of Hamilton, the subject of this sketch, was
born at the farm "Ardcronie", Ross-shire, Scotland, on the 5th
May, 1822. He is the fifth son of James Mackenzie, by Grace, nee Innes.
Our subject's father was an ensign in the Clanalpine Regt. of Fencibles
Infantry. He served in Ireland, and fought at the battle of Vinegar Hill,
in the County of Wexford. In the year 1800 he was promoted to a
lieutenancy in the same regiment. On May 24th, 1813, he was appointed
Captain and Adjutant of the Eastern Regiment of Ross Local Militia, and
was presented with the freedom of the Royal Burgh of Dingwall, Ross-shire,
in 1801. He was the father of twenty-one children and died on his farm.
The subject of this sketch was educated at the Parish School of Logie
Eastrer, and at the Parish School of Kincardine, Ross-shire. At fourteen
years of age he entered on an apprenticeship in a general store in the
Isle of Skye. In 1842 he emigrated to Canada, making the passage in
fourteen weeks by sailing ship. The only serious trouble of his life was
arriving in Canada without money or friends. But he had strong hopes in
the country's future, and worked his way to his destination - Hamilton.
Here and in the neighbourhood he served as a dry goods salesman until
1846, when he ventured, without any capital, to open a general store in
Ingersoll, County of Oxford. Here, however, he had a large success, and at
31 years of age he might have retired with an ample fortune. In 1853 he
was offered, and accepted, a partnership in, and the management of, a new
wholesale dry goods business by his former employers. He accepted the
offer, and went to London, Ontario. This business he conducted
successfully for thirteen years. In 1866, and in the interest of the
Hamilton establishment, the two concerns were amalgamated in Hamilton.
Subsequently he opened a wholesale dry goods business in Hamilton; and in
1877 sold out his interest therin to his then partners. Since that time he
has been mainly engaged as Secy.-Treasurer, and General Manager of the
Long Point Shooting Club. Later on he became License Inspector for the
city of Hamilton. About 1862, in conjunction with Mr. James Moffatt, he
organized a Highland volunteer company in the city of London. At their
joint expense the two fully equipped the company, importing the clothing
from Glasgow. Our subject was an honorary private, and Mr. Moffatt (now
Lieut.-Colonel) was selected as captain. At the time of the Trent
difficulty he raised No. 1 Company of the London Battalion, now the 7th
Fusiliers, in which he served as captain. He went up for examination, and
passed with a first-class certificate. In March, 1866, when moving to
Hamilton, he sent in his resignation, but was prevailed upon instead to be
transferred to the Hamilton command. In 1870 he was gazetted first Major
in the Reserve Militia of the Regimental Division of the city of Hamilton,
which rank he now holds. He was prominent in establishing the Dominion
Telegraph Company, and was vice-President of that organization for many
years. He was also a Director of the Wellington, Grey & Bruce Railway
during the construction of that road; was an alderman in the city of
London and Hamilton, and prides himself on never having solicited a vote.
He was chairman of the Prince of Wales reception committee in London at
the time of H. R. H. visit. He was President of St. Andrew's Soceity in
London and in Hamilton; and also President of the Board of Trade in both
cities. He became a Free and Accepted Mason in 1853, and is now a past
master. He is a Presbyterian, and a Reformer in politics. He married in
Nov., 1847, Margaret Phelan, of Abbeyleix, Queen's County, Ireland, now
deceased. By this union he had two sons and two daughters, all of whom are
alive. Altogether the career of Mr. Mackenzie is one of which any one
might be proud; and he is one of those to whom our young country must
always find that she remains under a measure of indebtedness. |