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 1838
From History of Ray County, Mo (1881)
W. G. McDONALD.
The subject of this sketch isa native of Ray county, Missouri, born August 29, 1838, and has lived in the same neighborhood in which he was born all his life, engaged in farming and stock-raising. Mr. McDonald owns a fine farm of four hundred acres, three hundred and forty acres of which are fertile, rolling prairie lands. This farm is well improved, and inclosed with strong fences. It is in an excellent state of cultivation, and is very productive. Mr. McDonald is also extensively engaged in raising fine breeds of live stock. He was married in Caldwell county, Missouri, in 1859, to Miss Caroline Kelmel, by Reverend John Turnadge, a Baptist minister. They are the parents of four children: L.S., born March 21, 1860; T. R., born August 21, 1862; W. W., born December 22, 1864;
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.