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One of the prominent early
settlers of Loch Ban was Murdoch Kennedy, who lived for more than a
century. In 1791 six Kennedy brothers came from Canna, Scotland, and
landed at Parrsboro, Nova Scotia, with other Scottish immigrants. They
remained at Parrsboro and vicinity about seventeen years. In 1808 two of
these brothers, Donald and John, came to Broad Cove, Inverness County, the
other four coming into the County of Antigonish.
Around the year 1812 two of
the brothers in Antigonish, Murdoch and Alexander, came to Inverness
County. Alexander made his home at the shore at Sight Point, Murdoch
marking out for himself a two hundred acre lot at Loch Ban, on which there
was a large acreage of potential meadow. Later on he, Murdoch, acquired by
purchase six hundred acres, contiguous to his original lot.
He was married to Jessie
McLellan, sister of the late Squire Donald of Black Glen, with issue:
John, Donald, David, Michael, Angus, Mary, Catherine, Mary Jr., and Annie.
Mary was married to Donald Campbell who formerly did business at
Strathlorne and removed to Codroy, Newfoundland. Catherine was the second
wife of the late Donald McDougall of Rear Loch Ban. Mary Jr., was married
to Hugh McLellan (California) B. C. Marsh. Annie died at home unmarried.
John, the oldest son of
Murdoch, was married to Catherine Gillis of South West Margaree, with
issue: John, Angus, Alexander and Murdoch. Jessie, Annie, Katie and Mary.
The first two named sons, John and Angus, were drowned together while
skating on the ice of, Loch Ban, Jessie died young, Annie was married to
John D. McFarlane of South West Margaree, Katie was married to Dan N.
McLellan of South West Road, Mary died unmarried in Boston. The son
Alexander with a large family, occupies the homestead, and Murdoch is
doing business at Kinloch. The Alexander of this family died recently.
David, son of Murdoch, was
married to Emily McKinnon, daughter of Roderick McKinnon of Ben Virich,
with issue: Michael, Roderick, John Murdoch, Neil, Jessie, Mary Jessie,
Katie, Mary Ann, and Sarah. All the daughters are married except Sarah who
died young. The oldest son Michael remains on the farm.
Donald; son of Murdoch, was
married twice, first to Margaret McLellan of Creignish, and last to Mary
Jameson of Rear Loch Ban. He had no family by the last wife. By the first
marriage he had Murdoch, who died unmarried, Archibald who was married and
died in Boston, Angus A., who is married in Boston, and John A. married at
home. The daughters by the first wife were Annie, married to Angus
McDonald of Deepdale, Katie, married to a Mr. Smith of Boston, Mary Ann
married to Alexander McPherson, Blacksmith, of Boston, Mary Jessie married
to Archibald Cameron of Inverness, and Margaret unmarried in Boston.
Michael, son of Murdoch,
was married to Mary McIntyre, Donald's daughter, of Port Ban, with issue:
Dan, Murdoch, Johnnie, Joseph, John Angus and Mary C. Three little girls
died young of diphtheria and one of whooping cough. Mary C. married Duncan
Gillis, James' son of South West Mabou.
The son Dan is married and
lives on the homestead. The son Murdoch was married to Mary Bell Rankin of
South East Mabou, enlisted as a soldier for home defence at Canso in the
world war, and was taken sick and died at Inverness while home on
furlough. Joseph is a blacksmith and Police Officer at Inverness, is
married to Mary McIsaac, daughter of Alexander McIsaac (Rory) and has a
sprightly little family, Johnnie is in Boston. John Angus, a splendid
specimen of a man, was married to Sarah Beaton of the Imperial Hotel at
Inverness, by whom he had one son. He was a foreman in the Inverness
Colliery when he contracted a bad case of "Flu" of which he died in the
prime of life.
Angus, son of Murdoch, is
the only one of the sons that is living. He was not a farmer by
occupation, but has acquired quite a group, of farms in different
localities. In his younger life Angus was a school teacher in various
sections for many years. Later on he commenced a retail mercantile
business at Loch Ban, right across the road from, his fathers house.
