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Pioneer - McGARR, Patrick
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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McGARR, Patrick
. This well-known and respected pioneer is a son of the late James
McGarr, who was b. in Ireland, in 1803, and came to Guelph in 1827 in time
to take part in the festivities that commemorated its birth. The late James
McGarr had learned the blacksmith's trade in Ireland, and pursued this
calling in Guelph for over thirty years, until his death in 1875, being its
first blacksmith. He worked for the Canada Co., and was in partnership with
one O'Lynch. He m. Ann O'Brien, and Patrick, their eldest child, who was b.
about 1829, was one of the first white children born in what is now the city
of Guelph. Patrick McGarr lived in the village of Guelph until twelve years
old, when he entered the employ of the late John Howitt, which employment
continued for a term of nineteen years. After a few years he became
practically the superintendent of the Howitt farms and the Wingfield herd of
imported thoroughbred cattle, said to have been the first herd of its class
brought to Canada. Young McGarr drove the Wingield herd from Guelph to the
Provincial Fair at Niagara, it being the first Provincial Fair ever held in
Ontario. It took three days to reach Niagara and the same length of time to
make the return trip. From this herd the origin of some of the best cattle in
the country can be traced. His connection with Mr. Howitt made him acquainted
with and put him in touch with prominent breeders and farmers from all over
the Province. At the age of 29 he purchased 50 acres of land on the Waterloo
road, and at the age of 30 m. Ann Cunningham.
Later he leased the Johnson farm for twenty-one years, and in 1879 he purchased the Crawley farm (87 acres) in Puslinch, where he has since resided, and later purchased the Lynch Estate (100 acres) making his present holdings 187 acres. Patrick McGarr has all of his long and useful life been identified with Guelph and its immediate surroundings. He attended the first Agricultural Fair ever held in Guelph, and was a Director in the "Guelph Central" for years. During the last fifty years that he has farmed on his own account, he has continued the breeding of fine stock, and has many times taken first prizes for cattle, horses and pigs at the county fairs. He was School Trustee in Guelph Tp. for sixteen years. He is fond of reading and well posted on the current events of the day. Issue: James, Mrs. Augustus Garceau, Joseph, Mrs. William Morrison, Patrick, Jr.; Frank, Ellen, David, Elizabeth and Matthew. Joseph, Patrick, Jr., and Frank are fruit ranchers in Cal. James, David and Matthew are on the home farm. The family are members of the Roman Catholic Church and in politics are Conservatives. From: Historical Atlas of the County of Wellington, Ontario. Toronto: Historical Atlas Publishing Co., 1906 |
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