Rev. Gus Booker McDonald, of Greenville, Ky., was born October 18, 1849, in Muhlenberg County, Kentucky. In this county he has lived and labored, wept and rejoiced for sixty-five years, and today there is no community so inviting to him as his native hills and valleys. His father was a farmer, and not burdened with earthly possessions, which fact gave his son the heritage of rural training in industry, economy, and the priceless value of time. He attended the old-fashioned country school between crop seasons. The building was a log house, with long split puncheon seats, part of a log cut out for a window, and heated by a huge wood fire place.

After he had mastered "incomprehensibility" in Webster's Blue-back Spelling-book; the "nines" and "elevens" of the multiplication table, young McDonald began to thirst for a college education. But by this time the war was on in good earnest, and he enlisted as a drummer boy in 1862. On December 29, 1864, he received his honorable discharge.

Shortly after arriving home from the army, he attended a revival meeting, conducted by Rev. B. A. Cundiff, a Methodist minister. One night when a strong appeal was made to sinners, he felt a terrible weight of conviction for sin roll upon his heart. He staggered forward, kneeled at a bench and prayed with all the earnestness of a poor, helpless, sin-sonscious soul. Before he left that altar, faith rent the cloud of spiritual darkness, and the "Sun of Righteousness" beamed into his soul. He arose with the positive assurance of forgiven sin, and that he was an "heir of God and a joint-heir with Christ." Brother McDonald says: "The vision and glory of that night is still fresh in my memory to this good hour, and has kept me through trials, dangers, sickness and trouble, lo! these many years.

Soon after this he came to Greenville College; gave the President his note for the tuition, and for nearly two years closely applied himself to his studies. In the fall of 1866 he joined the Old Anderson Presbytery, and at once entered Cumberland University, at Lebanon, Tenn., and remained there fifteen months, during the days of Camp Blake.

Coming home from Lebanon he married Miss M. A. Walton, who is still sharing life's joys and sorrows with him, and who has been a very important factor in the great owrk accomplished by this veteran minister of the gospel.

In 1868 he was ordained to the whole work of the gospel ministry, and in this capacity has done faithful and efficient service, near the home of his childhood, having no desire to seek new fields, and the people still love to hear him preach. Few men can attract larger congregations in this country. His first pastorate was Cypress (now the Bremen congregation), right where he joined Presbytery. For fourteen years he held this work, then away awhile, and back again, through a ministry for forty-eight years. He has never taken work outside his native state, but has served as pastor of the following churches: Pisgah, Greenville, Owensboro, Nebo, Central City, Bremen, Briar Creek, Sacramento, Poplar Grove, Mt. Zion, Knob Lick, and Livermore, in Owensboro Presbytery; leaving only three churches in the Presbytery that he has not served as pastor; and on several occasions has preached to them. He has been pastor of Mt. Carmel, Dawson and Crider, in Princeton Presbytery; Lewisburg and Antioch, in Logan; Hartford and Beulah, in Leitchfield Presbytery.

He has also done a great deal of evangelistic and missionary work, and through his personal efforts, hundreds of people have been converted; congregations organized, and churches built. Often riding on horseback through rain, sleet, and snow and has even crawled on hands and knees across frozen swamps and streams, leading his horse, to fill an appointment.

His early ministry was to a great extent a service of love with very little financial remuneration. He has been known to preach a whole year to a congregation, receive four dollars for his services, and give fifty dollars toward the erection of a new church-house--ever "Ready to spend and be spent for the cause of Christ." He has filled the moderator's chair in Presbytery and Synod. He is among the best of presiding officers. He has several times been Commissioner to the General Assembly and was one of the famous "One hundred and six," at Decatur, Ill., in 1906. On this trip, all the logic, persuasion and powers of the leaders of the union movement were tried on him, but like "Israel's sweet singer" his 'heart was fixed." He decided at the very outset what his duty was toward this union agitation, handled it without gloves before his congregation, and not only did he not have a church to go but not a member did he lose.

