Michael Foy McDonald, the senior member of the law firm of McDonald & Chapman, and one of the strongest advocates of the bar of Sault de Ste Marie, is a native of Vermont, born in Rutland, 1858. His father was born in Scotland in 1830, and was brought to the United States by his father, Anthony McDonald, in his boyhood. After he had attained to years of maturity he married Catherine Foy, a native of Ireland, and they became the parents of ten children, nine of whom are yet living, namely: Michael F., of this sketch; Peter J., who is assistant superintendent of the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, of St. Louis, Missouri; Charles, of Brockport, New York; Francis T., Deputy Recorder of Sault de Ste. Marie; and five sisters who are living in Brockport, New York. The father of this family was a marble cutter by trade and followed that business for twenty years, when he removed with his family to western New York, where he engaged in farming.

Under the parental roof Michael F. McDonald spent the days of his boyhood and youth, and his early educational privileges were those afforded by the common schools. He engaged in teaching in Brockport, and then entered the Normal School of that place, pursuing a thorough course and graduating in the class of 1876. He also studied music during his younger years, becoming proficient in that art. When still a boy, however, he made up his mind to enter the legal fraternity, and to that end became a law student in the offlce of Jefferson Thomas, of Brockport, New York, where he acquired a familiarity with the rudiments of his chosen calling. He afterward pursued his studies in the University of Michigan, but left that institution ere he had completed his second term.

In August, 1884, Mr. McDonald found himself in Sault de Ste. Marie, then a little town of about 1,000 inhabitants. He was generally well educated, but had really no profession or calling which he could turn to account to earn a livelihood, unless perhaps it was that of music. His first undertaking here was as assistant editor of the Soo Herald, with which he continued his connection for some time. Later his old desire of entering the legal profession again took possession of him and he resumed his studies and was admitted to the bar on the 12th of February, 1891, at Lansing. Michigan, before Chief Justice Champlain of the Supreme Court. Soon, he opened an office in Sault de Ste. Marie and has since been prominently interested in the work of the bar. He has received a liberal share of the public patronage, for he soon demonstrated his ability to successfully conduct a case. He was counsel for the defendant in the celebrated Furman case, in which he obtained a new trial on the ground that the jury was not legally drawn, and succeeded in acquitting his client, in the May term of court of 1894. The choice of a life Work which he made during his youth proved a wise one, and his abilities, both natural and acquired, fit him for the law. He marshals all evidence, arranging it for the best and most effective use against his opponent, and his careful preparation of a case beforehand and his clear and convincing srgument at the time of trial have won him a leading position among the members of the fraternity in Chippewa county.

In 1890 Mr. McDonald was nominated by the Democracy for the office of City Recorder, and was elected by a majority of 200. When the time came to call again some one to that position, he was nominated and elected by 300 majority, and at his third election he received a majority of 216 votes. By virtue of his office he is secretary of the Board of Public Works and a member of the Board of County Supervisors, of which he was recently elected chairman. He has thus been prominently identified with the upbuilding of the city, and, public- spirited and progressive, does all in his power for the public welfare. In counection with his profession he is attorney for the Detour Lumber & Cedar Company and for Gettleman’s Brewing Company. Since April 9, 1895, he has been associated in practice with C. H. Chapman, founder of the News.

From the "Memorial Record of Northern Peninsula of Michigan 1895"