Month: July 2020

Portraits of Pioneers: John McKellar (1823 – 1885)

Portraits of Pioneers: John McKellar (1823 – 1885)

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A snippet from an 1894 plat map showing John’s estate. Note: This would be after John had passed, therefore the plat says “John McKellar Est.”

John McKellar

13 April 1823 — 18 Feb 1885 (aged 61)


Bio

The following is an excerpt from a book published by Chapman Brothers, 1884.

John McKellar, farmer, section 25, Flynn Township, was born April 13, 1823, in Elgin Co., Ont. When he was four years of age, his parents removed to Middlesex Co., in the Dominion, where he was reared to the profession of farming. He remained with them until their deaths—that of the father occurring in July 1854, when he was 77 years old. The mother died in May 1854, aged 73 years. After they died the son became the owner of the homestead, and he continued its management until April 1879, when he came to Michigan and purchased 280 acres of land on sections 24 and 25, which was under partial improvement. He has purchased 160 acres additional since and has 60 acres improved. A considerable portion of his estate is divided among his sons. He has erected a good farmhouse and other farm buildings.

He was married April 5, 1855, in Middlesex Co., Ont., to Catherine McNeil, who was born in 1833, in that county. The children of Mr. and Mrs. McKellar are named Dugald, Christie, Henrietta, Peter, Alexander, Anna, Kate, John, Maggie, Mary, Flora and Donald.

Mr. [Mc]Kellar is a farmer of more than ordinary abilities and ranks fairly among agriculturalists of Sanilac County. He is a Democrat in political views. He and his wife are members of the Disciples’s Church. His parents were natives of Scotland.


Portrait and Biographical Album of Sanilac County; Containing Portraits and Biographical Sketches of Citizens of the County. Chicago, Chapman Brothers, 1884.


John McKellar on FindAGrave