May this grand old veteran of the gospel live many years to do battle for his Great Commander, through his beloved church, for which he has dared to toil, suffer, and sacrifice, and be permitted to have a fore-gleam of its ultimate victory.

"Say ye to the righteous, that it shall be well with him; for they shall eat the fruit of their doings."

[Source: Our Senior Soldiers: The Biographies and Autobiographies of Eighty Cumberland Presbyterian Preachers. Compiled by The Cumberland Presbyterian Board of Publication. The Assistance of Revs. J. L. Price and W. P. Kloster is Greatfully Acknowledged. Nashville, Tenn.: The Cumberland Presbyterian Board of Publication, 1915, pages 100-103]

1873
G. B. McDonnold - Greenville, Ky
Licentiate - Anderson Presbytery
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1873, page 103]

1874
G. B. McDonnold - Greeneville [sic.], Ky
Licentiate - Anderson Presbytery
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1874, page 103]

1875
Meeting of Anderson Presbytery with the Mt. Carmel congregation in Hopkins county, Kentucky
Bros. G. B. McDonald and Willis Smith were ordained to the whole work of the ministry, Rev. T. F. Bates preaching the ordination sermon, Rev. Joel Lambert presiding and giving the charge.
[Source: Excerpt from the Minutes of Anderson Presbytery of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, April 1, 1875 published in The Cumberland Presbyterian, April 29, 1875, page 5]

1875
G. B. McDonold - Greenville, Ky.
Minister - Anderson Presbytery
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1875, page 74]

1876
G. B. McDonold - Greenville, Ky.
Minister - Anderson Presbytery
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1876, page 84]

1877
No report from Anderson Presbytery to General Assembly.

1878
No report from Anderson Presbytery to General Assembly.

1879
No report from Anderson Presbytery to General Assembly.

1880
G. B. McDonold - Greenville, Ky.
Minister - Anderson Presbytery
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1880, page 109]

1881
No report from Anderson Presbytery to General Assembly.

1882
G. W. [sic] McDonold - Greenville, Ky.
Minister - Anderson Presbytery
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1881, page 111]

1883
G. B. McDonold - Greenville, Ky.
Minister - Anderson Presbytery
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1883, page 120]

1884
G. B. McDonold - Greenville, Ky.
Minister - Anderson Presbytery
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1884, page 109]

1885
G. B. McDonold - Greenville, Ky.
Minister - Anderson Presbytery
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1885, page 124]

1886
G. B. McDonold - Greenville, Ky.
Minister - Anderson Presbytery
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1886, page 152]

1886
Meeting of Anderson Presbytery at Rose Creek, October 8, 1886
Rev. G. B. McDonald was moderator.
[Source: Minutes of the Princeton Presbytery of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, April 3-5, 1906, pages vi-vii]

1887
G. B. McDonold - Greenville, Ky.
Minister - Anderson Presbytery
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1887, page 149]

1888
G. B. McDonold - Greenville, Ky.
Minister - Anderson Presbytery
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1888, page 161]

1888
Minister present - G. B. McDonald
Rev. G. B. McDonald, of Greenville, was elected Moderator.
[Source: Minutes of Anderson Presbytery of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, October 11-13, 1888, pages 1-3]

1889
G. B. McDonold - Greenville, Ky.
Minister - Anderson Presbytery
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1889, page 171]

1889
Minister absent - G. B. McDonald
Rev. G. B. McDonald, of Greenville, arrived and took his seat as a member of this Presbytery. He was appointed Chairman of the Committee on Publication in place of Jno. L. Robinson.
A letter from C. C. Graham, stating cause of absence, was read and referred to standing Committee on Education--Thos. F. Bowman, G. B. McDonald and W. B. Floyd.
Saturday morning at 8 o'clock Presbytery met and called to order by Moderator. Prayer by Rev. G. B. McDonald.
[Source: Minutes of Anderson Presbytery of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, October 10-12, 1889, pages 1, 3, 5]

