Vaughan Township Residents from A History of Toronto and County of York

William McClure, lot 14, concession 8, is the son of the late Andrew McClure, one of the very first settlers in this section of the township. The latter emigrated from County Armagh, Ireland, in 1833, and assisted in the erection of a considerable number of grist and saw-mills on the Humber. He settled on the lot now occupied by the subject of this sketch, where he remained until his death, which occurred in 1876, at the age of sixty-seven years; his widow is still living, and resides with William on the homestead. William was born in 1857, and in 1875 married Ellen Nesbitt, daughter of the late John Nesbitt, of Toronto Township, by whom he has three children living. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church, and takes great interest in all matters concerning that body, especially the Sabbath school, in which he is a teacher. He votes on the Conservative side. (vol. II, p. 348)

Donald McDonald, lot 24, concession 6, is the grandson of one John McDonald, who was born in the Highlands of Scotland. His grandfather was a soldier and held the rank of Sergeant in the British Army, and came to America in that capacity. He served through the Revolutionary War, and lived in New York State six or seven years, during which period John Macdonald, the father of the subject of this sketch, was born. The family came to York County, and settled on Yonge Street, north of Toronto, where they remained two years, subsequently removing to Vaughan Township on lot 19, concession 3, where our subject’s grand-parents died. His father resided at home until he was twenty-one years of age, and then took possession of lot 19, concession 6, which he successfully cultivated until his death. Donald was one of a family of five children, and was born in the year 1835. He was married in the year 1875, his wife’s maiden name being Flora McDonald; the issue of their union is four children. Mr. McDonald has devoted much attention to church matters, and is Treasurer and Trustee of the Presbyterian Church. He is a Reformer in politics. (vol. II, p. 348)

James McDonald, lot 19, concession 3, was born in the year 1836 on the same farm where he now resides, being the youngest son of the late Archibald McDonald. His father came to Canada when quite young, in company with his parents; they were from the United States, and were of Scotch extraction. James has always lived on the old homestead in Vaughan, and married in 1863 Barbara Watson, by whom he had three children. She died however, and his second union was with Elizabeth, daughter of the late Henry White, by whom he had three children, two of whom are dead. The family are adherents of the Methodist Church, and Mr. McDonald is a Reformer in politics. (vol. II, p. 349)

John McGillivray, lot 31, concession 7, was born in Vaughan Township on the lot where he now resides, which is the same farm located on by his father Neil McGillivray, when he emigrated from Argyleshire, Scotland, in the early days of settlement. Mr. McGillivray was married in the year 1864, his wife being Nancy McGillivray; their family consists of two sons and three daughters. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church, and in politics is a Reformer. (vol. II, p. 349)

Lachlin McGillivray, lot 30, concession 7, is a native of the Island of Mull, Scotland, where he was born in 1807, being the youngest son of the late John McGillivray, mentioned elsewhere. Mr. McGillivray is the second owner from the Crown of the farm he now resides upon; his father lived on the farm with him until his death. He was married before leaving Scotland to Flora McKinnon, by whom he has seven children living, viz.: Donald, Mary, Sarah, Margaret, Hugh, Ann, Janet; John died when three years of age. He belongs to the Presbyterian body, and is a Reformer in politics. (vol. II, p. 349)

Neil McGillivray, lot 19, concession 9, is a native of Vaughan Township. He is the eldest son of the late Neil McGillivray, an early settler, who emigrated from the Island of Mull, Scotland, accompanied by his mother and the rest of the family. They came direct to York and located for a few years on concession 3, and in 1836 moved to the farm, lot 20, concession 9, Vaughan Township, where the subject of this sketch was born. Mr. McGillivray died March 30, 1884, at the advanced age of eighty-two years. Neil McGillivray is an adherent of the Presbyterian Church, and a Reformer in politics. (vol. II, p. 349)

Charles E. McKinnon, pump manufacturer, late of Richmond Hill, is the son of Angus McKinnon, of Markham Township. He was born in Markham, and remained at home until his marriage in 1871 with Sarah M., daughter of John Perkins, of Victoria Square, when he removed to Richmond Hill and engaged in his present business, which includes the manufacture of all kinds of first-class pumps and windmills. He also deals extensively in hydraulic rams and similar appliances. He has lately removed to Kleinburg, where a full line of all goods sold by him is kept in stock. (vol. II, p. 350)