Contrary to general expectations he succeeded well. He retired some years
since, and is now looking after his various: farms. He was a Justice of
the Peace who did a good deal of work in that line. He kept the Post
Office at Loch Ban for a long time, and was Municipal Councillor for the
District of Strathlorne during the first decade of the County
Incorporation Act.
He was married to Matilda
McIntyre, Donald's daughter of Port Ban, with issue: Dan, Alexander,
Murdoch, Joseph, John Angus, Alexander, David, Christopher and Christopher
James, Mary Jessie and Mary. Since writing the above, Angus the father of
this family died: suddenly.
Mary Jessie is married to
John Ryan, a conductor on the Inverness Railway, and lives at Inverness.
Mary is unmarried and remains at home with several of her brothers, and
her parents. Two, of the sons, Dan Alex and Christopher James are dead.
All the, living boys, at home and abroad, are full of snap and industry
and doing well.
The next pioneer settler at
Loch Ban occupied a lot adjoining the Kennedy lands. His name was Patrick
Walsh, and he was locally called "Irish Patrick." He was married to a Miss
McGregor of the old McGregor family of whom more anon. Mr. Walsh sold his
place afterwards to William McQuarrie, Blacksmith, of Broad Cove Intervale,
and went away to the United States. William McQuarrie conveyed to his son
John who lived thereon, got married and raised an able family of sons and
daughters. Two of John's sons, Allan and John G., are now conducting the
operations of that farm on intelligent modern principles.
The next to settle at Loch
Ban was Roderick McLean, a genuine Scot from the Isle of Rum, Scotland,
who came here in 1822. He had two sons and one daughter, namely: Donald,
Murdoch and Ann.
Ann was married to Peter
Nicholson and removed from this district. Donald and Murdoch remained on
the farm, sharing and surmounting the hardships and difficulties of the
early settlers.
Donald, son of Rory, was
married to Mary McLean, daughter of Charles McLean, of Broad Cove
Intervale, with issue: Charles, Neil, Rory Murdoch, Dan, Mary, Flora,
Jane, Sarah, (Red), Catherine and Annie. The first four girls remained
single. Catherine was married to John McKinnon (Ban) of Mount Young, and
Annie to William Judson of Glencoe.
Donald held one-half of the
two hundred acre lot taken up by his father Roderick. After the death of
Donald, his family moved away from this district, and his holdings were
sold to Malcolm, the oldest son of Murdoch, who then owned and occupied
the other one-half of the aforesaid two hundred acre lot.
Murdoch McLean, son of
Roderick, was married to Flora McLean, daughter of Allan McLean,
Carpenter, another immigrant from the Isle of Rum-with issue: Malcolm,
Dan, Allan, Roderick, Neil, John Allan and Mary Ann.
Malcolm, the oldest son, a
carpenter by trade, and a clever athlete of his day, died at home
unmarried. Dan went out West into the Kootenay Country and was not heard
of for thirty years. He is presumed to be dead. John Allan, a dashing
young man of much promise died at home of whooping cough. Allan is in the
United States doing well. Neil, with his sister, Mary Ann, is now sole
owner and occupant of the good old farm. It is a beautiful farm now, but
one can see that it took many a hard and heavy blow to give it its present
pretty face. Roderick, son of Murdoch, is a safe and prosperous general
merchant at Kinloch. He is a man of mental and muscular strength, a good
citizen and a most interesting conversationalist. The only blot on his
fine Patriotism is that he persistently refuses to join the Benedicts.
John McKinnon from Coll,
Scotland, was the next neighbour to the immigrant, Roderick McLean, above
described. After spending some years at Loch Ban, Mr. McKinnon decided to
try his fortune in Upper Canada. He therefore sold his farm to Angus
Kennedy, son of Red John Kennedy of Broad Cove Marsh, who spent the
remaining years of his life there.
We remember this Angus
Kennedy quite well. We knew him best in the last decade of his life. He
was getting old and bent then, but was the best looking man of his age we
ever saw. If it were said that he was stooped from conscience, it could
only mean that he made it a point of conscience to work as hard as he
could all his life. That, precisely that, was what Angus Kennedy did. He
was what is popularly called a hard man in a bargain. But he was perfectly
open, honest and candid. He left no doubt as to what he wanted, and if
that did not suit the other party, negotiations were called off. No secret
diplomacy for him.
