LEWIS PLATO McDONALD
Birth: 1824
Death: Nov 1870
Lewis Plato McDonald, born 1824 in Arkansas, was one of the
earliest settlers of Parker County, and was on the list of petitioners that
established the county. He had a pre-emption 3rd Class Robertson
land grant of 280 acres on the Clear Fork of the Trinity, filed August 6, 1853.
Appearing as witnesses on this grant, were Isaac Gorman, Lewis’ father-in-law
of his second marriage, and a neighbor, J. L. Edwards. Lewis P. was listed on
the first county tax list of Parker County in 1856, and on the Tarrant County
tax list before that year with his Clear Fork property.
In 1854, Lewis P. married Elizabeth Allen, daughter of Rosalind and Richard F. Allen. She died in 1855, and he married again in 1856 to Ann B. Gorman, daughter of Isaac Gorman. Children of this marriage were Fountain Isaac, Martha Ellen, William E., Rebecca, and Mary. Lewis P. and wife, Ann B. were among the earliest members of the Christian Church in Weatherford, having been added to the membership between September 20, 1856 and June 1858. According to Lewis’ descendants, he helped haul the stone that was used in the building of this church.
Lewis P. McDonald and his wife, Ann, were listed on the 1860 Parker County census on which he was listed as a farmer, but he was also a proficient tanner. In the late 1860’s in Parker County, the Indians were such a menace on the Clear Fork that the McDonald family was forced to take refuge in Denton County. Ann Gorman McDonald had died in 1866, so Lewis P. married again in Denton County in 1867. His third wife was Mary C. Whillock Erwin, a widow, a widow with three sons of her own, Robert C., John W., and Oliver P. Mary C, born 1828 in Washington County, Tennessee, was the daughter of Debbie and James Whillock of Washington County, Tennessee and Dallas County, Missouri. Mary C. had married William Erwin in Missouri and they moved to Denton County, Texas before 1860.
In the latter part of 1869 or the early part of 1870, Lewis P. McDonald was preparing to move back to the McDonald homestead in Parker County when he was caught in a sudden rainstorm. Being in a weakened condition from a severe case of measles, he contracted pneumonia and died. He is buried in Denton County, Texas near Garza-Little Elm Lake. Children of this last marriage were Medora Elizabeth, who married Richard Howell, and James Lewis McDonald, born February 1879 posthumously, who later married Mary Jane Doyle of Parker County.
Mary C. Whillock McDonald eventually moved back to the McDonald homestead with her family where she farmed for many years. She died January 14, 1918, and is buried in the Clark Cemetery which is on the site of the original McDonald land grant.
Written by Wanda (Howell) Cope (great granddaughter of Lewis and Mary McDonald)
In 1854, Lewis P. married Elizabeth Allen, daughter of Rosalind and Richard F. Allen. She died in 1855, and he married again in 1856 to Ann B. Gorman, daughter of Isaac Gorman. Children of this marriage were Fountain Isaac, Martha Ellen, William E., Rebecca, and Mary. Lewis P. and wife, Ann B. were among the earliest members of the Christian Church in Weatherford, having been added to the membership between September 20, 1856 and June 1858. According to Lewis’ descendants, he helped haul the stone that was used in the building of this church.
Lewis P. McDonald and his wife, Ann, were listed on the 1860 Parker County census on which he was listed as a farmer, but he was also a proficient tanner. In the late 1860’s in Parker County, the Indians were such a menace on the Clear Fork that the McDonald family was forced to take refuge in Denton County. Ann Gorman McDonald had died in 1866, so Lewis P. married again in Denton County in 1867. His third wife was Mary C. Whillock Erwin, a widow, a widow with three sons of her own, Robert C., John W., and Oliver P. Mary C, born 1828 in Washington County, Tennessee, was the daughter of Debbie and James Whillock of Washington County, Tennessee and Dallas County, Missouri. Mary C. had married William Erwin in Missouri and they moved to Denton County, Texas before 1860.
In the latter part of 1869 or the early part of 1870, Lewis P. McDonald was preparing to move back to the McDonald homestead in Parker County when he was caught in a sudden rainstorm. Being in a weakened condition from a severe case of measles, he contracted pneumonia and died. He is buried in Denton County, Texas near Garza-Little Elm Lake. Children of this last marriage were Medora Elizabeth, who married Richard Howell, and James Lewis McDonald, born February 1879 posthumously, who later married Mary Jane Doyle of Parker County.
Mary C. Whillock McDonald eventually moved back to the McDonald homestead with her family where she farmed for many years. She died January 14, 1918, and is buried in the Clark Cemetery which is on the site of the original McDonald land grant.
Written by Wanda (Howell) Cope (great granddaughter of Lewis and Mary McDonald)
1856 map of north east Parker County showing the 282 acre Lewis P McDonald survey, which is also the site of Clark Cemetery.