Individual Details
Alva Lum McDonald
(16 Sep 1876 - 4 Jan 1942)
Former U. S. Marshal, State Politician, Dies
Alva McDonald Won Fame as the ‘Hard Tracker’
Obit -
January 4, 1942—El Reno, OK—The end of the trail came here Sunday for A l v a L. McDonald, who weathered four stormy years as United States Marsh a l f or the western district of Oklahoma to win the label “hard tracker” b e s towed grudgingly in the state’s criminal circles.
The Spanish-American and Philippines insurrection veteran, whose career a s a m a rshal from 1921 to 19325, might well have been labeled a chapter i n t h e “Passing of Oklahoma Outlaws,” fell dead as he entered the lobby o f a d o wntown theater building to attend Sunday school at l:30 am.
Death was due to a heart ailment.
State Resident Since 1901
He was born September 16, 1876, at Curdsville, Ky., and was graduated f r o m Hartford College, Kentucky in 1894. He served with the Seventh Cal i f ornia volunteers and later with the 31st infantry in the Philippines. I n t h e last 10 months in the Philippines he was military postmaster at Z am b onanga.
He came to Oklahoma in 1901, settling at El Reno and in 1905 was electe d a m e mber of the city council, serving as president of that body for t wo t e rms. In 1907 Theodore Roosevelt appointed him clerk of the third d is t rict federal court in Alaska and he was stationed at Fairbanks
After three years in Alaska he returned to El Reno and in 1912 was chos e a d e legate to the Republican national convention. He had been a dele gate t o s everal conventions since, including the 1940 enclave.
Bolted Republican Ranks
An old-time Republican of the state he was a personal friend of Theodor e R o osevelt and led the Bull Moose movement in this state as chairman o f t h e party in 1912. In 1928 he bolted Republican ranks to favor Al Sm it h .
McDonald was appointed marshal by President Harding. He was the old ty p e o f officer and went with his men on cases
Under his leadership a band of deputy marshals handled some of the most d i f ficult cases in the state’s history.
Weeks of painful work through the brush hills of the Osage country were m o r e attractive to him than the pleasant office of the marshal.
Beginning with the breaking up of the notorious Al Spencer gang, he per h a ps accomplished as much as any other man in the organized war on the b a n dit who terrorized the state in his day.
Mail Robbery Solved
He and his deputies played an important part in the running down of suc h m e n as Jeff Duree, the ghost bandit, Blackie Thompson, the Thayers, F ra n k Nash and a dozen others.
It was in the autumn of 1923 that the Okesa mail robbery was solved. Sp e n cer was slain and members of his gang arrested following week of McDo n a ld’s usual “hard tracker” tactics.
An outstanding feature of his officership was his investigation of the “ S h awnee reign of terror,” which accompanied the shops strike in the spr i n g of 1923. Twenty-three men, including high officials of the shops c r a ft, were implicated by McDonald in these disorders.
On one occasion he mounted the platform alone and told a strikers’ meet i n g of several thousand shop men what he thought of the incidents in Sh a w nee.
He withstood a constant political barrage while holding the post. Rumor s o f h is resignation or his removal from office occurred with regularit y f r om time to time. From each investigation he emerged unscathed.
Survivors include his wife; a son, Alva Ferguson McDonald, Fairview; a d a u ghter Mrs. Gordon Bierer, Guthrie, and two brothers and four sisters.
Arrangements are pending the arrival of relatives.
*********************************
Alva L. McDonald, was born in Curdsville, Kentucky on 16 September 1876 , t o H iram C. and Sarah (Brogan) McDonald. He attended Hartsford Colleg e a n d graduated in 1894. He was a Veteran of The Spanish-American war a nd l a ter served in the Philippine Insurrection. Serving 37 months in th e P h ilippines as a member of the 37th California Volunteers and the 131 st I n fantry Regiment, during the last 8 months he served as military po stm a ster in Zamboanga, Mindanao Island.
