I agree with you that the name McDonald had different spellings, but usually it happened in different branches of a family or different generations. I’ve traced Emory’s ancestors back several generations and they are all McDannald. What I don’t understand is why he and Gracie would vary the spelling. The other issue is the change in marital status. Gracie was a widow in 1930 as I mentioned. See the attached indicating she was divorced in 1940 and perhaps earlier.

Another anomaly is the attached 1920 census with the name spelled McDonald and Emory’s occupation of Merchant of General Stores. The 1920 census was in Jackson Township in Sullivan County. Mom was 2 years old at that time.

I have a strong hunch that our McDannald ancestors came to America from Scotland in the 1700’s and may even be Scottish Nobility with the McDonald spelling.

Whoa…….this is all new to me. The only part of it I remember is that

“McDonald” when coming to America had many different spellings.

Mom never mentioned any name change. I never heard that the family

thought that our grandfather McDonald had died. Mom always told me that he

had to do migrant work during the depression. He was away from

home for years. Nancy confirmed that Poppy drove Mom and I to

Missouri to see him at the end of his life. He was called Blackie by the

family. I do remember that Mom told us she had dropped a heavy iron

on her big toe when she was young. That could tie in to the laundry

business. When I was first married to Les I did ironing for quite a few

families. The extra money helped us out.