1890
Commissioner to General Assembly - May 15-22, 1890 - Union City, Tennessee
G. B. McDonold - Greenville, Ky.
Minister - Anderson Presbytery
Pastor - Dawson Cumberland Presbyterian Church - Dawson, Kentucky
Pastor - Mt. Carmel Cumberland Presbyterian Church - White Plains, Kentucky
Pastor - Mt. Nebo Cumberland Presbyterian Church - Greenville, Kentucky
Pastor - Mt. Pisgah Cumberland Presbyterian Church - Greenville, Kentucky
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1890, pages 5, 116 & 180]

1891
G. B. McDonold - Greenville, Ky.
Minister - Anderson Presbytery
Pastor - Mt. Nebo Cumberland Presbyterian Church - Greenville, Kentucky
Pastor - Mt. Pisgah Cumberland Presbyterian Church - Greenville, Kentucky
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1891, pages 130 & 196]

1892
Chairman Standing Committees, Education and Theology--Rev. G. B. McDonald, Greenville, Ky.
Minister present - G. B. McDonald
The Moderator appointed the following committees: Missions--G. B. McDonald
[Source: Minutes of Anderson Presbytery of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, April 7-9, 1892, pages 1-2]

1892
G. B. McDonold - Greenville, Ky.
Minister - Anderson Presbytery
Pastor - Corinth Cumberland Presbyterian Church - near Sacramento, Kentucky
Pastor - Cypress Cumberland Presbyterian Church - Bremen, Kentucky
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1892, pages 137 & 204]

1893
G. B. McDonold - Greenville, Ky.
Minister - Anderson Presbytery
Pastor - Corinth Cumberland Presbyterian Church - near Sacramento, Kentucky
Pastor - Cypress Cumberland Presbyterian Church - Bremen, Kentucky
Pastor - Mt. Lebanon Cumberland Presbyterian Church - Central City, Kentucky
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1893, pages 139 & 206]

1894
G. B. McDonold - Greenville, Ky.
Minister - Anderson Presbytery
Pastor - Cypress Cumberland Presbyterian Church - Bremen, Kentucky
Pastor - Greenville Cumberland Presbyterian Church - Greenville, Kentucky
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1894, pages 154 & 218]

1895
G. B. McDonold - Greenville, Ky.
Minister - Anderson Presbytery
Pastor - Greenville Cumberland Presbyterian Church - Greenville, Kentucky
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1895, pages 160 & 228]

1896
G. B. McDonold - Greenville, Ky.
Minister - Anderson Presbytery
Pastor - Greenville Cumberland Presbyterian Church - Greenville, Kentucky
Pastor - Mt. Carmel Cumberland Presbyterian Church - White Plains, Kentucky
Pastor - Mt. Lebanon Cumberland Presbyterian Church - Central City, Kentucky
Pastor - Mt. Pisgah Cumberland Presbyterian Church - Greenville, Kentucky
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1896, pages 146 & 209]

1897
G. B. McDonold - Greenville, Ky.
Minister - Anderson Presbytery
Pastor - Dawson Cumberland Presbyterian Church - Dawson, Kentucky
Pastor - Mt. Carmel Cumberland Presbyterian Church - White Plains, Kentucky
Pastor - Mt. Nebo Cumberland Presbyterian Church - Greenville, Kentucky
Pastor - Mt. Pisgah Cumberland Presbyterian Church - Greenville, Kentucky
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1897, pages 174 & 266]

1898
G. B. McDonold - Greenville, Ky.
Minister - Owensboro Presbytery
Pastor - Hartford Cumberland Presbyterian Church - Hartford, Kentucky
Pastor - Mt. Nebo, No. 2 Cumberland Presbyterian Church - Greenville, Kentucky
Pastor - Mt. Pisgah Cumberland Presbyterian Church - Greenville, Kentucky
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1897, pages 199 & 295]