Angus Kennedy was married
to Elizabeth McNeil, daughter of Alexander McNeil of Broad Cove Ponds. She
died recently after passing the 90th milestone. We heard of a sister of
hers who lived a full century, and we knew another sister and a brother of
hers who attained to the age of ninety-six and ninety-eight years
respectively. It is said that the Lord rewards some people by giving them
length of days in the land of their sojourn.
The following were the
family of Angus Kennedy: John, Alexander and Michael, Mary, Katie,
Euphemia, Annie, Jessie, Eliza, Christy and Sarah.
John was married to Jessie
Beaton daughter of Angus Beaton. Alexander who is Doctor A. E. Kennedy of
Mabou, was married to Catherine A., daughter of the late Dr. Hugh Cameron
of Mabou. Michael married a daughter of the late Angus McKinnon of
Deepdale and lives on the old homestead.
The daughter Mary was
married to Allan McCormick, Jr., of West Lake Ainslie, and was the mother
of the late Dr. McCormick of Boston, and of Father Michael McCormick, P.
P., of East Bay, C. B. Katie was married to Angus Gillis (Allan) Rear
Broad Cove Marsh, Euphemia was married to Michael McLellan of B. C. Marsh,
Annie was married first to the late John J. Campbell of Strathlorne and
afterwards to John N. McLellan now of Inverness, Jessie was married to
Michael Gillis formerly of B. C. Marsh, now of Port Hood. Eliza was
married to Joseph B. MacDougall, S. W. Margaree; Christy was married to
John J. McFarlane, B. C. Marsh, and Sarah died young and unmarried.
Adjoining Angus Kennedy's
lot to the South was Quarrie McQuarrie. We have not been able to secure
the date of his coming. He selected a nice sheltered two hundred acre lot
which was afterwards owned and worked by his son Donald. Donald was
married to a daughter of Donald McLean of Beech Hill, and had, as far as.
we know, one son and three daughters. The son's name also was Quarrie
McQuarrie, and was a pleasant man, and a very neat and thrifty farmer.
This Quarrie Jr., was married to a daughter of Allan McKinnon, teacher, of
Mount Young. Alick Allan, son of this Quarrie Jr. owns and occupies the
old homestead.
Further on Southwardly one
of the first settlers was Donald McLean, Domhnull Mac Lachlin. He came
from the Isle of Rum, Scotland, about 1820, and took up a farm near
McLean's Point at North Ainslie. He was married to Mary McInnis with
issue: Flora, Lauchlin, Ann, John, Sarah, Jessie and Donald. There were
other children who died young. The son Donald remained on the home stead.
The son Lauchlin with the assistance of his father, bought a neighbouring
farm of two hundred acres from Duncan McGregor who went from North Lake to
Upper Canada. This Lauchlin was married to Isabel McDonald daughter of
Hugh McDonald of East Lake. Lauchlin and his wife lived to a very old age.
They had the following family, namely: John L., Mary Ann, Sarah, Christy,
Hugh, Ann Donald and Jessie Ann. The grandson Dan L. is now the owner and
occupant of the old homestead.
Five McGregor brothers who
came to Inverness from Pictou took up farms as follows: James at Port Ban
on the farm now owned by John Y. Beaton, John at Loch Ban, at first, and
afterwards at Scotsville where he died at a very advanced age, and where
his son John now lives on the farm. John Senior had a family, one of whom
was a fine Presbyterian Minister who died at Amherst, Nova Scotia. Old
John McGregor bought the Outlet farm from Hector McKay who went to Upper
Canada. The brothers Malcolm, Donald and Duncan located side by side at
North Lake. It was the farm of Duncan that Lachlin Mac Dhonnull ic Lachinn
bought.
The farm held by Malcolm
McGregor was bought by Charles McLean, Tearlach Mac Allan. Mr. McLean was
married twice. By the first marriage he had Donald, Flora and Sarah. He
was married again to Sarah McKinnon, daughter of Malcolm McKinnon near
Loch Ban, with issue: Allan, Archibald, Ann, Malcolm, Roderick and Hugh.
The sons Donald and Archibald, with respectable families, now hold forth
on the old farm.
