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Macpherson, D M.,
Lancaster, was born on the 1st concession of Lancaster, Lot No. 15, County
Glengarry, on the 17th of November, 1847. He is a son of John Macpherson,
who was born in Kinguessie, Scotland, in the year 1797, and came to Canada
in 1801, settling down with his father on the present homestead, at Front
Lancaster. When John Macpherson reached manhood's estate, he engaged as a
merchant for a time in the village of Lancaster, and then carried on the
lumbering business for several years; subsequently he settled on the farm
mentioned of two hundred acres. He was
very active and industrious, and a leading farmer until he died at the age
of seventy-two. He was also a captain of the Clengarry militia. The mother
of D. M. Macpherson was Catherine Cameron, daughter of the Hon. John
Cameron, of Fairfield farm, Summertown, from Charlottonburgh, Glengarry,
who re-represented the County of Glengarry from 1825 to 1832, when
parliament met in Niagara. Mrs. Macpherson, who died in 1860, was a
warm-hearted mother, a loving friend, and good to the poor, and it is not
strange that she was beloved and esteemed by every-one. The subject of
this sketch was educated in common county school, in school section,
number one, township of Lancaster. With respect to political creed, Mr.
Macpherson has always held reform views, and believes that the Liberal
policy is the true party principle for advancement and improvement. He has
had no connection with any secret society, nor does he believe that the
same are conducive to the good of mankind. Mr Macpherson has travelled
considerably in America and England, and his knowledge has been much
widened in that way. Mr. Macpherson was engaged in farming pursuits, until
twenty-one, when his father died. He was a prize taker and a professional
plough-man, and noticing a good opening in the cheese manufacturing
business, determined to give it a trial. So without any experience or
advice he determined to begin making cheese from a dairy of eight cows,
and a complete outfit was secured, and he began the manufacture in the
spring of 1870. By hard work and close care the season was a fair success.
The following year, 1871, he asked two of his neighbours to supply him
with their milk. They did so and the trial proved very successful. The
third year a good sized factory was established, the milk of two hundred
cows was received, and Mr. Macpherson made all into cheese. But the.
following year two petitions from adjacent sections were received for the
starting of new factories, and Mr. Macpherson concluded to give that
undertaking a trial. Consequently he began the new system of cheese
factory combinations, and the results were very satisfactory, so much so
that several more conjoined branches were added the following year, and
each succeeding year large additions were made, until the past season of
1885, the number rose to sixty six factories, tuning out seventy thousand
boxes, weighing 4,500,000 lbs. of cheese. All of this enormous output was
shipped and sold in the English market, representing a value of over
$350,000.00. The business now employs one hundred and fifty hands, and has
a capital only of $50,000 or $60,000. In 1882, a cheese box factory and
steam saw mill was added, and in 1885 an additional steam saw mill. These
establishments turned out four million feet of lumber, and two hundred
thousand boxes in 1885, giving regular work to forty hands. Mr. Macpherson
has, in the meantime, taken out five patents on improved and original
cheese machinery, two of which are a marked success. He was corresponding
editor of the dairy department of the Hamilton Live Stock Journal
for some time. The brand of cheese made is called the "Allangrove" of
Canada. It is well known in England, and much sought for by dealers. Mr.
Macpherson is a man of almost phenomenal activity, of splendid business
ability, and has a great gift of foresight. But Mr. Macphersan has marked
abilities of a general nature, and those who know him feel that if he
would consent to enter the political arena he would be a decided
acquisition to the public life of Canada. With respect to his religious
and political views he is Liberal and Protestant. He married on 17th
Jartuary, 1871, Margaret, daughter of Duncan McBean, of Front Lancaster. |
