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William McDonald was born in 1784 in Connecticut of two parents, but moved to Queensbury (the "Ridge") at age 8 with only his mother and brother. He returned to Connecticut to get a "good education," but again returned to Queensbury and became a penman (accountant) for his uncle, David Sandford. He was Town Clerk from 1802 - 03. He moved to Waterford, New York from 1808 - 1820 and ran a business there.(?) He returned to the Ridge area again in 1820 to run the mercantile in the old place. He was also Commissioner of Common Schools in 1820. He had married Jane Davis on January 16, 1809 and had eleven children. Jane Marie 1809 Francis Mary 1812 (died 4 yrs 2 months) Richard 1813 William 1815 (died 2 weeks) Mary 1817 (died 2 years) Leonard Gansevoort 1821 William H. 1823 Walter 1825 Julia 1826 Helen 1830 Edward 1836 In 1821 he was elected to the NYS Assembly and was re-elected in 1822, '23, and 1829. For his first re-election there were only 17 no votes. During his term of office, he secured the funds for the survey and appropriations for the construction of the Glens Falls Feeder Canal. The opening of the Canal brought prosperity to Glens Falls and made it part of the "Great American Canal Era." He opened the resources of the area and prepared it for the healthy development and growth of the great business center of Northern New York. The Canal was nicknamed the "Canal Under the Hill." Although he was ridiculed for the idea of the canal system, McDonald stuck with the unpopular idea and its success overcame the negative feeling that existed at the time. He was also president of the Commercial Bank which was to become the First National Bank, and more recently, the Evergreen Bank.
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Monument of William McDonald |
