Dr. John A. MacDonald was born May 16, 1886, in Bismarck, North Dakota. He attended public schools in Bismarck, graduating from high school in 1904, and during the following year attended a business college at Mankato, Minnesota. Dr. MacDonald continued his education at Milwaukee University in Wisconsin, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in 1907. Eventually, Dr. MacDonald took up medicine, and in 1913 he graduated with a Doctor of Medicine Degree from Marquette University in Milwaukee. Dr. MacDonald did his training as an intern at Milwaukee County Hospital, Milwaukee Maternity Hospital, and St. John’s Hospital in Fargo until 1915. Dr. MacDonald practiced in Grand Forks for a short time, before moving to Cando in 1916, where he continued to work as a surgeon, as well as a general practitioner, for the next 50 years.

Dr. MacDonald also performed the duties of city and county health officer. Dr. MacDonald was a member of the North Dakota and American Medical Associations, as well as the Lake Region Medical Association. During World War I, Dr. MacDonald performed the duties of medical examiner for the Towner County selective draft board.

Dr. MacDonald was married to Gladys V. Johnson in July of 1918, in Cando. They had two children, Donaldlene, born September 23, 1925, and John Jr., born November 22, 1928. Gladys died June 24, 1942. Dr. MacDonald remarried Dorothy McCarthy on February 10, 1945. The two adopted a daughter, Bernadette, in June of 1944.

Taken from History of North Dakota Vol. 2, (pg. 406-407) by Lewis Crawford.