He came to EL Reno, Oklahoma Territory in 1901 and on 27 November 1902, m a r ried Scottie Bell Barker.
Being elected to the El Reno, City Council in 1905, he served as Presid e n t for two terms. Alva moved to Fairbanks, Alaska in 1907, being appoi n t ed as Clerk of the Federal District Court in Fairbanks by President T h e odore Roosevelt. He returned to his home in El Reno in 1911. He was a p e r sonal friend of Theodore Roosevelt.
During the Bull Moose Movement of 1912, he led the movement in Oklahoma a s C h airman of the party. He was elected a delegate for The National Con ve n tion in 1912 and served as a delegate at most of the Republican Conv e n tions, until his death on 4 January 1942.
Appointed as United States Marshal of the western district of Oklahoma o n 2 8 J uly 1921, by President Warren G. Harding. Marshal Alva L. McDonal d, w a s known by law enforcement and outlaws as a "Hard Tracker" His agg res s ive campaign against the outlaws brought many enemies, Several atte mp t s were made on his life and on several occasions attempts were made t o f o rce him out of office. Despite all this, he managed to complete his f o u r year term with the distinction of having been the nemesis of the ba n d its and outlaws of Oklahoma in that era.
During his career as an officer, his investigation of "The Shawnee Reig n O f T error" uncovered and implicated twenty three men, including high o f fi cials of the railroad shops unions. Under the leadership of Marshal M c D onald, several of the states bank bandits and train robbers were arre s t ed and sent to the penitentiary.
One of those arrested were Jeff Duree, who was known as a ghost bandit f o r h is habit of carting off steel safes from country banks. Then at som e d i stance, he would clean them out. However, contrary to his dubbed ti tl e , he was arrested for his participation in a train robbery. Marshal M c D onald, happened to think this man was innocent. Duree, was convicted t o a t w enty five year sentence in federal prison. After he was released, A lv a M cDonald helped him obtain a job and apparently the experiment fail e d a s Duree was again arrested and at that time, Alva McDonald was agai n c o nvinced that he was not involved and had been "set up". Duree was a ga i n sentenced to federal prison in 1940.
On 20th of August 1923, the MKT train had been robbed by the Al Spencer g a n g, near Okesa, Oklahoma. Within a few weeks, there had been eleven ar r e st made in connection. The eleventh arrest, was that of George "White y " F allon. He had been taken first to the jail in Pawhuska, Oklahoma an d t h ereon to Oklahoma City.
On a tip, McDonald learned that one of the suspects was to meet Al Spen c e r on a dirt road in Osage , near the Kansas border to get his s h a re of the Katy train loot. Marshal Alva L. McDonald and Postal Inspec t o r Jack Adamson, of Kansas City led the band of men who brought the ab r u pt end to the life of AL Spencer.
Saturday night, the 15th of September 1923, Marshal Alva L. McDonald an d t h e band of men that totaled thirteen met and lined the lonely dirt r oa d a t a point where Al Spencer was thought to be crossing. They laid w a it , it was cold and raining and at some time after midnight Al Spencer w a s s potted crossing the road and a command was hollered, and apparently A l S p encer raised his Winchester riffle to fire, when part of the band o f m e n responded with their own guns, killing Al Spencer.
Other bandits that were later captured were Frank "Jelly" Nash, Blackie T h o mpson and many others.
Marshal Alva McDonald was considered one of the most active Marshals in O k l ahoma's history. After he served his four year term, he continued to p l a y an active role in the state's politics
-- MERGED NOTE ------------
Former U. S. Marshal, State Politician, Dies
Alva McDonald Won Fame as the ‘Hard Tracker’
Obit -
January 4, 1942—El Reno, OK—The end of the trail came here Sunday for A l v a L. McDonald, who weathered four stormy years as United States Marsh a l f or the western district of Oklahoma to win the label “hard tracker” b e s towed grudgingly in the state’s criminal circles.