Another of the early
farmers of North Lake was Charles McInnis, Tearlaich na Dhollar,
signifying his care and thrift for saving the dollars. His son, John,
occupied the farm after his father, and died a couple of years since. John
had a fine, intelligent, enterprising family, one of whom is a young
Minister in Pictou County. William, son of Charles, was a school teacher
for many years, and died unmarried, not long before the death of his
brother John.
In the year 1828 Allan
McLean, Shoemaker, with his uncle Hector McLean, came to North Lake and
bought the farm at the Point from John McKinnon, who had previously bought
it from Norman McLeod, presumably the first settler there. This nephew
Allan McLean learned the trade of a shoemaker in Scotland. He worked
afterwards at his trade in Glasgow, and conducted therewith a small retail
store of goods. He was always a prosperous farmer at North Lake. Whether
there was scarcity elsewhere or not, there was always abundance at Allan
the Shoemakers. The uncle Hector was a bachelor - coming and going.
Allan McLean, the
shoemaker, was married to Margaret McLeod who lived at Whycocomagh but was
a native of South Uist. The following was the issue of this marriage:
Sarah, Hector, Mary, Jessie, Isabel, Lauchlin, William, Margaret, Jane,
Charles John, John William, Donald and Catherine. Doctor J. W. McLean of
North Sydney was the John William of the above family.
Still further
Southeastwardly towards Scotsville there lived two Macquarrie brothers,
Donald and Roderick, each of whom had a family and a farm. We are not
aware that any of Donald's descendants are now there. After Roderick's
death his property fell into the hands of his son Donald who did ample
justice thereto. This son Donald was a good upright man of sound judgment,
who was well liked. The family are now in useful possession.
The late Hugh McKenzie
bought his farm at North Lake from Donald McIntosh who went to Cape North
or Pleasant Bay. Mr. McKenzie worked hard and thought wisely. He developed
that large farm into a notably productive asset, and left it to his only
son Hector who is now its sole owner and occupant. Hector had a large and
clever family of sons and daughters, but like very many young people, this
interesting family was moved by the lure of the urban life and the wealthy
West. All of them, however, are giving an honourable and satisfying
account of themselves.
Hugh McKenzie was one of
four strapping brothers, every one of whom was a six-footer, and powerful
in proportion. Their names were Hugh, Neil, Donald and Charles. Their
father landed and remained in Pictou after coming from Scotland. Their
father was a Protestant who happened to get married to a Catholic woman by
the name of Flora McKinnon. When their first-born was to be baptised, that
holy man and veteran missionary to the Scottish immigrants, Reverend Dr.
McGregor, came to the house to perform the sacred function. He spoke very
kindly to Mrs. McKenzie, telling her that her husband had sent for him to
christen this child, but was quite willing that half their children should
be baptized into her church, the other half into his.
"Very well," she said, "we
may as well commence the division now." Taking the child, she laid it on
the door step, then, brandish ing the broad axe, she asked, "Which half do
you prefer, Hector?"
We need not say that the
religious ceremony was called off with out debate. After that, the woman
had her way,-as is usual among the sons of men.
As far as our recollection
extends, the next two farms were occupied by William Dunbar and John
Dunbar, two brothers who came here from Pictou, Nova Scotia. They were
both excellent men. They bought their farms from Angus Campbell and Neil
McKay, who, it is said, were the first settlers. These Dunbars made good
at North Lake. They were millwrights and did much work in that line before
settling down to farming. Besides attending to his farm William operated a
dyeing mill and a carding mill, both of which had a large and
well-deserved patronage. It was on these lands that borings for oil have
been going on for years. Whether oil in paying quantities is, or is not
there, we know the indications, some indications, are there. The smell is
there on speaking terms with all comers.
John Dunbar was married to
Euphemia MacDougall, daughter of John Macdougall late of East Lake, but
had no family.
William Dunbar was married
to a daughter of the late Hugh Campbell of East Lake, and had two fine
sons, John James and Thomas and several worthy daughters. John James is,
and always was, a man of great popularity in the community. He is now the
holder of his father's fine estate, and although he sports no title, it is
correct to say that he is a "lord" in his own house. The view from his
residence in summer is a natural scene of uncommon beauty.