Duncan McKinnon, lot 18, concession 8, was born in Argyleshire, Scotland, in 1833. He came to Canada with his parents and family in 1834. The family first settled in Vaughan and afterwards removed to Markham, where they lived about five years. They then returned to Vaughan and took possession of the lot now occupied by Duncan, where the father died. Mr. McKinnon was twice married, both his wives being dead. He is a Presbyterian in religion, and in politics a Conservative. (vol. II, p. 350)

John McKinnon, lot 18, concession 5, was born in Trafalgar Township, Halton County, in the year 1824, being the eldest son of Donald McKinnon, who emigrated from the Isle of Mull, Scotland, in the year 1820. On arriving in Canada his father stayed some time at Little York, and subsequently moved into the Township of Markham and settled on lot 9, concession 6 (one hundred and fifty acres), which is still farmed by a brother of our subject. Mr. McKinnon sen’r, remained in Markham about two years and then settled in Halton County, where he married and settled upon fifty acres of land near Streetsville, on which he lived about twenty-one years, and then disposed of, finally purchasing the farm in Vaughan where John, his son, now resides, and where the old man lived until his death, at the age of sixty-eight years. John married in the year 1860 Ann Drummond, who was a native of Caledon Township, by whom he has a family of three children living. The family are adherents of the Presbyterian Church, and Mr. McKinnon is a Reformer in politics. Our subject had to help his father in the early days to clear the farm which was then all bush, and remembers perfectly well the school teacher boarding around amongst the different families, which was then the only possible means by which the children could obtain any education. (vol. II, p. 350)

John McLean, lot 16, concession 6, was born in 1850 on the farm he at present occupies, and is the youngest son of the late John McLean. His father was one of the first settlers in Vaughan, having emigrated from Tyre, Scotland, about the year 1821. After his arrival he was engaged upon the construction of Brock’s Monument, and about the year 1839 purchased the above mentioned farm in Vaughan, where he lived until his death in April, 1879. He was in religion a Presbyterian , and took great interest in Church matters. His political leaning was decidedly Conservative. He left his farm to his son John, who in religion and political ideas follows in the same grooves as his father. (vol. II, p. 351)

Duncan McMillan, lot 27, concession 3, was born in the township, on the farm where he now resides. He is the youngest son of the late Hugh McMillan, who emigrated from Argyleshire, Scotland, and composed one of the band of pioneer settlers in Vaughan, being very widely known and much respected throughout the section. Mr. McMillan landed at little York when there were only three or four houses, and they travelled to their destination by a deer track, carrying their luggage on two sticks across their shoulders. He settled on the farm now occupied by Duncan, where he remained until his death, March 9, 1876; his birth was on August 9, 1791. He took little or no interest in municipal affairs, but politically was an enthusiastic Conservative. He took great interest in Church matters, being a member of the Presbyterian body. Duncan McMillan was born in 1843, and has always lived on the old homestead. (vol. II, p. 351)

Alexander McNaughton was born in the Township of Vaughan in 1848, being the second son of the late Reverend Peter McNaughton, a clergyman of the old Scottish Kirk, who came to Canada in 1833, and was the first minister of any denomination established in Vaughan. The Reverend Peter McNaughton preached in Vaughan about five years, and then returned to Scotland to take charge of a parish, where he remained about three years. He came back to Canada at the end of that period, and again taking up his residence in Vaughan ministered to the wants of the section for about nine years. He subsequently removed to Pickering Township, and, after a number of years spent in Gospel work in that locality, he returned to Vaughan, where he had considerable property: he retired from the ministry and remained here until his death in March, 1874, at the advanced age of eighty-one years. Alexander was married in the year 1880 to Catharine Cameron, by whom he has two sons. He belongs to the Presbyterian Church, and is in politics a Conservative. (vol. II, p. 351)

