| Wellington County GenWeb |
| return |
Pioneer - McALLISTER, George
Biographical Sketches of
Early Settlers of Wellington County
Information from: Historical Atlas of the County of Wellington, Ontario.
Toronto: Historical Atlas Publishing Co., 1906
|
McALLISTER, George .
In connection with the sawmill and lumber industry of Guelph, no work would
be complete without the mention of the progressive and successful gentleman
whose name heads this sketch.
Mr. McAllister was b. on a farm in the township of Hay, Ont., Feb. 22, 1856. He is a son of Robert, Sr. and Jane (Frazer) McAllister. His parents moved to Grey Tp., Ont., when George was six years of age, and it was there that he was raised and received his education at the public schools. After leaving school he engaged with his father in the sawmilling business. On Dec. 16, 1880, he m. Miss Ellen Gowdie, after which he engaged in farming in Waterloo Tp. for ten years. He then purchased the sawmill interests of Owen Oberholzer, in Bloomingdale, Waterloo Co., which he still owns, and which is under the management of his son, John A. McAllister, who is also a partner in the sawmilling business with Alexander McAllister at Hawkesville. The timber for the above plants is supplied from George McAllister's timber lands in Waterloo Co. On Aug. 1, 1896, he purchased the sawmill interests of the Guelph Heading and Stave Co., Guelph City. He also purchased valuable timber lands in Guelph and Puslinch Townships, and in 1905 bought blocks of timber land in Nassagaweya Tp., Halton Co., and erected a sawmill at Moffat Station, which he also operates. At all of his plants he makes a specialty of lumber, hoops and heading. As will be seen, Mr. McAllister's lumber interests are on a large scale, and he is among the leaders in his line. While his father gave him a fair start in life, his success has been largely due to his sound business judgement, coupled with an untiring energy. He and his family reside at the home on Waterloo Avenue, which contains about fifteen acres, a part of which is in original forest trees, garden, etc. There are six children, viz.: John A., Johanna C., Mary Bell, Asylvia Jane, Emma and George Renfrew. Robert McAllister, Sr., father of the subject of our sketch, was b. in Scot., where he m. Jane Frazer. She was b. in Scot. also. Issue: John, who succeeded to the homestead and milling interests in Grey Tp.; Mrs. Wm. Buchanan, in Hensal; Mrs. Duncan McDonald, in Kincardine; Robert, Jr.; Mrs. James Elliot, in Grey Tp.; William (d.), Alexander, George, Hugh, Alphias K., in Brandon; Mrs. Job King, and Mrs. John Elliot, in Grey Tp. Of this family; Robert, Jr., and Hugh are large sawmill and lumber men in Cockburn Island, while Alexander is in the same line in partnership with John A. McAllister, at Hawkesville. When Robert McAllister, Sr., arrived in Canada with his family, his cash capital was very small, but he was possessed of a good constitution, energy and confidence in the future. That he succeeded goes without saying. He took up 100 acres in Hay Tp., and farmed there for years, when he sold out his farm for about $3,000 and invested this money in the sawmilling business in Grey Tp. His first purchase was 200 acres of land, on which he located his mill. He afterwards purchased several other farms, from all of which he cut the timber, and up to the time of his death he carried on an extensive lumber business, as well as farming. He was very successful, and, besides raising, educating and giving his family a good start in life, he left a nice property at his death. His wife still survives him, age 83, living in Grey Tp. From: Historical Atlas of the County of Wellington, Ontario. Toronto: Historical Atlas Publishing Co., 1906 |
Contact Wellington County GenWeb Host. My email address is wellingtoncogenwebATgmail.com Repalce AT with @ before you send your message. If you're ready, click here to send email
URL: https://sites.rootsweb.com/~onwellin/index.htm
All rights reserved Privacy Policy
Copyright © 2004-present These pages may be freely linked to but not duplicated in any fashion without my written consent