The other brother, Thomas,
was also quite popular, as well as exceedingly industrious and shrewd.
With his own personal earnings he bought the property left by his uncle
John. Just as he was expecting to settle down to a life of comfort and
independence, he was seized with a sudden illness of which he died in the
Victoria General Hospital at Halifax a few years ago. Verily, "we know not
the day nor the hour."
Archibald McKinnon came to
North Lake near Scotsville in 1865, and settled upon the lot now held by
his grandson, Malcolm. Archibald had one son, Donald, and two daughters.
One of the daughters was married to David Dunlop, the other remained
single. The son, Donald, lived on the farm all his life and became blind
in his old age. He had three sons and one daughter, namely: Archibald,.
Malcolm, John and Isabel. The daughter Isabel was married to, Malcolm N.
MacKinnon of Kinloch. The son Archibald died, and Malcolm and John are
living on the old farm in good circumstances. John remains single; Malcolm
is married and has a smart family.
Archibald Campbell came
with his family to Cape Breton from the Isle of Skye, Scotland, in the
year 18M. He first struck America at Leitch's Creek in the County of Cape
Breton, took up one hundred acres of land at or near Bridgeport and taught
school in that locality for a few terms. Later on he came into the County
of Inverness, and taught for a while at Whycocomagh, settling down at
North Ainslie near Scotsville on a two hundred acre farm. He had been a
school teacher in Scotland, was married to a daughter of an army officer,
and had coming with him to this country the following sons and daughters,
namely: Ewen, Donald, Alexander, John, Charles, Ann, Christy and Margaret.
Ann never got married,
lived with her brother Alexander at Strathlorne, and died there in the
ninety-seventh year of her age.
Christy was married to
Donald McKinnon of New Canada, with issue: John, who was a Presbyterian
Minister in Scotland and died there, Bella, Margaret, Ann, Mary, Alexina
and Christina.
Margaret was married to
Hector McKay of Head Lake, with issue: Donald E., in Boston, Neil, who
became a Minister and is dead, James, Collector of Customs at Inverness,
Archibald who died at Inverness, Flora, Margaret, Ann, Mary, Christina and
Charlotte.
The son Ewen carried on a
mercantile business for some years at Whycocomagh, and built a large Brig
there in which he and his brother Donald sailed to England where they sold
the vessel. Donald left England in a ship bound for the East Indies and
was lost at sea. Ewen went back to Scotland, studied for the Church, and
spent the remainder of his life as Presbyterian Minister in the Parish of.
Lochs, near Storonway. He never got married.
Alexander, to whom we refer
specially in previous pages, lived the most of his life in Strathlorne,
where he died on the 2nd day of September, 1909.
John Charles remained all
his days on the old farm near Scotsville, was married to Sarah McLean,
daughter of Charles McLean of North Lake, and died without issue.
The first settler on that
portion of Black River which belongs to this District was Neil McLean from
the Isle of Rum. He came about the year 1820, and was a brother to
Roderick McLean who came to Broad Cove shore with a family in 1812. He had
two sons, LauchIin and Hector.
Lauchlin was married to a
daughter of Charles McLean of Broad Cove Intervale with issue: John,
Charles, Neil, Hector, Sarah who died unmarried, Mary Ann (Mrs. Mutch),
Margaret married to John McLean, Malagawatch, Mrs. John Moore of
Inverness, and Jessie.
Hector was married to Sarah
McQuarrie (locally known as the School master's daughter) with issue:
Daniel, Neil, John, Hector, Lauchlin, and Malcolm, Flora, Mary, Sarah, and
Katie. All the daughters were married except Flora who died young. The
last named daughter Katie was married to John McKinnon, son of Alexander,
of East Lake, and had the rare distinction of being the mother of five
Presbyterian ministers, two medical doctors and a farmer. Her clerical
sons are, Reverends Alex D. McKinnon, Hector McKinnon, Murdock McKinnon,
Archibald McKinnon and John Y. McKinnon. Her medical sons were Dan and
Hugh. The farmer's. name is Malcolm. Is there a woman in any rural section
of the Province, who was married but once, that can boast this woman's
record?
