Daniel Eugene McIntyre

McIntyre, Daniel Eugene, [Dr Daniel Eugene McIntyre was born 5 Feb 1812 and died 10 Oct 1896; he married Ann Fraser on 5 Feb 1812] M.D., Cornwall, Sheriff of the United Counties of Stormont, Dundas, and Glengarry, is the only son of James Mclntyre, a captain in the British mercantile marine service, and Mary McLachlan, daughter of Ewen McLachlan, farmer at Appin, Argyleshire, Scotland. James Mcintyre was one of five brothers, all of whom followed a seafaring life, save one, Duncan McIntyre, who entered the British army, and became a captain in the 68th regiment of the line (Durham Cornmand). At the early age of twenty-three, James McIntyre was promoted to the command of a merchantman, of which he was part owner, and whilst the subject of this sketch was still a child, was lost with his vessel off the coast of Wales. Sheriff Mclntyre was born in the town of Oban, Argyleshire, in the early part of the year 1812, and was an only child. He commenced his education at Oban and on the death of his mother, in 1819, continued it in the parish school at Appin. He subsequently attended the Messrs. McFarlane’s academy, George’s square, Glasgow, a somewhat noted school in its day. Upon the completion of his studies, a position was secured for him in the business establishment of Stewart & Macdonald, then a somewhat large house, but now one of almost world-wide fame. He remained there for upwards of a year, but in consequence of the firm requiring him to be bound for a number of years, and largely, perhaps, because he had no taste for the business, or appreciation of the salary he was obtaining, he gave up his position and returned to the Highlands. In the following year, 1829, he entered the medical classes of Glasgow University, and prosecuted his studies within its ancient walls, with the exception of one year, or session, which he spent at Edinburgh University, until he graduated, in the spring of 1834. In the spring of 1835, Dr. McIntyre set sail for Canada, and after staying a short time with relatives at Quebec--Rodger Dean & Co,—a gentleman then largely in the shipping and timber business, he proceeded to Upper Canada, and located in the village of Williamstown, in the County of Glengary, then, as now, the most Highland county in the Province. Here he met with a warm welcome from his countrymen, and was at once adopted as one of themselves, his native language, the Gaelic, affording him a ready passport to their hearts and homes. In July, 1837, he married Ann, daughter of Colonel the Honourable Alexander Fraser, of Fraserfield, Glengarry. On the breaking out of the rebellion, in the same year, he was placed on the staff of the 1st Glengarry regiment of militia, as surgeon, and whilst passing down the St. Lawrence on the steamer Henry Brougham, was captured at Beauharnois by the rebels, and was, with many of his fellow passengers, amongst whom were the Hon. Edward Ellise and family, for several weeks confined in the house of the parish priest, who, though unable to obtain the release of the prisoners, had many kindnesses extended to them, until they were ultimately rescued by the Glengarry regiment which marched up and took possession of the town. On the suppression of the rebellion, he resumed his practice at Williamstown, but continued on the staff to perform the duties of surgeon, and was retained on active service at Lancaster until 1842. His other connection with the militia force of the country was as major of the Stormont battalion, to which position be was gazetted in 1854. On his retirement be was granted the rank of lieutenant-colonel. Dr McIntyre’s intimate acquaintance with municipal and political institutions led to his services being sought by the people of the township of Charlottenburg, whom he represented in the old eastern district council (now the county council) for thirteen years, and when the Municipal Act came into force in the province, in 1849, by the terms of which wardens became elective, he was the first to be honoured by election to that dignified position for the three united. counties. In the following session of the counties council, he was again elected to the warden's chair, and has been the only warden of the counties who has been called to fill a second term. Whilst he was an active politician, he was an ardent Reformer, and gave unstinted support to the Baldwin and Lafontaine governments in their battle for the constitutional liberties of the people of Canada. He was the friend and ally of the Honourable John Sandfield Macdonald in all his contests in Glengarry, largely assisting that gentleman in carrying the county against the powerful influence wielded in those days by the family compact. In 1849, when party strife was at its height, and the governor-general, Lord Elgin, was assailed and assaulted, because of his giving his assent to the Rebellion Losses Bill, by the hyper-loyalist cabal in Montreal, Dr. McIntyre was called upon by the people of Glengarry to head a deputation of its leading men, to present an address to his excellency, at Montreal, approving of his conduct. On the 10th May, 1850, Dr. McIntyre was appointed to the shrievalty of the united counties, a position which he still fills. During his term of office, he has been noted for the leniency with which he has tempered the administration of justice, as well as for the ability with which he has discharged the duties of his position. His wife, whom he married almost fifty years ago, continues to be his help meet; and of his seven children, two alone survive, one daughter and a son, the latter being A. F. McIntyre [Alexander Fraser McIntyre (1847-1914)], barrister, of Ottawa. In religion, the sheriff is a Presbyterian, but like all men who have lived in Glengarry, he has never obtruded his faith upon his friends who belonged to other sects. Indeed, when sectarian partyism has at any time been raised in his presence, it has been a favourite expression of his, that each man is entitled to go to heaven by the road of. his own choosing. As we write, we find Sheriff McIntyre, with his seventy-four winters upon his head, a typical Highlander, straight as an arrow, active in body, clear in intellect, discharging his duties to the satisfaction of the public.