The Spanish-American and Philippines insurrection veteran, whose career a s a m a rshal from 1921 to 19325, might well have been labeled a chapter i n t h e “Passing of Oklahoma Outlaws,” fell dead as he entered the lobby o f a d o wntown theater building to attend Sunday school at l:30 am.
Death was due to a heart ailment.
State Resident Since 1901
He was born September 16, 1876, at Curdsville, Ky., and was graduated f r o m Hartford College, Kentucky in 1894. He served with the Seventh Cal i f ornia volunteers and later with the 31st infantry in the Philippines. I n t h e last 10 months in the Philippines he was military postmaster at Z am b onanga.
He came to Oklahoma in 1901, settling at El Reno and in 1905 was electe d a m e mber of the city council, serving as president of that body for t wo t e rms. In 1907 Theodore Roosevelt appointed him clerk of the third d is t rict federal court in Alaska and he was stationed at Fairbanks
After three years in Alaska he returned to El Reno and in 1912 was chos e a d e legate to the Republican national convention. He had been a dele gate t o s everal conventions since, including the 1940 enclave.
Bolted Republican Ranks
An old-time Republican of the state he was a personal friend of Theodor e R o osevelt and led the Bull Moose movement in this state as chairman o f t h e party in 1912. In 1928 he bolted Republican ranks to favor Al Sm it h .
McDonald was appointed marshal by President Harding. He was the old ty p e o f officer and went with his men on cases
Under his leadership a band of deputy marshals handled some of the most d i f ficult cases in the state’s history.
Weeks of painful work through the brush hills of the Osage country were m o r e attractive to him than the pleasant office of the marshal.
Beginning with the breaking up of the notorious Al Spencer gang, he per h a ps accomplished as much as any other man in the organized war on the b a n dit who terrorized the state in his day.
Mail Robbery Solved
He and his deputies played an important part in the running down of suc h m e n as Jeff Duree, the ghost bandit, Blackie Thompson, the Thayers, F ra n k Nash and a dozen others.
It was in the autumn of 1923 that the Okesa mail robbery was solved. Sp e n cer was slain and members of his gang arrested following week of McDo n a ld’s usual “hard tracker” tactics.
An outstanding feature of his officership was his investigation of the “ S h awnee reign of terror,” which accompanied the shops strike in the spr i n g of 1923. Twenty-three men, including high officials of the shops c r a ft, were implicated by McDonald in these disorders.
On one occasion he mounted the platform alone and told a strikers’ meet i n g of several thousand shop men what he thought of the incidents in Sh a w nee.
He withstood a constant political barrage while holding the post. Rumor s o f h is resignation or his removal from office occurred with regularit y f r om time to time. From each investigation he emerged unscathed.
Survivors include his wife; a son, Alva Ferguson McDonald, Fairview; a d a u ghter Mrs. Gordon Bierer, Guthrie, and two brothers and four sisters.
Arrangements are pending the arrival of relatives.
*********************************
Alva L. McDonald, was born in Curdsville, Kentucky on 16 September 1876 , t o H iram C. and Sarah (Brogan) McDonald. He attended Hartsford Colleg e a n d graduated in 1894. He was a Veteran of The Spanish-American war a nd l a ter served in the Philippine Insurrection. Serving 37 months in th e P h ilippines as a member of the 37th California Volunteers and the 131 st I n fantry Regiment, during the last 8 months he served as military po stm a ster in Zamboanga, Mindanao Island.
He came to EL Reno, Oklahoma Territory in 1901 and on 27 November 1902, m a r ried Scottie Bell Barker.
Being elected to the El Reno, City Council in 1905, he served as Presid e n t for two terms. Alva moved to Fairbanks, Alaska in 1907, being appoi n t ed as Clerk of the Federal District Court in Fairbanks by President T h e odore Roosevelt. He returned to his home in El Reno in 1911. He was a p e r sonal friend of Theodore Roosevelt.
