James M. McDonald
James M. McDonald was born in 1881 in Kingston, Mo., and, raised near Hamilton, Mo. As a young man, James was involved in his father’s mercantile business, the Cash-Cowgill chain of stores. James was a neighbor and an admirer of James Cash Penney (J.C. Penney) who, six years his senior, got involved in the mercantile business as well. Penney hired James to work for the Penney Company which eventually became the 1,700-retail-store giant of the late 20th century. James eventually became the head of purchasing and merchandising for the J.C. Penney Company in their New York corporate offices. He worked there for about 25 years before retiring and again dabbling into another retail chain.
In his adult years, James developed one of the finest registered Guernsey herds in the world: McDonald Farms of Cortland, N.Y. In 1925 he purchased a farm, equipment and a small group of Guernsey cattle. Over the next 10 years he amassed many more registered Guernseys and established a breeding program, which by most accounts was unequaled anywhere in the world.
From 1935 until his death in September 1956, James would cut a wide swath in this country at many major dairy shows including the National Dairy Show, where McDonald Farms have shown 30 champions and 110 blue ribbon winners. The herd also won the Premier Breeder award 11 times and Premier Exhibitor award seven times at the National Dairy Show.
James was very interested in the College of the Ozarks in his native state of Missouri and financially supported the college, eventually funding many of the buildings and other physical plant structures. His name is still visible around the campus due to continued funding through the J.M. McDonald Foundation. The student hospital and the nursing school facility, the Josephine Armstrong McDonald hospital, at College of the Ozarks is named after James’ wife, Josephine. The College’s administration building is named the McDonald Administration building indicating where the funding originated.
In his will, James bequeathed his 365-head Guernsey herd, equipment, and all farm property to Cornell University. His contribution to the purebred Guernsey breed is still unequaled and admired by many, even more than 60 years after his death.