I'm doing a quick transcription of the letters now, but I can already see many issues.  I will attempt to clean them up later. I believe the letter is written by a Kenneth M McDonald to a Capt John H Napier.

---

Maxwell AFB, Ala.

11 Feb 1962

Dear Mr. McDonald,

When I was home Xmas I meant to call you & ask you a question or two about your family history that interests me after having read two of the volumes of the history of the Methodist Church in Mississippi which refer to a Rev. Claiborne McDonald back in the last century. I was anxious to do your father a similar question but didn’t get around to it.

What brought it to mind was my meeting a Dr. Kenneth McDonald of Birmingham who preached at a meeting of the Ala. Society of the War of 1812. He asked me for some information which I sent him and I enclosed the enclosed letter since he mentioned your McDonald ancestor in the Mississippi Conference of the Meth. Histories. The Miss. Conf. of the Meth. 1817-39 by W. L. Harriwell, Parthenon Press, Nashville, 1957 perhaps you have Methodism in the Miss. Conf. 1810-1844 by W. B. Jones Parthenon Press, Nashville, 1951. The Rev. Claiborne McDonald as being located on the Bucatunna Circuit. I thought there might be a connection.

My interest in the subject is that there were three members of my father’s family active as Methodist ministers in the same period mentioned frequently in these books, all of whom were your putative ancestors in my father’s line from the McDonell line 1877. They were the Revs. Philip Knobman, Joseph Allen Napier (grandfather), & Chas Fox Gillaniel (G. Gillaniel).

There is so much coincidence and criss-cross among southern families that I was curious to know this Mr. McDonald who was associated with my ancestors, one of yours.

Sincerely,
John Napier
(John Hawkins Napier III Capt. USAF)

P.S. If you haven't bought these books you should get them.  I got mine from the Meth. Conference over in Jackson.

---

---

Capt. John H. Napier
Quarters 526 D,
Maxwell Air Force Base,
Montgomery, Ala

Dear Captain Napier:

It was both kind and thoughtful of you to send me the citation for my great-grandfather William McDonald who was a Corporal in the 15th Regt. of Miss. M. for the Militia of Co. Ferdinand Claiborne of Columbus. He promised to do so in a letter (to) after for these to receive them.

William McDonald (middle name Jackson) according to my father, middle initial "M", (both) remember that we were very little at the time (it) as I remember he, after going to Jackson's Miss. in Feb. 1863, (could/once) (about) the 2nd or 3rd Rept. had the opportunity of seeing in regular battle, the one which had at the time was at Columbus (even Ch. Col). I think William W. attended (Battle of the Holy Ala. River) a few miles west of Montgomery (or somewhere in between the two) and not only (was) to see us, but was (happy) to be able to say we were driving around at the port of Riv. (Poste Risca) and then (proceeded) to do so by taking me to (another) to Mr. C. as we could have (stopped) and have lunch on (both sides).

I have no (further) data on this. I assume William McDonald was present at the above battle, but in may (in) the (explanation of their) part of (the) service during that battle, photo-stated his record for non (work) had two battles. I know nothing of Hugh or Robert McDonald (or their relation) but I think I have seen them in printed records or have (Pub), (vary), (according to research.)

data (from my father & aunts) William McDonald had only a brother James who went west & was an early settler prob. in the period 1810-1860, and a sister Elizabeth whose g-granddaughter is the wife of Dr. Dentyser (Dentysier?), authority, Head of the Hospital in Selma, she had been for several years ago, my grandmother Wm. McD said to have been of Scottish use (after) by, Bill the Virginia By-Bridge, to have been in St. Stephens after. I have proof I think was (found) as per p12-13 (Green's name as having) (Scotch) prob. the only proof (Andrew papers in Greene Co, Ala. (chiefly) his wife, my g-g-mother, Elizabeth Perkins, dau. of John (H?) Perkins who seems to have been at the St. Stephens Merchants, (bought) is buried in Pratsville, Cem. d. 1878. Her will filed & recorded in Jeff.Co., CH. here. Her mother may(P?) have been a daughter of Moses Liddell. It seems probable that Wm. McDonald's mother may(P?) have been nee Julia Benson as this was (custom?) at the time, & on both sides (aunt) also of my g-father Wm. McD's sister Elizabeth mentioned above at Edinburgh is not McDonald a part of Scotland and it is possible that generation was stopped. McD. There were one or two more McD's, this in which Murhrew men. (to have seen list) although most of the Highlanders were Tartans (Mc) There were two groups (or families of McDonald) in which were 1800's was (Maj.) on Pine Log, Cherokee Co., Ga, and of the Tensas (Tengus?) R. in what is now Baldwin Co. (I broke/broke from) the Wm. lived there. He had sons John & Wm (believe) few had brothers, it’s unknown, as a McGarra, McGowins, a Sept. of McDonald clan. I have checked records up to (Hogland’s?) Baldwin Co. Ala, with positive results other than he seems to (sit) from John Perkins to his dau. Elizabeth & her husband Wm. McDonald (where stocks his goods at the day of marriage (Chatham, Wash. Co, Mrs. co. note. (Conf) and data found as said by Minette Baldwin Co. he was not both before the (cousins/causes) of the Northers of the N. with other Scots, families some from Va. settled in Miss. (Ms-G) from Georgia, then Wm lived in Miss. & Baker also resided & was a McDonald’s from Chicago. 1876.

These are g-g-grandfathers are to be related, are said to be gone, have been tried to go to McGowan, McGowins, but took wrong road (then) arrived.

The Col. Joseph Craig made them. My g-g-father Wm. McD was very interest in their letters in my cousin Joseph Craig. There were never (worked) letters from any in connection with the Rebuilding of Eufaula, Ala. Wm. McD was a family of McLeods, had business at Tensas connection. So the (?) was prob. John Wm. (Jr) In the Pines (Pine Log, Cherokee Co. G.) and (careers/learners?) The area being composed of several Co.’s (Wm. McD) of Jeff.Co (Jefferson Co.,) (Pine Log, Cherokee Co.?) there was to see him (burial). The records at (Jp’s) (Xl’s) Wm. Joseph’s sister of mine, are being dealt in Baldwin Co. and are (extracted?) & be called by this name to Josephine Bay Minette. One or two or three of (Wm.McD) family (settled) in the lower Miss. I have her letter to Wm. McD on the family (Nack/Nach). It is (complete), but she explained to me to have all the records transferred from (Grnville) to (C?) Ex. & (information) about the settlement of Baldwin Co. & (Moat/Moore) before (cut).

---