William Madison McDonald
William Madison McDonald | |
---|---|
Chair of the Texas Republican Party | |
In office 1897–1898 | |
Preceded by | Norris Wright Cuney |
Succeeded by | Henry Clay Ferguson |
Personal details | |
Born | College Mound, Texas, U.S. | June 22, 1866
Died | July 5, 1950 Fort Worth, Texas, U.S. | (aged 84)
Political party | Republican |
Spouse | Alice Gibson |
Children | 1 |
Occupation | Politician, businessman |
William Madison McDonald (June 22, 1866 – July 5, 1950), nicknamed "Gooseneck Bill", was an African-American politician, businessman, and banker of great influence in
During this period, McDonald was also elected as top leader of two black fraternal organizations, serving as Grand Secretary of the state's black Masons for 50 years. In 1906 he founded Fort Worth's first African-American-owned bank as an enterprise of the state Masons; under his management, the bank survived the Great Depression.[1] The black chapters of Masons banked with him, McDonald made loans to black businessmen, and he became probably the first black millionaire in Texas.[2]
Early life and education
Named after
As a teenager, McDonald went to work for rancher and lawyer Captain Z. T. Adams, who took an interest in him. He began teaching the youth about business and law.
Career
After returning to Texas, McDonald served as principal of an African-American high school in
McDonald married Alice Gibson, who was a teacher at his school. McDonald helped organized a black state fair in North Texas.[1]
McDonald became active in the Republican Party and encouraged blacks to vote; he helped organize the party in Kaufman County and the region. In 1892, McDonald was elected to the Republican Party of Texas's state executive committee.[3] He was a power in state politics for more than thirty years, and became a leader of the "Black and Tan" faction, African Americans within the Republican Party. He teamed up politically with white businessman Ned Green of Fort Worth, the son of the wealthiest woman in America.[2] Green supported the "Black and Tan" faction in Republican internal struggles.[3][4]
At the
Through these years, McDonald had also been active in black fraternal organizations, which developed rapidly throughout Texas and the South after the war as blacks established independent networks. He was elected as the Supreme Grand Chief of the Seven Stars of Consolidation of America.[1] In 1890, he also joined the Prince Hall Freemasonry. In 1899 he was elected as Right Worshipful Grand Secretary of the African-American Texas Masons, a position that provided operating direction to the group. Under his leadership, the Masons developed several business enterprises: started "a cotton mill, published a magazine, offered insurance to members, and established a bank in Fort Worth."[1] He remained the Grand Secretary of the Texas Masons for 50 years.[4]
White Democrats regained power in the state legislature and passed laws making voter registration more difficult, requiring payment of
"Lily White" Republicans essentially drove the "Black and Tan" faction out of power in the party in 1900. McDonald and the Black and Tans temporarily regained power in 1912, before losing it again. McDonald continued to be a notable figure in the national Republican Party, however, attending many national conventions.[3]
McDonald turned his energies to business, though he retained an interest in politics. He moved to
Disappointed with Texas Republicans, McDonald increasingly exercised independence in supporting presidential candidates: favoring Progressive
McDonald died on July 5, 1950, in Fort Worth, where he was buried in Oakwood Cemetery. He was survived by his fifth wife. His only child, Harry Manack McDonald, had predeceased him by thirty years.[3]
Legacy and honors
In 2002, Forney, Texas, erected a historical marker to acknowledge native son McDonald and his achievements; its text includes the following: "Throughout his life, McDonald was a leader in the struggle for social justice, advocating persistence and civic and moral responsibility as the steps to equality."
References
- ^ ISBN 1-58544-350-6.
William Madison McDonald.
- Registration required. - ^ a b c d e f g h Jeff Mosier (February 29, 2008). "William Madison McDonald wielded wealth, power to help Fort Worth's black businesses". Dallas Morning News. Retrieved October 10, 2010.
- ^ a b c d e f "McDonald, William Madison". Handbook of Texas. Retrieved October 10, 2010.
- ^ a b c d e "William Madison McDonald". Forney Historic Preservation League. Retrieved October 10, 2010.
- ^ Douglas Hales, "Henry Clay Ferguson", Handbook of Texas Online, accessed December 14, 2013. Published by the Texas State Historical Association
- ^ African-American Pioneers of Texas: From the Old West to the New Frontiers (Teacher's Manual) (PDF). Museum of Texas Tech University: Education Division. p. 25.
Further reading
- Barr, Alwyn. Black Texans: A History of Negroes in Texas, 1528–1971 (Austin: Jenkins, 1973).
- Bundy, William Oliver. Life of William Madison McDonald, Ph. D. dissertation, Bunker (1925). ASIN: B00085TUVW
- Casdorph, Paul D. A History of the Republican Party in Texas, 1865–1965 (Austin: Pemberton Press, 1965).
- Glasrud, Bruce A. "William M. McDonald, Business and Fraternal Leader", Black Leaders: Texans for Their Times, ed. by Alwyn Barr and Robert A. Calvert, (Austin: Texas State Historical Association, 1981), pp. 83–112
- Rice, Lawrence D. The Negro in Texas, 1874–1900 (Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press, 1971).