John McDonald arrived in Perry Co., OH between 1810-1814, immigrating from Maryland with James Crabtree Dew, Sr. and others of the Dew and McDonald family by way of Zanesville, OH.

John McDonald married Sarah "Sally" Dew on 26 March 1812, and they had at least ten children, all born in OH:

- Elizabeth McDonald Williams (1814-1910)
- Ellen McDonald Hansberry (1817-1891)
- Lewis McDonald (1819-1870)
- Sarah McDonald Embrey (1821-1876)
- Polly McDonald (1824-1827)
- Lucinda McDonald Marshall (1827-1859)
- John McDonald (1829-1881)
- Nial McDonald (1832-1904)
- Aurilla McDonald Drake (1834-1882)
- Almira McDonald McArtor (1836-1887)

From the 1883 History of Perry County Ohio by E. H. Colburn/A. A. Graham, pg. 219:
Monroe Township - "The first settlements were made in 1814, by John McDonald and James Dew. John McDonald and James Dew were brothers-in-law, and emigrated from Maryland. They blazed their way through from Zanesville, and built a little log cabin, which yet stands in the yard near the old McDonald residence. It is somewhat modified and is now used as a smoke-house. McDonald and Dew moved on horseback. Soon after they got their little cabin built, McDonald followed the "blaze" back to Zanesville, bought a bushel of cornmeal, a skillet and a board to make a table. When Mr. McDonald got these things home, they all thought they were comfortably fixed. The man who subsequently became the richest man in his township, if not in the county, commenced housekeeping in this humble way. Dew settled on the east branch of Sunday Creek, near the Athens line."

From Memoirs of Deceased Christian Ministers; or, Sketches of the Lives and Labors of 975 Ministers, Who Died Between 1793 and 1880 by Humphreys, Evan Williams "E. W." Springfield, Ohio: Republic Printing Company, 1880; pg. 226:
"JOHN MCDONALD. (1789—1864.)—John was born February 12, 1789, in Maryland, moved to Gainsville, O., when a boy, was married to Sally Dew, March 26, 1812, moved to Monroe, Perry County, in 1814, served in the war, was converted under the labors of Elder B. Miles in 1819, and joined the Christian Church—he had joined the Methodists before. He soon began to preach, and for several years, was a leading member of the Eastern Ohio Conference. He was very successful in the accumulation of property, but was noted for his benevolence, having erected a comfortable house of worship on Sunday Creek, near his own house. This church was organized about 1820, and was donated to the Christian Church. The Elder nearly supported those ministers who came there to preach. He was injured by cattle in the road, and died September 22, 1864. He received no salary for preaching, though he paid others. He moved all his effects to Perry County, O., on a horse, blazing trees to guide his way back ; and for some time, he went to Zanesville, thirty miles, to mill and market."

SIBLINGS
- Mary McDonald Dew, 1st wife of Thomas Elias Dew (born abt 1770, MD - died 1820, Perry Co., OH)
- Joseph M. McDonald (born 1776, MD - died 1861, Perry Co., OH)
- David McDonald, married Betsey Wilson (born bet. 1795-1799, MD - died ?)