Peter McNaughton, lot 6, concession 9, was born in the year 1846 on concession 5 of Vaughan, being the third son of the late Donald McNaughton. His father emigrated from Perthshire, Scotland, in 1837, and settled in concession 5 of this township, where he lived until his death in 1878, at the age of seventy-five years. He was a brother of the late Reverend Peter McNaughton, who for many years acted as minister for the Presbyterian body in Vaughan. Mr. Peter McNaughton was married in 1884, his wife’s maiden name being Margaret Bryson, a daughter of Mr. James Bryson, of this section. He is an adherent of the Presbyterian Church, and in politics votes for the Conservative Party. (vol. II, p. 352)

Andrew McNeil, lot 12, concession 6, is a native of Vaughan Township, having been born on lot 14, concession 6, in the year 1834. He is the second son of the late Mr. Arthur McNeil, a very old settler in Vaughan, who came to Canada in 1819. His father remained in Toronto, then Little York, about fourteen years, where he married. He afterwards purchased land in Vaughan on lot 14, concession 6, where he continued to live until his death. His wife’s maiden name was Margaret Jamieson, who is still living. During his lifetime he took a very intelligent interest in agricultural matters, being the first to introduce the Galloway breed of cattle into this section. He was also active in political affairs, and was a zealous and consistent member of the Presbyterian Church. He died in the year 1881, at the advanced age of eighty-one years. Andrew, the second in order of his father’s family, was married in 1872 to Sarah Livingston, by whom he has three children. In politics, as well as creed, he follows in his father’s footsteps. (vol. II, p. 352)

Charles McNeil, lot 14, concession 9, was born in Vaughan Township, on the lot where he now resides. His father, the late Colonel Arthur NcNeil, emigrated from County Cavan, Ireland, in the year 1821. He remained about ten years in Toronto, and in the year 1831 purchased the farm the locality of which is given at the commencement of this sketch. He always entered with a progressive spirit into agricultural undertakings, and introduced into the township the celebrated Galloway cattle. He died on the farm in the year 1881. Charles was the eldest son of his father’s family, and continues to cultivate the old farm, which is a very fine one of two hundred and fifty acres. (vol. II, p 352)

Archibald McQuarrie, lot 23, concession 4, is a native of New York State, where he was born in 1818. In company with his parents he came to Canada in 1827. His father, Lachlan McQuarrie, after his arrival in York County, settled on lots 15 and 16, concession 3, in 1829, and died in the fall of the same year. After his father’s death, his mother purchased twenty-five acres of lot 23, concession 4, and two years afterwards she also died. The family consisted of seven children besides the subject of this sketch, who are all indebted to their eldest sister for the devoted manner in which she endeavoured to supply the loss they had sustained. She is now married and is a resident of Vaughan, being the wife of Mr. Francis Bunt. Each member of the family is now doing well, and most of them are living in this neighbourhood. Archibald McQuarrie was married in 1864 to Emma Pickering, a native of England: they have a family of ten children. He has taken an active part in municipal matters, having been a member of the Township Council about four years. He belongs to the Presbyterian Church, and is a Reformer in politics. (vol. II, p. 352)

John C. McQuarrie, lot 20, concession 4, was born in the State of New York in the year 1825. His father, the late Lachlan McQuarrie emigrated from there to Canada about the year 1830, and coming to York County located on lot 17, concession 3, Vaughan Township. He died, however, after he had been about twelve months at the new settlement, leaving a family of eight children, three girls and five boys, of whom John C., the subject of this sketch, is the third in order. His mother died a few years after; thus, at the age of fourteen years, he was left to fight the battle of life alone. Nothing daunted, he commenced to work with a carpenter, from whom he received five dollars per month in the summer and no money at all in winter. He worked for him about three years, during which period he received a little schooling in the winter months. He then hired out at eighteen dollars per month, and the subsequent year commenced business for himself. He carried on a general carpenter and builder’s trade for about ten years, in which he was more than ordinarily successful; but failing health compelled him to give up that business, and he purchased one hundred and fifty acres of land, which he has since continued to farm. Mr. McQuarrie was married in the year 1853; his wife was Sarah Ann Bennett, daughter of Jacob Bennett, who was a native of Vaughan, having been born before the War of 1812. They have a family of three daughters living. His wife died about fourteen years ago, and he has since that time remained a widower. Mr. McQuarrie is a Justice of the Peace, and has also taken a considerable interest in church matters, having filled several important positions during the last twenty years. (vol. II, p. 353)