In the book's own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
Born 1806, Adair county
From History of Ray County, Mo. (1881)
RANDOLPH McDONALD.
Randolph McDonald was born in Adair county, Kentucky, October 7, 1806, and received his education and attained to his majority there, working on his father's farm. He was poor, and opportunities and advantages for young men were meager in the locality where he grew up, and at the age of twenty-eight years, he determined to leave Kentucky, and seek a home across the " Father of Waters," in the rich, productive lands of Missouri. Pie settled in Ray county, in the year 1835, and engaged in farming and stock-raising. By his untiring energy, unflagging industry, strict economy, and good management he has secured for himself a competency. He has a fine, large farm of five hundred and sixty acres of prairie and woodland, handsomely improved, well irrigated, and stocked with good herds of horses, cattle, hogs, and sheep. Mr. McDonald was married, in the state of Kentucky, in 1828, to Miss Locky Oxford, by John Gilbert, a minister of the Baptist Church. Mrs. McDonald was born in the year 1808, in North Carolina. The issue of this union was nine children, viz: Rosannah, born March 11,1832; Mary Ann, born November 23, 1833; Jeremiah, born October 16, 1835; Elizabeth, born August 28, 1837; William G., born August 29, 1838; Eliza Jane, born April 26, 1841; Sarah E., born February 28, 1844; Jacob Randolph, born July 6, 1845; Locky Emeline, born December 26, 1846. Rosannah, Mary A., and Louisa are dead. Mrs. McDonald died in the month of December, 1871, and her death was deeply mourned by her family and large circle of friends and relatives. Mr. McDonald is a leading member of the Baptist Church. He has never aspired to any public office, preferring the quiet walks of private life, and devoting his attention to his farm, and to the support, careful training, and proper education of his family. Mr. McDonald is a practical, successful farmer and business man, a good citizen, a consistent Christian, an agreeable gentleman, and he enjoys the universal esteem and respect of the people of his community.
As printed in History of Ray County, Mo. (1881). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
The printed record stops around 1881. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.