Born in Scotland, 1780; came to America, 1812; was associate justice of Wayne County Court, 1817; justice of the peace, Wayne County, 181; member of the Legislative Council of Michigan Territory, 1826-1835; chief justice of the Wayne County Court from 1830-1834, by which time it had become the Circuit Court; state senator, 1335-1836 and 1837-1838; collector of customs, Detroit, 1839-1841; was trustee of the University of Michigan, 1834; died in Detroit, October 1, 1846. (from Farmer. History of Detroit and Mich., I, 192,198, 785. ; Mich. Biog. II, 52) (blue index cards)
From the description of John McDonell papers, 1810-1873. (Detroit Public Library). WorldCat record id: 367582186