John MacDonald (1835-1917)

Following is the text of the obituary of John MacDonald from The Parkhill Gazette, page 4, January 11, 1917, with the photo that accompanied it of John McDonald and his grandson, Donald Steele.

John MacDonald, who had been ill for several weeks, passed away on Monday, January 1, 1917, at his residence on McLeod Street.

Deceased was born in South Uist, Inverness-shire, Scotland, and came to Canada in 1849 when a young man. He was accompanied by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Lachlan MacDonald and the other members of the family. They came over by sailing vessel, landing in Quebec, from which port they took passage on the Durham boats, named after Lord Durham, to Montreal and thence overland past several rapids and again took passage on another line of the same boats up the St. Lawrence and across Lake Ontario to Hamilton, from which port they took the stage to London. The women and their belongings rode in the stage while the men tramped it all the way. When they arrived at London they chanced a ride to the then Township of Williams or tramped it, in many cases carrying their few belongings on their backs, to Nairn. Such was the mode of transportation of all the earlier settlers in this part of the country.

John MacDonald's parents and family spent the first winter, 1850, in Nairn ...... the spring settled on the old homestead, lot 11, concession 13, West Williams. The only track from Nairn was a blaze through the forest. Those early days were days of privation of which we, in these luxurious days, know nothing. Able-bodied men were glad to work for a York shilling and twenty-five cents a day and to take their pay in flour, pork, etc.

All the Highland Scotch settlers of Williams had been more or less accustomed to a seafaring life in the homeland and naturally took to sailing in Canada and, until this day, the younger generation are following in their footsteps. We know of no settlement that has furnished more sailors than that of the 12 concession West Williams.

Deceased followed sailing for several years on the survey boat marking and charting the channels on the Great Lakes. He was a member of the municipal council of the Township of West Williams for 21 years, a longer time than any other member of council. His interest and work in the township did as much, if not more, to bring the township into the prosperous condition it now enjoys. He was one of the township auditors for several years.

Deceased had a good education and was a more than ordinary Gaelic scholar. Besides speaking Gaelic which was his mother tongue, he could both read and write it quite fluently. While of late years he had not been active in municipal and political affairs he always kept posted and attended every nomination in West Williams until this December being then confined to his bed. His name will be intimately associated with the settlement and development of the township for all time.

On May 17, 1863, he married Mary McIntyre, who survives him. They celebrated their golden wedding three years ago last May. They lived on the old homestead until five years ago, when they moved to Parkhill.

He is survived by his widow, five daughters: Mrs. Stephen McCormick, Mrs, J.D. McPhee, Mrs. Donald McCormick, Mrs. D.C. Steele all of West Williams, Mrs. A.C. Kullberg of Chicago, and one son Lachlan P. of West Williams, also one brother Angus McDonald and three sisters: Mrs. Donald Steele, Mrs. Donald McPhee of West Williams, Mrs. Thomas Jones of London.

The funeral services on Wednesday, January 3rd were conducted in Sacred Heart Church. Rev. Fr. O'Neil sang requiem high mass, Rev. Fr. Joseph Walsh, a former Parkhill boy, delivered a splendid discourse on prayer.

The pallbearers were Messrs. John H. Morrison, D.J. McPhee, Lachlan Steele, William Dawson, Hector Matheson and Alex J. Garden. Interment took place in St. Columba cemetery.