McDonald William C.

William C. McDonald

McDonald, William C., Born at Jordanville, N. Y., July 25, 1858; son of John and Lydia Marshall (Biggs) McDonald; educated in public schools in Herkimer County, in Casenovia Seminary at Casenovia; studied law in his native State; in 1880 was admitted to the bar at Fort Scott, Kans., and the same year came to New Mexico, locating in White Oaks; engaged in civil and mining engineering from 1881 to 1890; in 1881 he was appointed United States deputy mineral surveyor for New Mexico; in 1890 made manager of the Carrizozo Cattle Ranch Co., finally purchasing it as his own; operated his livestock under the “Bar W” brand; was in charge of the “Block” ranch, owned by the El Capitan Land & Cattle Co., one of the largest cattle companies in New Mexico; in 1885-1887 served as assessor of Lincoln County; 1891 member of the New Mexico Territorial House of Representatives; chairman of the board of county commissioners from 1885 to 1897; from 1905 to 1911 member of the New Mexico Cattle Sanitary Board, and in 1910 was chairman of the Democratic Territorial central committee; was elected the first Governor of the State of New Mexico, November 7, 1911, and was inaugurated at Sante Fe on January 14, 1912; served the State five years, retiring from office in January, 1917; fuel administrator for New Mexico during World War; personally administered the duties of this position until his death on April 11, 1918; married at Las Vegas, N. Mex., August 31, 1891, to Mrs. Francis McCourt, daughter of George D. and Matilda Jane (Wilcox) Tarbell; only child of the late governor is Frances, wife of Truman A. Spencer, of Carrizozo.
[Source: New Mexico, Mythology – tradition – history. U. S. Congress, Senate, Serial Set Vol No. 9210, Session Vol. No. 13, 71st Congress, 2nd Session, Dated May 13, 1930-Transcribed by C. Anthony]