Julius Lafayette McDonald
1857-1944
The Life of J. L. McDonald
Julius Lafayette MacDonald was a longtime minister, editor, and church leader whose preaching career extended across six states and more than six decades. He was born April 15, 1857, in Gainesboro Township, Frederick County, Virginia, the son of Gabriel Russell McDonald (1827-1901) and Elizabeth Ann Whitacre McDonald (1838-1862). Historical records list his surname under both the “MacDonald” and “McDonald” spellings.
Julius spent his early years working on his father’s farm. He later attended college, completing his second year before entering the ministry. A devoted Christian, he preached for congregations identified in contemporary records with the churches of Christ, the Christian Church, and the Disciples of Christ. His ministry reportedly lasted 61 years and took him to churches in Indiana, Michigan, Maryland, New York, Kentucky, and Ohio.
Among his earliest known Ohio ministries was the congregation at Martinsburg in Knox County, where he preached during 1885 and 1886. In 1887, while living in Toledo, he edited a religious paper titled Practical Christian. He subsequently served the church at Dennis, Ohio, from 1917 through 1919 and Messiah Christian Church in Knox County from 1919 through 1923. He was also preaching at the Millwood Church of Christ in 1920 and served Brinkhaven Christian Church in 1923.
MacDonald’s ministry included responsibilities beyond the local congregation. He served for several years as secretary of the State Ministerial Association of New York. During his later years, he was closely associated with Eden Church of Christ near Newark, Ohio. He served the congregation for many years as its preacher and was eventually honored as elder emeritus.
Julius married three times. His first wife was Sara “Sadie” C. Agner (1861–1905), whom he married on April 5, 1883, in Putnam County, Ohio. They became the parents of ten children—six daughters and four sons. Their known children included Lehr, Bertha, Cecile, Paul, Ethel, Edith, Olive, Vera, Carl, and Dale, who died before his father. Sara died November 15, 1905 in Snow Hill, Worcester County, Maryland, and was buried in the Whatcoat United Methodist Cemetery.
On January 7, 1909, Julius married Emma May Kelly (1864-1914) in Anderson, Madison County, Indiana. They had one daughter. She passed away September 18, 1914 while in Chicago, Illinois. She was laid to rest in Riverside Cemetery, in Brook, Newton County, Indiana. Following Emma’s death in 1914, Julius married Elsie Celiste Hobbs (1885-1973) on August 4, 1918, at Utica in Licking County, Ohio. Julius and Elsie had one son.
After a long and productive life in Christian ministry, Julius retired near Utica, Ohio. He died at his home there on January 3, 1944, during his eighty-seventh year. His widow, Elsie, and a large family survived him. Funeral services were conducted at Eden church of Christ, with H. H. Hoover officiating.
Julius Lafayette MacDonald was laid to rest in Eden Cemetery in Newark, Ohio. His legacy rests in the many congregations he served, the religious work he helped publish, and a ministry that spanned 61 years.
-Scott Harp, 08.31.2026
Sources: Find-A-Grave, Newspapers.com, Ancestry.com, The Christian-Evangelist, Gospel Advocate
Reports
Christian-Evangelist, September 20, 1900, p.1196
Missionary Weekly, February 21, 1889, p.5
Missionary Weekly, March 14, 1889, p.5
The Brook Reporter, Brook, Indiana
Friday, March 17, 1916, p.5
Obituary
The Newark Advocate, Newark, Ohio
Wednesday, January 5, 1944, p.3
Directions To Grave
The burial location of Julius L. McDonald is in the Eden Church of Christ Cemetery in Newark, Ohio. This community lies about an hour NE of Columbus, just a couple miles SE of Utica. Take Blacksnake Rd. out of Utica to Martinsburg Rd. Turn right, and in less than a mile turn left on Eden Church Rd. Comin up to the church on your right you will see the cemetery. Enter the second drive and stop. Immediately to your left you will see the Hobbs family plot. Just to the left of the Hobbs monument is that of Elsie Celest Hobbs McDonald who died in 1973. Just the other side of the Hobbs marker is that of Julius. The GPS below is taken from Julius's grave.
GPS Location
40°12'06.4"N 82°21'28.0"W
or D.d. 40.201775,-82.357763
Eden Church of Christ
Near Utica, Ohio
HOBBS
Joseph A. 1854-1928
Mary E. 1848-1916
Parents of Elsie Celesta McDonald, Julius' 3rd wife
Elsie Celesta
Wife Of
Julius L. MacDonald
1885-1973
Julius L. MacDonald
1857-1944
Christian
Photos Taken 04.20.2026 at 5:30am
Website produced 10.31.2026
Courtesy Of Scott Harp
www.TheRestorationMovement.com
Special Recognition: It was an extreme pleasure for your webeditor to spend April 16-22, 2026 in the state of Ohio. Hundreds of miles were traversed and a good number of graves of gospel preachers of yesteryear were located. Also, while in the state, I thorough enjoyed preaching a Gospel Meeting at the Alkire Road church of Christ in SW Columbus. I remember with much pleasure being able to find J. L. McDonald's grave very quickly. It was my first stop of a 150 mile trip for the day from where I was staying in SW Columbus. I remember driving slowly down the road passing lots of graves, and decided to turn into the center drive and to walk the large cemetery. I opened the door at 5:30am, and looked immediately down at the first monument I saw. It was that of Julius McDonald. I said a short prayer of thanks and moved on through the day. I thought, It would certainly be nice to find all the graves I look for this quickly. Great trip!