1899
G. B. McDonold - Greenville, Ky.
Minister - Owensboro Presbytery
Pastor - Central City Cumberland Presbyterian Church - Central City, Kentucky
Pastor - Ensor Cumberland Presbyterian Church - Ensor, Kentucky
Pastor - Hartford Cumberland Presbyterian Church - Hartford, Kentucky
Pastor - Livermore Cumberland Presbyterian Church - Livermore, Kentucky
Pastor - Mt. Nebo, No. 2 Cumberland Presbyterian Church - Greenville, Kentucky
Pastor - Mt. Pisgah No. 1 Cumberland Presbyterian Church - Greenville, Kentucky
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1897, pages 94a & 199a]

1900
G. B. McDonold - Greenville, Ky.
Minister - Owensboro Presbytery
Pastor - Central City Cumberland Presbyterian Church - Central City, Kentucky
Pastor - Mt. Nebo Cumberland Presbyterian Church - Greenville, Kentucky
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1900, pages 214a & 113a-114a]

1901
G. B. McDonold - Greenville, Ky.
Minister - Owensboro Presbytery
Commissioner to General Assembly, May 16-23, 1901, West Point, Mississippi
Served on Committee on the Records of Pennsylvania Synod
Pastor - Central City Cumberland Presbyterian Church - Central City, Kentucky
Pastor - Mt. Nebo Cumberland Presbyterian Church - Greenville, Kentucky
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1901, pages 11, 15, 22, 141a & 272a]

1902
G. B. McDonold - Greenville, Ky.
Minister - Owensboro Presbytery
Pastor - Central City Cumberland Presbyterian Church - Central City, Kentucky
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1902, pages 130a & 225a]

1903
G. B. McDonold - Greenville, Ky.
Minister - Owensboro Presbytery
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1903, pages 211a]

1904
G. B. McDonold - Greenville, Ky.
Minister - Owensboro Presbytery
Pastor - Bremen Cumberland Presbyterian Church - Bremen, Kentucky
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1904, pages 99a & 191a]

1905
G. B. McDonold - Greenville, Ky.
Minister - Owensboro Presbytery
Pastor - Central City Cumberland Presbyterian Church - Central City, Kentucky
Pastor - Greenville Cumberland Presbyterian Church - Greenville, Kentucky
Pastor - Mt. Nebo Cumberland Presbyterian Church - Greenville, Kentucky
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1905, pages 80a & 169a]

1906
Commissioner to General Assembly, May 17-24, 1906 - Decatur, Illinois
Served on the Committee on the Records of Tennessee Synod
G. B. McDonold - Greenville, Ky.
Minister - Owensboro Presbytery
Pastor - Central City Cumberland Presbyterian Church - Central City, Kentucky
Pastor - Greenville Cumberland Presbyterian Church - Greenville, Kentucky
Pastor - Mt. Nebo Cumberland Presbyterian Church - Greenville, Kentucky
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1906, pages 12, 40

1906
Commissioner to General Assembly, May 17-24, 1906 - Decatur, Illinois
Continued Session in Afternoon of May 24, 1906
G. B. McDonold - Greenville, Ky.
Minister - Owensboro Presbytery
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1906, page 5]

1923
Meeting of Owensboro Presbytery October 16-18, 1923 held with Central City Congregation, Central City, Kentucky
The devotional services for Thursday morning at 8:30 o'clock was made a special hour for memorial services for the late Rev. G. B. McDonald.
The Memorial Services for the late Rev. G. B. McDonald was conducted by Rev. T. G. Grundy. Talks were made by the following: Rev. W. E. Shank, Rev. C. G. Morehead, Elder G. R. Ford, Mrs. B. C. Mayhugh, Elder G. L. Whitmer, Mr. Chas. E. Frazier, Elder F. M. Gross, Rev. B. B. Galloway and Elder D. W. Galloway.
[Source: Minutes of Owensboro Presbytery of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, October 16-18, 1923]