During the Bull Moose Movement of 1912, he led the movement in Oklahoma a s C h airman of the party. He was elected a delegate for The National Con ve n tion in 1912 and served as a delegate at most of the Republican Conv e n tions, until his death on 4 January 1942.
Appointed as United States Marshal of the western district of Oklahoma o n 2 8 J uly 1921, by President Warren G. Harding. Marshal Alva L. McDonal d, w a s known by law enforcement and outlaws as a "Hard Tracker" His agg res s ive campaign against the outlaws brought many enemies, Several atte mp t s were made on his life and on several occasions attempts were made t o f o rce him out of office. Despite all this, he managed to complete his f o u r year term with the distinction of having been the nemesis of the ba n d its and outlaws of Oklahoma in that era.
During his career as an officer, his investigation of "The Shawnee Reig n O f T error" uncovered and implicated twenty three men, including high o f fi cials of the railroad shops unions. Under the leadership of Marshal M c D onald, several of the states bank bandits and train robbers were arre s t ed and sent to the penitentiary.
One of those arrested were Jeff Duree, who was known as a ghost bandit f o r h is habit of carting off steel safes from country banks. Then at som e d i stance, he would clean them out. However, contrary to his dubbed ti tl e , he was arrested for his participation in a train robbery. Marshal M c D onald, happened to think this man was innocent. Duree, was convicted t o a t w enty five year sentence in federal prison. After he was released, A lv a M cDonald helped him obtain a job and apparently the experiment fail e d a s Duree was again arrested and at that time, Alva McDonald was agai n c o nvinced that he was not involved and had been "set up". Duree was a ga i n sentenced to federal prison in 1940.
On 20th of August 1923, the MKT train had been robbed by the Al Spencer g a n g, near Okesa, Oklahoma. Within a few weeks, there had been eleven ar r e st made in connection. The eleventh arrest, was that of George "White y " F allon. He had been taken first to the jail in Pawhuska, Oklahoma an d t h ereon to Oklahoma City.
On a tip, McDonald learned that one of the suspects was to meet Al Spen c e r on a dirt road in Osage , near the Kansas border to get his s h a re of the Katy train loot. Marshal Alva L. McDonald and Postal Inspec t o r Jack Adamson, of Kansas City led the band of men who brought the ab r u pt end to the life of AL Spencer.
Saturday night, the 15th of September 1923, Marshal Alva L. McDonald an d t h e band of men that totaled thirteen met and lined the lonely dirt r oa d a t a point where Al Spencer was thought to be crossing. They laid w a it , it was cold and raining and at some time after midnight Al Spencer w a s s potted crossing the road and a command was hollered, and apparently A l S p encer raised his Winchester riffle to fire, when part of the band o f m e n responded with their own guns, killing Al Spencer.
Other bandits that were later captured were Frank "Jelly" Nash, Blackie T h o mpson and many others.
Marshal Alva McDonald was considered one of the most active Marshals in O k l ahoma's history. After he served his four year term, he continued to p l a y an active role in the state's politics
Alva McDonald Won Fame as the ‘Hard Tracker’
Obit -
January 4, 1942—El Reno, OK—The end of the trail came here Sunday for A l v a L. McDonald, who weathered four stormy years as United States Marsh a l f or the western district of Oklahoma to win the label “hard tracker” b e s towed grudgingly in the state’s criminal circles.
The Spanish-American and Philippines insurrection veteran, whose career a s a m a rshal from 1921 to 19325, might well have been labeled a chapter i n t h e “Passing of Oklahoma Outlaws,” fell dead as he entered the lobby o f a d o wntown theater building to attend Sunday school at l:30 am.
Death was due to a heart ailment.
State Resident Since 1901
He was born September 16, 1876, at Curdsville, Ky., and was graduated f r o m Hartford College, Kentucky in 1894. He served with the Seventh Cal i f ornia volunteers and later with the 31st infantry in the Philippines. I n t h e last 10 months in the Philippines he was military postmaster at Z am b onanga.
