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Pioneer - McCREA, Thomas
Biographical Sketches of
Early Settlers of Wellington County
Information from: Historical Atlas of the County of Wellington, Ontario.
Toronto: Historical Atlas Publishing Co., 1906
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McCREA, Thomas
(d.), b. Carophairn, Kirkcudbrightshire, Scot., 1800, d. 1878. He m. Merin
Munroe, in Scot,. and they came to Canada, settling in Guelph in 1849. She d.
in 1893, age 99 years. Issue: Mrs. Samuel Robertson, set. Norfolk Co.; Thomas,
John and William.
Thomas b. Kells, Scot., 1820, d. Guelph, 1892. He came to Canada in 1841, and first obtained a position as book-keeper in Watts foundry, Guelph, and in 1853 opened the first lumber yard in Guelph, in company with the late David Anderson. In 1855 he went into partnership with the late John Thompson and purchased timber and sawmills in E. Flamboro, and continued in this line some years, until the pine timber in the neighborhood had been exhausted. He later went into the woollen business under the firm name of Armstrong, McCrea & Co., operating the worsted and knitting mills, now known as the Guelph Woollen Mills Co. In 1863 he moved to his farm, "Janefield," west of the Agricultural College, and here lived until his death. He was one of the very best breeders of fine stock on this continent, his herd of Galloways being the oldest established in America. He also bred Shorthorns, Herefords, Polled Angus cattle; Cotswold and Southdown sheep, and Clydesdale horses. He was a Liberal and took an active part in political affairs. At the time of the "Trent" affair, he volunteered his teams - fifteen in all, for transportation services. He took an active part in calling a meeting of Scotchmen at the old "Wellington Hotel," and that night enough names were enrolled to form two companies of the Wellington Brigade. He was an enthusiastic curler. He was active in the Pres. church and Superintendent of the Sabbath School. He was a member of the original Union Committee which drafted the basis of Union for the different Pres. bodies, also a member of the Pan-Presbyterian Council which met at Phila. in 1878. He was considered an authority on church law. Issue: Lt.-Col. David, William and Mrs. Alex. Mathews. Lt.-Col, David is the present owner of "Janefield," and continues the breeding of fine stock carried on so successfully by his father, making a specialty of Galloways. He m. Janet C. Eckford. Issue: Dr. Thomas, Dr. John and Geills. William, m. Jessie Bell Hood, and is a successful farmer and business man in Guelph Tp. Issue: Mrs. Archibald McCorkindale, Thomas G., Jessie B. and David B. John b. Scotland, became a pioneer and leading business man in Brussels, Ont. His eldest son is Rev. D. L. McCrea, set. near London, Thomas , Jr., rancher in N.W., and John F., real estate dealer. William, b. Scot., 1832; m. Rachael McCartney, 1855. He went to Essex County about 1880, and purchased 200 acres of land. He farmed successfully until 1889, then returned to Leamington, where he is a leading man in the community. Issue: David, Robert, John, James, Mrs. Wallace Tilden, William, Hugh, Thomas, Alexander, Samuel, and Mrs. Fraser. Of this branch: David m. Annie Aitcheson. He is Dom. Exp. Agt., Sarnia. Robert, set., in Yukon. John, m. Edith Mason and owns and operates McCrea’s mills, Guelph Tp. Issue: Allan, Percy, and Harold. James, m. Maggie Smith. He is a successful mill man near Listowel. William, also owns a mill near Leamington. Hugh, set. Durham. Thomas, cattle rancher in N. W. Alexander, a miner in B.C. Samuel, farmer in Essex Co. From: Historical Atlas of the County of Wellington, Ontario. Toronto:Historical Atlas Publishing Co., 1906 |
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