Wellington County, Ontario GenWeb - Pioneer

Wellington County, Ontario GenWeb - Pioneer - McCAIG, Family, The

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Pioneer - The McCAIG Family

Biographical Sketches of
Early Settlers of Wellington County

Information from: Historical Atlas of the County of Wellington, Ontario.
Toronto: Historical Atlas Publishing Co., 1906

McCAIG, Family, The . One of the most prominent pioneer families in Puslinch, is the McCaig's. The founders of this family in Canada were two brothers. The late Donald, Sr., and the late James, Sr. Both were b. in Argylshire, Scot., Donald, Sr., in 1787, and James, Sr., in 1800. The former came to Nova Scotia in 1823, and the latter in 1832.

Donald, m. in Scot., Mary Cochrane. Two children were born to them in Scot., viz: Mrs. Hugh McLean, and Mrs. Neil Thomson, who later was Mrs. John Cook, and the balance of the family were born in N.S., viz: Alexander, Malcolm, Hector, Sr., Mrs. Alex. Stewart, Mrs. John Duncan, Marjorie, and Mrs. Geo. Logan. They came to Puslinch in 1838. Donald McCaig d. in 1875, and his wife in 1868.

Alexander m. Janet Cochran, and owned lot 17, con. 3, Puslinch, 100 acres. Issue: Donald, Gilbert, Alexander, Jr., Mrs. Peter Clark, Mrs. Welsh, and Mrs. McLaren. He and his wife are both dead, and the boys are in the N.W.

Malcolm, m. Ann Cochrane, owned lot 13 , con. 2, Puslinch. Issue: Archibald, who with his father, now lives at Coburn Island; Gilbert in Hespler, and Mrs. Geo. McFarlane.

Hector, Sr., b. Nova Scotia, 1829, d. Puslinch, 1906, came to Puslinch with this parents when only nine years old, and lived on the homestead, lot 17, con. 2, purchased by his father in 1838. He was a man of extraordinary energy and as a breeder of horses was one of the best known in Wellington County. He and Kenneth McKenzie were the pioneers in this line in Puslinch. They took hundreds of prizes at all of the principal fairs in the vicinity, including Puslinch, Guelph, Galt, Berlin, Milton, Frielton, and other places. Mr. McCaig sold his farm to his son Hector, Jr., in 1905. And retired from active business. He m. Mary McKenzie in 1852. She d. in 1874, age 40. Issue: Mrs. Angus McPherson, Donald, Mrs. Rorey Cameron, Duncan, James, Mrs. Wm. Bond, Hector, Jr., and Malcolm.

Of this branch: Donald, m. Mary McPherson, and is a progressive farmer. He owns lot 17, con. 3, (100 acres), in Puslinch, where he resides. Issue: Hector, John, James and Russell. He makes a specialty of breeding high-class, general purpose horses.

Duncan, owns and runs a large planing mill at Portage La Prairie.

James, holds a position in the planing mill with his brother, and Malcolm, is a book-keeper in Portage La Prairie.

Hector, Jr., m. Mary J. Smith, and owns and farms the old homestead, his father residing with him until his death.

As before mentioned the late James McCaig came to N.S., in 1832. In 1837, he came to Waterdown, and in 1840, he set, in Puslinch, purchasing 200 acres, lot 18, con. 3. He m. in Scot., Catherine Taylor. Issue: Donald, Mrs. Donald McKenzie, Mrs. Duncan Morrison, Christina, (d. unm.) and Alexander. He was a man of sterling integrity, and from a very small beginning, became a prosperous and influential citizen. He d. in 1879, age 79 years. Of his family: Donald, b. in Nova Scotia, in 1832, was raised in Puslinch, and was educated at the schools there, the Rockwood Academy, and Normal School, Toronto. He taught in pubic schools, and was principal of the Rockwood Academy for years. Later he was Inspector of Public Schools for Algoma, and in 1887, he was appointed Inspector of Public Schools for Collingwood, which he carried on in connection with the Algoma Inspectorate. He was fifty years in educational work, but it was not alone in this that his reputation became national. He was a writer of note, and his volume of poems entitled "Milestones, Moods and Memories." is a valuable contribution to Canadian Literature. He m. Helen Smith, one of his sons, Dr. James McCaig, is Supt. of Education, Edmonton Dist., another son, Dr. A. S. McCaig, is a practising physician in Sault Ste. Marie. The late Donald McCaig passed away at Collingwood, in 1905, age 73 years.

Alexander, was b. on the Puslinch homestead, in 1840, which he now owns and farms. He is one of the most progressive citizens of the section, and makes a specialty of thoroughbred cattle. Cotswold sheep, Clydesdale and hackney horses, of which he raises the best. He m. Rachael Smith. Issue: James, Mrs. (Rev.) A. R. McDonald, Alexander, Jr., John, and Donald Jr.

From: Historical Atlas of the County of Wellington, Ontario. Toronto:Historical Atlas Publishing Co., 1906