He came to Oklahoma in 1901, settling at El Reno and in 1905 was electe d a m e mber of the city council, serving as president of that body for t wo t e rms. In 1907 Theodore Roosevelt appointed him clerk of the third d is t rict federal court in Alaska and he was stationed at Fairbanks
After three years in Alaska he returned to El Reno and in 1912 was chos e a d e legate to the Republican national convention. He had been a dele gate t o s everal conventions since, including the 1940 enclave.
Bolted Republican Ranks
An old-time Republican of the state he was a personal friend of Theodor e R o osevelt and led the Bull Moose movement in this state as chairman o f t h e party in 1912. In 1928 he bolted Republican ranks to favor Al Sm it h .
McDonald was appointed marshal by President Harding. He was the old ty p e o f officer and went with his men on cases
Under his leadership a band of deputy marshals handled some of the most d i f ficult cases in the state’s history.
Weeks of painful work through the brush hills of the Osage country were m o r e attractive to him than the pleasant office of the marshal.
Beginning with the breaking up of the notorious Al Spencer gang, he per h a ps accomplished as much as any other man in the organized war on the b a n dit who terrorized the state in his day.
Mail Robbery Solved
He and his deputies played an important part in the running down of suc h m e n as Jeff Duree, the ghost bandit, Blackie Thompson, the Thayers, F ra n k Nash and a dozen others.
It was in the autumn of 1923 that the Okesa mail robbery was solved. Sp e n cer was slain and members of his gang arrested following week of McDo n a ld’s usual “hard tracker” tactics.
An outstanding feature of his officership was his investigation of the “ S h awnee reign of terror,” which accompanied the shops strike in the spr i n g of 1923. Twenty-three men, including high officials of the shops c r a ft, were implicated by McDonald in these disorders.
On one occasion he mounted the platform alone and told a strikers’ meet i n g of several thousand shop men what he thought of the incidents in Sh a w nee.
He withstood a constant political barrage while holding the post. Rumor s o f h is resignation or his removal from office occurred with regularit y f r om time to time. From each investigation he emerged unscathed.
Survivors include his wife; a son, Alva Ferguson McDonald, Fairview; a d a u ghter Mrs. Gordon Bierer, Guthrie, and two brothers and four sisters.
Arrangements are pending the arrival of relatives.
*********************************
Alva L. McDonald, was born in Curdsville, Kentucky on 16 September 1876 , t o H iram C. and Sarah (Brogan) McDonald. He attended Hartsford Colleg e a n d graduated in 1894. He was a Veteran of The Spanish-American war a nd l a ter served in the Philippine Insurrection. Serving 37 months in th e P h ilippines as a member of the 37th California Volunteers and the 131 st I n fantry Regiment, during the last 8 months he served as military po stm a ster in Zamboanga, Mindanao Island.
He came to EL Reno, Oklahoma Territory in 1901 and on 27 November 1902, m a r ried Scottie Bell Barker.
Being elected to the El Reno, City Council in 1905, he served as Presid e n t for two terms. Alva moved to Fairbanks, Alaska in 1907, being appoi n t ed as Clerk of the Federal District Court in Fairbanks by President T h e odore Roosevelt. He returned to his home in El Reno in 1911. He was a p e r sonal friend of Theodore Roosevelt.
During the Bull Moose Movement of 1912, he led the movement in Oklahoma a s C h airman of the party. He was elected a delegate for The National Con ve n tion in 1912 and served as a delegate at most of the Republican Conv e n tions, until his death on 4 January 1942.
Appointed as United States Marshal of the western district of Oklahoma o n 2 8 J uly 1921, by President Warren G. Harding. Marshal Alva L. McDonal d, w a s known by law enforcement and outlaws as a "Hard Tracker" His agg res s ive campaign against the outlaws brought many enemies, Several atte mp t s were made on his life and on several occasions attempts were made t o f o rce him out of office. Despite all this, he managed to complete his f o u r year term with the distinction of having been the nemesis of the ba n d its and outlaws of Oklahoma in that era.
