John R. MacDonald was a Michigan politician. He was a member of Knights of the Loyal Guard, Freemasons, Shriners

Shriners

The Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, also commonly known as Shriners and abbreviated A.A.O.N.M.S., established in 1870, is an appendant body to Freemasonry, based in the United States...

 and Knights of Pythias

Knights of Pythias

The Knights of Pythias is a fraternal organization and secret society founded at Washington, DC, on 19 February 1864.The Knights of Pythias was the first fraternal organization to receive a charter under an act of the United States Congress. It was founded by Justus H. Rathbone, who had been...

.

Early life

On March 30, 1857, MacDonald was born in Moretown

Moretown, Vermont

Moretown is a town in Washington County, Vermont, United States. The population was 1,653 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 40.2 square miles , of which 40.1 square miles is land and 0.1 square mile is...

, Washington County

Washington County, Vermont

Washington County is a county located in the U.S. state of Vermont. As of 2010, the population was 59,534; Vermont's third-most populous county after Chittenden County and Rutland County. Its shire town is Montpelier, the state capital. The center of population of Vermont is located in Washington...

, Vermont

Vermont

Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...

. In 1895, he was the first captain-general of Division No. 1 of The Knights of the Loyal Guard, a fraternal beneficiary society. In 1905 and 1906, he served as worshipful masters of Genesee Lodge No. 174 of the Free and Accepted Masons.

Political life

He was elected as the Mayor

Mayor

In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....

 of City of Flint

Flint, Michigan

Flint is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and is located along the Flint River, northwest of Detroit. The U.S. Census Bureau reports the 2010 population to be placed at 102,434, making Flint the seventh largest city in Michigan. It is the county seat of Genesee County which lies in the...

 in 1914 for a single 1 year term defeating his predecessor, Charles Stewart Mott

Charles Stewart Mott

Charles Stewart Mott was a businessman, philanthropist and the 50th and 55th Mayor of Flint, Michigan.-Early life:...

.

Post-political life

MacDonald died at Hurley Hospital from injuries from a fall at home in January 1946. He was cremated with his ashes interred at Avondale Cemetery, Flint, Michigan.