MCDONALD, BERNARD JAMES 
Emerson, Nebraska Tri-City Press July 6, 1939

"B. J. McDonald, Dixon county pioneer and veteran businessman of Emerson, passed 
away in St. Joseph Hospital in Sioux City, Iowa late Friday afternoon, following an 
illness of three days. He became ill early Tuesday evening, suffering a stroke which 
paralyzed his left arm. He was removed to the hospital the next day, where everything 
possible was done, but to no avail.

Barney J. McDonald, a son of Daniel & Ellen McDonald was born at Galena, Illinois 
on July 6 , 1861 and died in Sioux City, Iowa on June 30, 1939, at the age of 78 
years, 11 months & 24 days. His death occurred just six days before his 79 birthday 
anniversary. While still a child, he moved with his parents to a homestead near 
Martinsburg. He spent his boyhood in that community, and at the age of 14 
went to Ponca to begin clerking at the J. M. Davey store. He was united in 
marriage to Ellen Burgess of Ponca in 1891. Two years later he came to Emerson 
and built the McDonald Hotel, which he owned and operated for 46 years. He had 
a wide acquaintance with traveling men in this territory, including 
Norfolk, Sioux City & Omaha.

Survivors include two daughters, Mrs. Ruth Ryan of Emerson and Mrs. Earnest 
Harrison of Lincoln; two sisters, Mrs. Mary Donlin of Ponca & Mrs. Nellie Eyler 
of Minneapolis, Minnesota; one brother James E. McDonald of San Antonio, Texas 
and six grandchildren. His wife preceded him in death on August 30, 1914. Three 
sons died in infancy and a fourth son , George Daniel died at the age of 9 months 
on Christmas Day, 1902.

Funeral services were held Sunday afternoon in the Demme Funeral 
Home, Reverend E. J. Appelbaum, pastor of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 
officiated. Sacred Heart choir, accompanied by Mrs. Mary Miller, pianist, sang two 
hymns. J. J. McCarthy of Ponca, an intimate friend of the family, read the obituary. 
Honorary pallbearers were W. C. Ryan, A. Weinandt, George H. & F. F. Haase, Ernest 
Enke and J. J. Sherlock. Active pallbearers were Jerry Sweeney, Dan F. Sheehan, J. M. 
Bannon, C. H. Dobbs, E. J. Way & M. D. Wagers. R. F. Demme and his staff had charge 
of the arrangements.

Interment was made in the family lot in the Catholic cemetery. Among the relatives 
attending the last rites were Mrs. Dan Donlin of Ponca; Mr. & Mrs. John Coughlin and 
daughters, and Michael & Joseph Mannion of Newcastle; Alta Donlin, Mrs. Mary McGuirk 
& Patrick McGuirk of Sioux City; M. Foley and daughter, and Mrs. J. Koch of Jackson, 
Mr. & Mrs. Earnest Harrison and Robert of Lincoln. Friends included, Mrs. J. Scollard 
and Irene, Mrs. Loretta Scollard, Mrs. John McShane, John Davey and J. J. McCarthy, 
all of Ponca, and Mr. & Mrs. Bernard Guinan of Walthill."

Card of Thanks
" We wish to express our sincere appreciation to neighbors and friends for the 
kindness and sympathy extended us during the illness and death of our beloved father."
Mrs. Ruth Ryan
Mrs. Earnest Harrison