During his career as an officer, his investigation of "The Shawnee Reig n O f T error" uncovered and implicated twenty three men, including high o f fi cials of the railroad shops unions. Under the leadership of Marshal M c D onald, several of the states bank bandits and train robbers were arre s t ed and sent to the penitentiary.
One of those arrested were Jeff Duree, who was known as a ghost bandit f o r h is habit of carting off steel safes from country banks. Then at som e d i stance, he would clean them out. However, contrary to his dubbed ti tl e , he was arrested for his participation in a train robbery. Marshal M c D onald, happened to think this man was innocent. Duree, was convicted t o a t w enty five year sentence in federal prison. After he was released, A lv a M cDonald helped him obtain a job and apparently the experiment fail e d a s Duree was again arrested and at that time, Alva McDonald was agai n c o nvinced that he was not involved and had been "set up". Duree was a ga i n sentenced to federal prison in 1940.
On 20th of August 1923, the MKT train had been robbed by the Al Spencer g a n g, near Okesa, Oklahoma. Within a few weeks, there had been eleven ar r e st made in connection. The eleventh arrest, was that of George "White y " F allon. He had been taken first to the jail in Pawhuska, Oklahoma an d t h ereon to Oklahoma City.
On a tip, McDonald learned that one of the suspects was to meet Al Spen c e r on a dirt road in Osage , near the Kansas border to get his s h a re of the Katy train loot. Marshal Alva L. McDonald and Postal Inspec t o r Jack Adamson, of Kansas City led the band of men who brought the ab r u pt end to the life of AL Spencer.
Saturday night, the 15th of September 1923, Marshal Alva L. McDonald an d t h e band of men that totaled thirteen met and lined the lonely dirt r oa d a t a point where Al Spencer was thought to be crossing. They laid w a it , it was cold and raining and at some time after midnight Al Spencer w a s s potted crossing the road and a command was hollered, and apparently A l S p encer raised his Winchester riffle to fire, when part of the band o f m e n responded with their own guns, killing Al Spencer.
Other bandits that were later captured were Frank "Jelly" Nash, Blackie T h o mpson and many others.
Marshal Alva McDonald was considered one of the most active Marshals in O k l ahoma's history. After he served his four year term, he continued to p l a y an active role in the state's politics
-- MERGED NOTE ------------
Former U. S. Marshal, State Politician, Dies
Alva McDonald Won Fame as the ‘Hard Tracker’
Obit -
January 4, 1942—El Reno, OK—The end of the trail came here Sunday for A l v a L. McDonald, who weathered four stormy years as United States Marsh a l f or the western district of Oklahoma to win the label “hard tracker” b e s towed grudgingly in the state’s criminal circles.
The Spanish-American and Philippines insurrection veteran, whose career a s a m a rshal from 1921 to 19325, might well have been labeled a chapter i n t h e “Passing of Oklahoma Outlaws,” fell dead as he entered the lobby o f a d o wntown theater building to attend Sunday school at l:30 am.
Death was due to a heart ailment.
State Resident Since 1901
He was born September 16, 1876, at Curdsville, Ky., and was graduated f r o m Hartford College, Kentucky in 1894. He served with the Seventh Cal i f ornia volunteers and later with the 31st infantry in the Philippines. I n t h e last 10 months in the Philippines he was military postmaster at Z am b onanga.
He came to Oklahoma in 1901, settling at El Reno and in 1905 was electe d a m e mber of the city council, serving as president of that body for t wo t e rms. In 1907 Theodore Roosevelt appointed him clerk of the third d is t rict federal court in Alaska and he was stationed at Fairbanks
After three years in Alaska he returned to El Reno and in 1912 was chos e a d e legate to the Republican national convention. He had been a dele gate t o s everal conventions since, including the 1940 enclave.