BEECH HILL
The first permanent settler
of Beech Hill was Donald McLean from the Isle of Rum, who came here as a
young man in 1826. He was married to Ann McDonald, a native of the Isle of
Muck who had come to Mount Young in this County. The family by that
marriage were the following:- Archibald, Murdoch, Allan, Daniel, and
Alexander D., Mary, Flora and Catherine. The father attained to a ripe
round age, and the mother was in her one hundred and sixth year when she
died.
The son Archibald was
married to Jessie McLean, daughter of Allan McLean (Shoemaker) and had a
family: Murdoch, Allan, and Flora remained single. Daniel was a tailor in
Winnipeg, married to Maggie McKinnon, daughter of Allan McKinnon, Teacher,
of Mount Young, and left a family. Alexander D. was married to Annie Maria
McLean of Strathlorne, with issue: Maurice, Donald, George M., Archibald
and Russel; Annie, Gordon and Margaret.
As is elsewhere mentioned
Mary was married to Donald McQuarrie, and Catherine to John C. McInnis of
North Lake.
Allan McLean, a brother of
the above named Donald from Rum, came to Beech Hill in 1826, located on a
lot of land next to his brother's, and died there. He was married to Flora
McLean, daughter of the first Neil McLean of Black River, but had no
family. After the death of Allan the farm was acquired by John McLean,
Big, who afterwards sold out and went to New Zealand where he died.
MALCOLM McKINNON
The first man that settled
near Kinloch on the Northwestern side was Malcolm McKinnon. locally called
Challum Ban. He came from the Isle of Rum, Scotland, and had a family of
three sons and four daughters, namely: Neil, Rory, John, Mary, Isabel,
Sarah and Margaret.
Mary married a man by the
name of McVane. Isabel was married to Charles McLean, Sarah to Neil McKay,
Margaret to John Kennedy. Neil was married to Christy McKinnon, Roderick
to Sarah McLean, and John to Ann McInnis.
John had a family of six
sons and five daughters, namely, Charles, Donald, Lauchlin, Malcolm,
William and Allan, Sarah, Bella, Margaret Mary and Jessie.
Charles, (the blacksmith)
was married to Eunice McLean, and had a family, Donald to a Yarmouth
woman, and left a family, Lauchlin was married to Sarah Beaton, Malcolm to
Jane Wright, William to Sarah McLean and Allan to Ann Beaton.
Sarah married Malcolm
McKinnon, Bella, Neil McKinnon; Margaret. John McKay; Mary, Sandy
McKinnon; and Jessie was married to John McDougall late of Portland,
Maine.
Neil, son of Malcolm, had a
family of five sons and three daughters, namely: Malcolm, Murdoch,
Lauchlin, Donald, Archy, Katie, Peggy and Ann.
Malcolm was married to
Bella McKinnon, Murdoch to Mary McLean, Lauchlin to Bella McLean, Donald
to Ann McDonald, Archy to a New York woman, Katie to Angus McDonald, Peggy
to John Clarke, and, Ann to Neil McKay.
Descendants or their widows
now occupy the fine old farm.
Another old settler near
Kinloch, bounding on the McKinnon farm, was Hugh Jameson, a strong farmer
and a good man. He was married to a daughter of old John McLeod of St.
Rose, with issue: Neil, William, Donald, John H., Charles, Alexander,
Eunice and, Mary Ann.
Neil died in Montreal where
he had gone to study law. William, who remained unmarried, is still
looking after the farm, Donald died at home a single young man, John H.,
taught school for years, and died at Port Hood. We refer to this John H.
elsewhere Charles was for many years Light Keeper at Cape St. Lawrence,
and bought a farm within the town of Inverness, where he now resides with
a large family. Alexander did business for a time at Port Hood, and
afterwards at Brook Village where he now resides, and where he keeps the
Telegraph Office and the Post Office. We regret to record that he has had
a serious stroke of paralysis recently from which he has not recovered.
The daughter Eunice died
unmarried. Mary Ann is married to Joseph McIsaac, Allan's son, of Foot
Cape, and has a fine family of five girls and two boys, namely: John
Allan, Neil, Mary Ann, Stella, Bessie, Janet and Lila. |
