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McKellar, Archibald,
Ottawa, is one of those men whom Canadians like to point at as proof of
what can be done by a person possessed of dogged perseverance and thrift.
Mr. McKellar, the subject of our sketch, was born in February, 1815, in
the Island of Bute, the southern portion of Argyleshire, and when only
eight days old was carried, along with his mother, to the small island of
Gigha, where he spent the first eight years of his life. His parents were
Duncan McKellar and Catherine McCormick, and they belonged to the peasant
class. They were not blessed with much of this world's goods, but yet they
spend something on Archibald's schooling, and he received some education.
He was early forced to engage with neighbouring farmers, and for upwards
of twenty-six years worked in Scotland as a farm hand. In 1841 he was
married to Agnes Pollock, and the pair emigrated to Canada. Mr. McKellar,
on his arrival, worked on a farm near Montreal, but shortly afterwards
removed to the County of Vaudreuil, and carried on farming. Things not
succeeding to his liking, he, in 1857, removed to a farm near Ottawa City
and began dairy-farming, and it is gratifying to say, this business has
proved very successful. He is now the possessor of one of the finest farms
in the County of Carleton, and has a herd of about seventy milch cows,
which gives milk to many of the inhabitants of the Capital. Though now
well advanced in years, Mr. McKellar takes an active interest in
agricultural shows, and is a great advocate of all measures calculated to
improve the class whom he represents. Mr. McKellar is a devoted adherent
of the Presbyterian church, and in politics is a staunch Reformer. The
fruit of his marriage is a son and two daughters. His son John is actively
engaged in the business with him, and has already proved himself a worthy
son of a worthy father. |