Bolted Republican Ranks
An old-time Republican of the state he was a personal friend of Theodor e R o osevelt and led the Bull Moose movement in this state as chairman o f t h e party in 1912. In 1928 he bolted Republican ranks to favor Al Sm it h .
McDonald was appointed marshal by President Harding. He was the old ty p e o f officer and went with his men on cases
Under his leadership a band of deputy marshals handled some of the most d i f ficult cases in the state’s history.
Weeks of painful work through the brush hills of the Osage country were m o r e attractive to him than the pleasant office of the marshal.
Beginning with the breaking up of the notorious Al Spencer gang, he per h a ps accomplished as much as any other man in the organized war on the b a n dit who terrorized the state in his day.
Mail Robbery Solved
He and his deputies played an important part in the running down of suc h m e n as Jeff Duree, the ghost bandit, Blackie Thompson, the Thayers, F ra n k Nash and a dozen others.
It was in the autumn of 1923 that the Okesa mail robbery was solved. Sp e n cer was slain and members of his gang arrested following week of McDo n a ld’s usual “hard tracker” tactics.
An outstanding feature of his officership was his investigation of the “ S h awnee reign of terror,” which accompanied the shops strike in the spr i n g of 1923. Twenty-three men, including high officials of the shops c r a ft, were implicated by McDonald in these disorders.
On one occasion he mounted the platform alone and told a strikers’ meet i n g of several thousand shop men what he thought of the incidents in Sh a w nee.
He withstood a constant political barrage while holding the post. Rumor s o f h is resignation or his removal from office occurred with regularit y f r om time to time. From each investigation he emerged unscathed.
Survivors include his wife; a son, Alva Ferguson McDonald, Fairview; a d a u ghter Mrs. Gordon Bierer, Guthrie, and two brothers and four sisters.
Arrangements are pending the arrival of relatives.
*********************************
Alva L. McDonald, was born in Curdsville, Kentucky on 16 September 1876 , t o H iram C. and Sarah (Brogan) McDonald. He attended Hartsford Colleg e a n d graduated in 1894. He was a Veteran of The Spanish-American war a nd l a ter served in the Philippine Insurrection. Serving 37 months in th e P h ilippines as a member of the 37th California Volunteers and the 131 st I n fantry Regiment, during the last 8 months he served as military po stm a ster in Zamboanga, Mindanao Island.
He came to EL Reno, Oklahoma Territory in 1901 and on 27 November 1902, m a r ried Scottie Bell Barker.
Being elected to the El Reno, City Council in 1905, he served as Presid e n t for two terms. Alva moved to Fairbanks, Alaska in 1907, being appoi n t ed as Clerk of the Federal District Court in Fairbanks by President T h e odore Roosevelt. He returned to his home in El Reno in 1911. He was a p e r sonal friend of Theodore Roosevelt.
During the Bull Moose Movement of 1912, he led the movement in Oklahoma a s C h airman of the party. He was elected a delegate for The National Con ve n tion in 1912 and served as a delegate at most of the Republican Conv e n tions, until his death on 4 January 1942.
Appointed as United States Marshal of the western district of Oklahoma o n 2 8 J uly 1921, by President Warren G. Harding. Marshal Alva L. McDonal d, w a s known by law enforcement and outlaws as a "Hard Tracker" His agg res s ive campaign against the outlaws brought many enemies, Several atte mp t s were made on his life and on several occasions attempts were made t o f o rce him out of office. Despite all this, he managed to complete his f o u r year term with the distinction of having been the nemesis of the ba n d its and outlaws of Oklahoma in that era.
During his career as an officer, his investigation of "The Shawnee Reig n O f T error" uncovered and implicated twenty three men, including high o f fi cials of the railroad shops unions. Under the leadership of Marshal M c D onald, several of the states bank bandits and train robbers were arre s t ed and sent to the penitentiary.
