Alexander J. was born on December 4, 1841 in the Garden of Eden in Nova Scotia. His parents, John and Margaret (MacGregor) MacDonald, and siblings lived on an adjoining farm in the Garden of Eden on the north side of his grandparents William and Barbara.
On July 21, 1870, Alexander J. married Mary MacKay in East River, St. Marys, Pictou Co., Nova Scotia. Mary MacKay was a local lassie of Scottish descent from East River St. Marys.
Alexander J. and Mary both passed away in the Garden of Eden, Pictou Co., Nova Scotia. Alexander J. died on May 27, 1912 at the age of 71, and Mary died on November 23, 1925 at the age of 79.
Alexander J. and Mary (MacKay) MacDonald were the parents of John Alexander McDonald, a.k.a. “Grampa Jack.”
Robert MacDonald, Sr., son of “Grampa Jack and Granny Bell,” recalls never meeting either of his grandparents on his father’s side. However, at a young age he did see a photo of their grave stone and wondered why their last name was spelled “MacDonald” while his father spelled his name “McDonald.” The elder McDonald said that he just decided to drop the “a,” but that “MacDonald” was the original spelling. From then on both Robert and sister Ruth (McLeod) went by “MacDonald.”