Angus Alexander "Red Mac" McDonald

 

Another pioneer of Philipsburg was Angus Alexander McDonald, known as “Red Mac”. He was woven into all the fabric that created and helped Philipsburg survive. Angus came from a branch of the McDonald (MacDonald) family that emigrated from Scotland to Canada about 1775. 

Born August 15, 1842 in Alexandria, Glengary County, Ontario Canada, he came to Montana in either 1862 (obituary) or 1864 ( Pioneer Society). A.A. was successful in all of his endeavors, be it banking, ranching, mining or politics and he amassed a large fortune. His advice was sought after and valued. 

The first mining property I found him buying was in the monetary publications for Deer Lodge County in 1882: “February 6-John Ulery to Angus McDonald, for $850.50, undivided one-half of Mountain Boy Quartz Lode, undivided one-third of Ranchero Quartz Lode and undivided one-fourth Bowie Quartz Lode and undivided one-half Emerald Quartz Lode, all in Flint Creek Mining District. Sale made February 1.(New Northwest, March 10,1882). 

While collecting mining interests, A.A. built himself many enterprises and was always ready to develop new ones. In 1895 he went into partnership with L.C. Degenhart and Joseph J. Appel under the name of Flint Creek Meat Co. They opened a retail meat business on December 23, in the Hynes Building next to McLeod’s Shoe store. Ads in the Mail, stated they had a first class line of fresh, salted and smoked meats, consisting of beef, pork, veal, mutton, hams, bacon, poultry and fish; pickled and canned meats and dressed beef.. A.A. was the president, L.C. the treasurer and Joseph the manager. 

Articles in the Helena Independent in 1885, show where he was in Helena attending to business connected to the Diamond Hill Gold property, of which he was the principal owner. He had been offered $40,000 for the property, but would sell it for $200,000. Then in the same issue of the Helena Independent was an article stating: “Angus A. McDonald, a Philipsburg banker, is in the city today. His mission here is to meet a millwright from the coast whom he will let a contract for a forty stamp mill, which is to be erected on a gold proposition known as the Diamond Hill, in Indian or St. Louis Gulch…He has a small mill now working the ore, but finds it insufficient …The mine has been producing with this small mill as much as $400 a day” 

Angus and his wife bought the property owned by Northern Pacific Railroad in 1896 on Sansome Street and built the McDonald Opera House for a sum of $30,000. In 1916, I found where Otto Rinderknecht who had been in charge of the Opera House, surrendered management to Mrs. A.A. McDonald. The new manager was to be Angus Jr. Obviously this was A.A.’s nephew nicknamed “Sandy”, as Mr. and Mrs. McDonald did not have children. 

In 1889, A.A. was elected County Commissioner of Deer Lodge County and held that office until Granite County was created in 1893. At the closing of 1895, the Merchants’ and Miner’s Bank had capital of $50.000 with A.A. the president, F.J. Wilson vice-president, C.H. Eshbaugh cashier, C.E. Hymer assistant cashier and the Board of Directors were: M. E. H. Gannon, L.C. Degenhart, F.M. Durfee and August Greenheck. The assessed taxes in 1896 for the Merchant and Miners Bank were $784.86 and for A.A., as an individual they were $565.65. The Merchants’ and Miner’s National Bank went into receivership September, 1897 and the district court was presented the: “petition… to sell personal property. The property to be sold consists of the burglar proof safe and check punch, for which the H.I. Weinstein Company has made a bid of $508.00.” 

From about 1900 until his death, numerous articles state A.A. returned from a visit at his ranch on Willow Creek.. A.A. died April 2, 1910, at his home from pneumonia. Diagnosed with pleurisy one week prior, he became increasingly ill and when it was determined he had pneumonia, everything possible was done for the ill man, but to no avail. 

A. A. served as City Alderman, besides being the Mayor of Philipsburg and prior to his death had again been re-elected to the position of Mayor. He held membership in the Selish Tribe Improved Order of Red Men; Hellgate Lodge B.P.O.E.; the Montana Society of Pioneers and was a member of the Board of Managers for the Montana State Fair. Survivors were: his wife Susie, a niece and several nephews (not named in the obituary). The funeral was held at St. Philip’s Catholic Church and “was the largest ever seen in this city”. As a further mark of esteem, business houses throughout the city closed their doors during the funeral and everybody turned out to pay their respects. Unfortunately. I do not have any pictures of angus in my possession.