James Fraser MacDonald (1880 – 1965)
Jim MacDonald was originally from New Zealand. He prospected in Cobalt, Ontario before coming to the Yukon. He operated restaurants in Dawson, Whitehorse, and Mayo.1)
MacDonald was elected as an alderman on 6 February 1902 in Dawson’s first municipal election. H.G. Macaulay was elected mayor, and the other aldermen were Dr. H.G. Norquay, George Murphy, P. Vachon, Thomas Adair, and T.G. Wilson.2) MacDonald was elected mayor of Dawson in 1904. This was the year that the Yukon Commissioner took over operation of the city and continued to administer it until 1950.3)
MacDonald discovered silver-lead ore on Cobalt Hill, east of Keno Hill, in 1922.4) He moved back to Dawson from Mayo about 1960 and died at St. Mary’s Hospital.5)