Wellington County, Ontario GenWeb - Pioneer

Wellington County, Ontario GenWeb - Pioneer - McCORKINDALE, John, Sr

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Pioneer - McCORKINDALE, John, Sr.

Biographical Sketches of
Early Settlers of Wellington County

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

McCORKINDALE, John, Sr ., (d.), was b. in Argyleshire, Scot., where he m. Mary McIntyre. She d. in Scot., while he d. in the "Paisley Block," in 1842. He came to Canada in 1828, with his family, which consisted of Archibald, John, Jr., and two daughters, one of whom became Mrs. George Corbet, and the other Mrs. Joseph Jackson. He immediately after his arrival purchased from the Can. Co. 100 acres, lot 11, con. 3 B., and in 1829 set. upon it with his family. William Alexander and Nathan Ferguson, set. in the "Paisley Block" at the same time; these three families being the pioneers of that section, which was later named by Dr. Dunlop "Paisley Block," which name it has always retained. During the first winter that they were making their clearings, they walked back and forth from Guelph night and morning, a distance of about six miles. They helped cut out the Guelph and Goderich road. Archibald was a pioneer school teacher in Waterloo Co. in 1830, and the money so earned, helped provision the family, until their crops from the farm would sustain them.

Archibald, b., Paisley Scot., 1809, was 19 years old when he came to the "Paisley Block," where he spent the remainder of his life. In 1836 he m. Mary Inglis; she only lived a short time, and in 1840 he m. Elizabeth Anderson, who d. 1894, age 78. He was a prominent citizen and was appointed Clerk of the township in 1858, which office he held for thirty years. He was also appointed Treas. in 1877, and held both offices until the time of his death in 1888. Issue: John 3rd, Mrs. Robert Flaws, Mrs. J. O. Cleghorn, Miss Agnes McCorkindale, Mrs. John Marshall (d.), and Mrs. John W. Cleghorn (d.). His only son, the late John McCorkindale 3rd, was b. on the old homestead owned successively by his grandfather, father, and after the death of the latter, himself. On the decease of his father he was appointed Township Clerk and Treas., which offices he held seventeen years, until his death in 1905, age 64. He was one of the most enterprising and respected citizens of Guelph Tp., as well as one of the best known men in the South Riding. His long association with the Guelph Fat Stock Club, of which he was Secy.-Treas. Since 1890, and his untiring efforts which contributed largely toward its success, brought him in contact with the leading men of the community, who fully recognized his ability as a business man and organizer. His long connection with the successive Township Councils and Boards was of the most helpful character, and his conservative and careful judgment and suggestions were usually adopted. Of strict integrity and a rare business capacity, he stood in the very front rank in the township where he had passed his useful career. He m. Catharine Cleghorn. Issue: Mrs. James A. Laidlaw, Margaret K., Archibald L., Robert C. and John A.

John Jr., b. Paisley, Scot., 1810. He m. Catharine McDonald. Issue: John, who set. in Collingwood, and Joseph, who set. in Tilbury. He was a farmer in Guelph Tp. and retired to Salem and lived there until his death.

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