William McDonald was the son of James McDonald and Sarah Ferguson of Crawfords' Burn, County Down, Ireland. He was born in Ireland in 1805 and came to Utah October 15, 1850 with an ox team company. His family joined the church in 1841 in Ireland and he was baptized when he was 8 years old.
He married Sariah Jane Shirts December 10, 1853 at Cedar City, Utah. She was the daughter of Peter Shirts and Margaret Cameron of Cedar City, Utah (Utah Pioneers October 1, 1850 Ox Team Company).
Their children:
Jane, born October 19, 1854 married Thomas McNaughton;
Sarah Ann born March 3, 1856 married Brigham Jonathan Young;
William born Dec. 16, 1857 married Hannah Handberg;
Margaret Sariah, born Jan. 15, 1860 married Jonas Anderson and John Erickson;
James born Dec. 21, 1861 married Sarah Broadhead;
Mary born Feb. 1, 1864 married David Young, John Johnson, Charles Ludlow;
Eliza Ann born July 4, 1865 married John Blackley;
George, born Dec. 12, 1866 married Sarah A. Hamilton;
Olive born Aug. 20, 1868 died Aug. 1, 1869;
Nancy born April 11, 1870 married ?;
Frances born Dec. 6, 1871 married David Jones;
Joseph born Nov. 11, 1872 died Dec. 24, 1873;
Lucy (twin) born May 18, 1874 died. June 7, 1874;
Robert (twin) born May 18, 1874 died Aug. 1, 1874;
Fannie Lavina born Sept. 7, 1875 married Henry R. Cluff;
Ermina born Sept 2, 1876, died 12 October 1876;
Alma born Jan. 11, 1878 died Nov. 9, 1884 (age 6);
John born April 11 1879 died Oct. 23, 1879;
Lenora born Mar. 12, 1882 died Mar. 16, 1882;
Allilea born Sept 28, 1885 died Oct. 6, 1885.
These last five all died at home. They had 20 children and only 11 lived to adulthood. There was much sadness.
William also married Elizabeth Ann Shirts on November 3, 1865 in the Salt Lake Endowment House. She was he sister of his first wife, Sariah.
William was a high priest, ward teacher at Springville, Utah and appointed by Brigham Young to locate agricultural sections for settlements. He worked on the Nauvoo Temple. He was the first county treasurer of Wasatch County and Selectman of same county; a scout in Echo Canyon campaign; Veteran Walker and Black Hawk Indian Wars, farmer and stockman.
William also married Elizabeth Ann Shirts on November 3, 1865 in the Salt Lake Endowment House. She was he sister of his first wife, Sariah.
William was a high priest, ward teacher at Springville, Utah and appointed by Brigham Young to locate agricultural sections for settlements. He worked on the Nauvoo Temple. He was the first county treasurer of Wasatch County and Selectman of same county; a scout in Echo Canyon campaign; Veteran Walker and Black Hawk Indian Wars, farmer and stockman.