Wellington County, Ontario GenWeb - Pioneer

Wellington County, Ontario GenWeb - Pioneer - McCREADY, Alexander

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Pioneer - McCREADY, Alexander

Biographical Sketches of
Early Settlers of Wellington County

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

McCREADY, Alexander , b. "Walton Park," Kirkpatrick, Durham, Kirkcudbright, Scot., March 1, 1833. When a young man, his father, (Robert McCready), removed to "Craigenputtock," the estate of Thomas Carlyle, and there young McCready lived for six years. He was brought up and educated in Scotland, and at the age of nineteen years, obtained a position as travelling salesman for a dry goods firm of Bristol, Eng., and remained in their employ until 1857, when he emigrated to Canada, and entered the employ of Cowan, Fraser & Co. of Elora, a little later taking charge of their branch store at Teviotdale. In 1859, he came to Harriston, and opened the first general merchandise store in Harriston.

Alexander Dow had a small store about three-fourths of a mile west of the village, which at that time, contained less than a dozen houses. Joshua Harrison had a small store in the village, the stock of which, Mr. McCready purchased and combined with his own. This business he carried on successfully for about fifteen years, during which time his goods were hauled from Guelph by team, a distance of forty-two miles.

Archibald Harrison, the first postmaster, kept the postoffice in the corner of his hotel, but as soon as Mr. McCready had become established, Harrison resigned, and Mr. McCready was appointed postmaster holding the position to the satisfaction of everybody for forty-five years. He was Township Auditor of Minto, also Village and Town Auditor of Harriston, for nearly forty years, and acted on the School Board for many years. He was one of the promoters of the first Presbyterian church built in Harriston, this was a frame structure, and the seats were made of planks stretched across and fastened to blocks of wood, sawed to the right length. In 1862, Mr. McCready m. Agnes Broadfoot, dau. of Samuel Broadfoot, a pioneer of Nichol. They have had the following children, viz: Mary, who m. W. D. Ebbels, Esq., Barrister; Robert A., the present Postmaster of Harriston; Margaret, head milliner, S. F. McKinnons, Toronto; Prof. Samuel B., of the O. A. C. Guelph; Agnes, music teacher; Janet, and John, who is a graduate of the O. A. C. and was for some years State Cheese and Butter Inspector of Wisconsin.

Alexander McCready, is one of the most respected citizens in Wellington Co., and his upright dealing and genial disposition have won to him the esteem and friendship of every person in Harriston and for miles around. The popularity of the family was evinced by the large petition sent to Ottawa in 1905, for the appointment of Robert A., as Postmaster of Harriston to succeed his respected father.

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