseverance and hard work by herself and friends count she stands a good show of getting at the head of the list as the contest closes.” It appeared as if Agnes had a lot of family support. In early February, Letha Mott, Allen's wife to be, and Mrs. Lohse (sister Ellie) visited the contestant from their home in Estrella.
Toward the middle of February, it seemed as if Agnes might be closing the gap. On the 16th she was 6000 votes behind Marion, by the 17th the difference was 4000, 2000 on the 23rd, only 300 on the 25th and miracle of miracles, she was in second place by only 28 votes on the eve of the final day. When the final count was in, Agnes won second place, a $50 scholarship. She had surpassed Marion by 9000 votes, Go Auntie!! In her victory message that was reported in the paper Agnes thanked one and all: “I wish to thank each and every one who took such an interest on my behalf in the recent contest for the Journal scholarships and, although I did not receive first prize I feel just as thankful that one so deserving as Mr. McKiernan should receive it I also wish to state that every courtesy and act of kindness shown by Mr. Dewey and Miss Baker was fully appreciated by me.
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THE MAC DONALD CLAN IMMORTALIZED
I have recently reread late cousin Shyrle Hacker's book, "A Gold Miner's Daughter" and on the fly leaf she wrote a note, "I am so pleased with the family names appearing for a grain of mortality for each..."
Here are a couple of those passages:
Ann Williford was always AUNT Williford to all the cousins.This was significant as we were always taught to call the other aunts by their first names-Aunt Agnes, Mary, Bessie, Kitty, Tessie and-AUNT Williford.
She was slender, of mediam height and carried herself as if tightly corseted. Her personality too had a whalebone restraint. I believe she made a lonely life for herself by being one of those people whose quick tongues insult friends and relatives. I knew she loved her sister's children-all of them. She had none of her own. She lavished gifts on us, handmaid undergarments with embroidered initials and those regrettable dresses from City of Paris. She invited us for dinners and overnight visits, took us to Lehnharts and Pig N' Whistle for ice cream and pastries. Then she ended the day with a few sharp words that ruined it all.
I can hear the other aunts whispering, "Ann is in one of her moods, be careful.
Odly enough one way to annoy her was with a gift.
"I really don't need anymore hndkerchiefs."
Her voice would be curt. "Why don't you keep them for yourself?"
I was eight and five months that fall of 1918 and Mother and I had moved into the two-story house in Berkeley with the Willifords and Mother's younger sister, Aunt Mary. I stayed with Aunt Williford while Mother worked as a practical nurse during the epidemic of Spanish influenza. Aunt Mary worked for a travelers'aid in the San Francisco Ferry Building. She was in her twenties. I adored my younger aunt, who took time to play games or read to me in the evenings. She had a way of sharing glances with me to suggest that she and I were in alliance against the older generation. This usually happened when Aunt Williford made a sharp remark to either of us. Because of Aunt Mary's silent suggestion that we shrug off Aunt Williford's criticisms, I was less uncomfortable in that house than I would have bee.