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Pioneer - The McLEAN 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
|
McLEAN Family, The,
Of Badenoch, in Puslinch. Of all the families in Puslinch, in
the Badenoch
district, none have played a more prominent part that the McLeans. Not only
was one of the McLeans among the founders of the settlement, but the family
as remained in the neighbourhood from that time; four of the five sons of
McLean being represented by families in the district at present. They have
always taken a prominent part in the municipal, educational and agricultural
interests of the township.
In 1831, Donald McLean, Peter Grant, Donald Martin, John Kennedy, and Mr. And Mrs. Alex. McBain sailed from Greenock and came to Montreal. Kennedy, Martin and the McBains stopped in Glengarry, but Donald McLean and Peter Grant came to Crooks' Hollow and worked through the winter for Adam Crooks. Having decided to stay in Canada, and wishing to acquire land for themselves and their relations in Scot., they left the "Hollow" and struck west to the Grand River, following it through Galt, which was then a hamlet, as far north as the present village of Elora, where there was a clearing of five or six acres. The land was fine, but it seemed too far back, so they turned south and came through Guelph, down the Brock road, which was just an ox trail, until they arrived at Kelly's hotel about on the town line between Flamboro and Puslinch. Here they met two Scotchmen named Nicoll, who were there chopping, and who gave a good account of the country in that vicinity. Accordingly, the next morning they accompanied the Nicolls to their holdings and one of the Nicolls went with them to Andrew Stahls who had set. on rear lot 25, con. 8, and from here one of the Stahls accompanied them farther north. Donald McLean picked front 31, con. 9, and Peter Grant the rear 29 & 30, con. 8. They also located near lot 31, con. 8, for John Clark, Jr., and rear lot 32 for the McBains, who in the meantime had come up to Guelph, from Glengarry. They erected a shanty on McLean's place, where Mrs. McBain kept house for them that year. They had a crop of wheat in the fall of 1832. In 1833 McLean's, Clark's, and Kennedy's families came. Donald McLean turned over his farm to his father, Peter McLean, and set. on rear lot 31, con. 9. Peter Grant turned rear lots 29 & 30, con. 8, to John Clark, Sr., his brother-in-law, and then took up lot 32, con. 9. John Clark, Sr., had the first team of horses in Badenoch, a pair of greys. The McLean boys worked together for several years and cleared several farms before they divided. They were all strong, powerful, active men, and excelled at chopping. Peter McLean was b. in Badenoch, Inverness-shire, Scot., and came to Canada in 1833, with all of his family, except Donald, who preceded them. He was a Presbyterian, and a Liberal in politics. He m. Miss Margaret Martin, a granddau. of the late Duke of Bucclough. Martin was the Duke's land agent, and his wife was disowned and disinherited; the duke, however, made a substantial increase in the salary paid Martin, to enable him to keep his wife in comfort. Margaret Martin, the daughter, at the mother's desire, took a maternity course in the Edinburgh hospital, and her professional knowledge thus obtained, was afterwards, for many years of the greatest value to the pioneers of the Badenoch settlement. Issue: Donald, Peter, Alexander, John, George, Mrs. Peter Grant, Mrs. Fraser, Mrs. James Hanning, and Mrs. (Rev.) Meldrum. Donald, b. Inverness-shire, Scot., 1806, d. 1851, at the age of 45. He was a pioneer and founder of Badenoch, and set. upon and cleared 100 acres, lot 31, con. 9. He was a man of business ability, and never sough or held office. In religion he was a Presbyterian, and in politics a Liberal. He m. Margaret Cameron. Issue: Peter, Janet, and Archibald (d. infancy); James, and Donald (d.) 1896. Peter was b. and raised on the homestead, to which he succeeded. He also owned 100 acres, lot 29, con. 9. He was a first-class farmer, and prominent in municipal affairs, being a Councillor and Deputy Reeve for years, and County Councillor for a number of years. He was a Presbyterian and a Liberal. He d. in Oct., 1905. He m. Christina McKenzie. Issue: Donald A., unm., who operated the farm; Duncan McK., Landnor's Landing, B.C., and Mrs. Duncan R. Clark. James, unm. Was a school teacher and Assessor of the township for years, and now conducts a fire insurance business. Peter, b. 1820, d. 1899, owned the old homestead, front lot 31, con. 9/ John, b. in Badenoch, Inverness-shire, Scot. With Alexander, his brother, he cleared lots 29 & 30, rear con. 9, and on the division took rear lot 29, con. 9. He was a very strong man, a hard worker, and a man of great personal activity. He was School Trustee for 17 years. He m. Isabella McPherson, dau. of "Linny" McPherson. Issue: Mrs. Chris. Moffatt, Nassa. Tp., Mrs. John Kerr, Brantford; Mrs. John D. Clark, Brock Road; Donald, merchant, Ridgetown; Peter J., Mrs. Robert Kerr, Brantford; Mrs. John Hay, Troy; and Mrs. Fred. Allison, of Nassa. Tp. Peter J., was b. and raised on the homestead, known as Viewfield, which he now owns with the addition of 100 acres, lot 26, con. 9. He is a Pres. And a Liberal. Mr. McLean has never held office. He m. Catharine Lamb. Issue: Isabella John G., Peter J. and Walter D. Alexander, b. in 1817, in Badenoch, Inverness-shire, Scot., d. 1902, at 85 years of age. He was 16 years of age when he came to Puslinch with his parents. He was a very strong and active man, and was one of the best chopper in Puslinch. He built one of the corners of Duff's Church in 1835. With his brother John he helped to clear rear lots 29 & 30, con. 9, and took lot 30 as his share. Later he bought front lot 26, con. 10, and sold half to his brother Peter. He was a very aggressive man. He was Councillor for one year, Deputy Reeve for three years, and was Trustee of the Presbyterian church. In politics he was a Liberal. He m. Christina Cameron, who lives in Morriston. Issue: Peter (d.), who practiced medicine at Ayton for 21 years; Mrs. Hugh McDonald, Mrs. Hugh Clark (d.), Mrs. John R. Clark, Alexander; John C.., optician in Toronto; Donald, barrister, Burk's Falls; and Hannah, living with her mother in Morriston. Alexander, b. and raised on the homestead, near lot 30, con. 9, also owns 50 acres front lot 26, con. 10, and 200 acres front lots 32 &33, con. 10, 350 acres altogether. He is said to have the best 100 acres for cropping in Puslinch Tp. In 1905 he was elected Township Councillor and has been on the Board of Managers of Duff's Church since 1887. He m. Jessie Cameron, of Flamboro Tp. Issue: Alexander, Donald A., Peter C., Kathleen, Christina, Wilfrid G., Annabel and Margaret. George McLean operated the mill at Aberfolyle for sixteen years. From: Historical Atlas of the County of Wellington, Ontario. Toronto: Historical Atlas Publishing Co., 1906 |
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