One of those arrested were Jeff Duree, who was known as a ghost bandit f o r h is habit of carting off steel safes from country banks. Then at som e d i stance, he would clean them out. However, contrary to his dubbed ti tl e , he was arrested for his participation in a train robbery. Marshal M c D onald, happened to think this man was innocent. Duree, was convicted t o a t w enty five year sentence in federal prison. After he was released, A lv a M cDonald helped him obtain a job and apparently the experiment fail e d a s Duree was again arrested and at that time, Alva McDonald was agai n c o nvinced that he was not involved and had been "set up". Duree was a ga i n sentenced to federal prison in 1940.
On 20th of August 1923, the MKT train had been robbed by the Al Spencer g a n g, near Okesa, Oklahoma. Within a few weeks, there had been eleven ar r e st made in connection. The eleventh arrest, was that of George "White y " F allon. He had been taken first to the jail in Pawhuska, Oklahoma an d t h ereon to Oklahoma City.
On a tip, McDonald learned that one of the suspects was to meet Al Spen c e r on a dirt road in Osage , near the Kansas border to get his s h a re of the Katy train loot. Marshal Alva L. McDonald and Postal Inspec t o r Jack Adamson, of Kansas City led the band of men who brought the ab r u pt end to the life of AL Spencer.
Saturday night, the 15th of September 1923, Marshal Alva L. McDonald an d t h e band of men that totaled thirteen met and lined the lonely dirt r oa d a t a point where Al Spencer was thought to be crossing. They laid w a it , it was cold and raining and at some time after midnight Al Spencer w a s s potted crossing the road and a command was hollered, and apparently A l S p encer raised his Winchester riffle to fire, when part of the band o f m e n responded with their own guns, killing Al Spencer.
Other bandits that were later captured were Frank "Jelly" Nash, Blackie T h o mpson and many others.
Marshal Alva McDonald was considered one of the most active Marshals in O k l ahoma's history. After he served his four year term, he continued to p l a y an active role in the state's politics
Events
| Birth | 16 Sep 1876 | Curdsville, Daviess, Kentucky, United States | |||
| Residence | 1880 | Curdsville, Daviess, Kentucky, United States | |||
| Residence | 1900 | Cotabato, Philippines | |||
| Marriage | 2 Nov 1902 | Scottie Belle Barker | |||
| Residence | Bet 1917 and 1918 | Canadian, Oklahoma, United States | |||
| Residence | 1920 | El Reno, Canadian, Oklahoma, United States | |||
| Residence | 1930 | El Reno, Canadian, Oklahoma, United States | |||
| Residence | 1935 | El Reno, Canadian, Oklahoma, United States | |||
| Residence | 1 Apr 1940 | El Reno, Canadian, Oklahoma, United States | |||
| Death | 4 Jan 1942 | El Reno, Canadian, Oklahoma, United States | |||
| Burial | El Reno, Canadian, Oklahoma, United States |
Families
| Spouse | Scottie Belle Barker (1883 - 1974) |
| Child | Vinita Mary McDonald (1905 - 1978) |
| Child | Alva Ferguson McDonald (1906 - 1973) |
| Father | Hiram Columbus McDonald (1842 - 1920) |
| Mother | Sarah Clementine Brogan (1855 - 1935) |
| Sibling | Lattie McDonald (1873 - 1938) |
| Sibling | Joseph Worth McDonald (1878 - 1900) |
| Sibling | Henry Claude McDonald (1880 - 1911) |
| Sibling | Clara Margaret McDonald (1882 - 1963) |
| Sibling | Ernest Heavrin McDonald (1884 - 1885) |
| Sibling | Benjamin Coleman McDonald (1886 - 1941) |
| Sibling | Grace Ethel McDonald (1889 - 1962) |
| Sibling | Homer Isaac McDonald (1891 - 1965) |
| Sibling | Celesta Lussie McDonald (1893 - 1970) |
| Sibling | Elizabeth Mc Donald (1899 - 1991) |
| Sibling | Joseph Worth McDonald (1900 - 1962) |