John Nichol McKenzie

Other Events:

• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/193723309
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-74027
• Residence: 1881, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; United Presbyterian North America
• Occupation: 1891, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Agricultural Laborer
• Residence: 1891, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Presbyterian
• Occupation: 1901, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer
• Occupation: 1911, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer's Son
• Residence: 1911, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Presbyterian

Other Events:

• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/193723275
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-74025
• Residence: 1851, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Presbyterian
• Residence: 1861, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Presbyterian
• Occupation: 1871, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer
• Residence: 1871, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Presbyterian
• Occupation: 1874, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer
• Occupation: 1881, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer
• Occupation: 1891, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer
• Residence: 1891, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Presbyterian
• Occupation: 1901, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer
• Occupation: 1911, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer
• Residence: 1911, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Presbyterian

John married Jane Little 11 Jun 1874, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. Jane (daughter of William Little and Margaret Patton) was born 21 May 1851, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 12 Nov 1931, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried 14 Nov 1931, Mount View Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/193723291
• Name: Jane McKenzie
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-74026
• Residence: 1851, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Presbyterian
• Residence: 1871, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Presbyterian
• Residence: 1891, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Presbyterian
• Residence: 1911, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Presbyterian

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-161284
• Residence: 1844, Dumfries Township, Gore District, Ontario
• Occupation: 1851, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer
• Residence: 1851, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Presbyterian
• Occupation: 1861, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer
• Residence: 1861, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Presbyterian
• Occupation: 1871, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer
• Residence: 1871, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Lot 1 Con 8
• Residence: 1871, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Presbyterian
• Occupation: 1891, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Gentleman
• Residence: 1891, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Presbyterian
• Residence: 1895, Spruce St., Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada

John married Margaret Buchanan 3 Dec 1844, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. Margaret (daughter of Reeve Alexander Buchanan and Elizabeth "Betsy" Leese) was born CALC 15 Jan 1823, , Scotland; died 16 Jun 1899, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , Mount View Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Margaret McKenzie
• Name: Margaret McKenzie
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-161285
• Residence: 1844, Dumfries Township, Gore District, Ontario
• Residence: 1851, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Presbyterian
• Residence: 1861, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Presbyterian
• Residence: 1871, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Presbyterian
• Residence: 1891, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Presbyterian

Other Events:

• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/187708417
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-133273
• Occupation: 1851, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Tavern Keeper [catagory: hotel keeper, inn keeper, tavern keeper]
• Residence: 1851, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Presbyterian
• Occupation: 1856, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; innkeeper
• Occupation: 1861, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; innkeeper
• Occupation: 1861, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Tavern Keeper
• Residence: 1861, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Free Church

William — Margaret Patton. Margaret was born 1809, , Scotland; died 24 Sep 1883, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , Mount View Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/187708428
• Name: Margaret Brown
• Name: Margaret Little
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-105916
• Residence: 1830, New Cumnock, , Ayr, Scotland
• Residence: 1851, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Presbyterian
• Residence: 1861, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Free Church
• Residence: 1871, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Galt
• Residence: 1871, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Presbyterian
• Residence: 1881, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Presbyterian Canada

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-161289

John — Eleanor "Ellen" Nichol. Eleanor was born 1778, , Scotland; died 5 Feb 1863, Beverly Twp., Wentworth Co., Ontario, Canada; was buried , Mount View Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Eleanor
• Name: Eleanor "Ellen" McKenzie
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-161291
• Residence: 1851, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Presbyterian
• Residence: 1861, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Presbyterian

Other Events:

• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/141449171
• Historic Building: 44 Wellington St., Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-103088
• Residence: 1821, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Land: 1834, North Dumfries Concession 07 Lot 02, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Land: 1834, North Dumfries Concession 07 Lot 03, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Occupation: 1851, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer
• Residence: 1851, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Presbyterian
• Elected Office: 1852, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; councillor, Reeve
• Elected Office: 1853, , Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Councillor - Waterloo County
• Residence: 1871, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; U. P. Presbyterian
• Retired: 1881, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada

Notes:

Alexander was the eldest son of John Buchanan who arrived in the Branchton area in 1817. Alexander described as a man of "magnificent physique" came to Galt in 1819. First operated Absalom Shade's distillery for about 4 years. Later farmer in Branchton and was appointed the assessor of the Township of Dumfries in 1827. He served as a councilor of Township of Dumfries and as a councilor of North Dumfries. He did in 1881 with a estate valued at $300,000.

Cambridge Mosiac, Jim Quantrell, 1998, City of Cambridge [snippet from original text in book]

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Galt was almost hemmed in - a place without an outlet. The natural route was eastwards to the head of Lake Ontario at Dundas, but between the two points was a literal slough of despond in the shape of the far famed Beverly swamp, whose bottomless mud-holes and almost impassible " corduroys: were the terror of travellers for many a year thereafter.

This benighted region had a most unenviable reputation. It blocked the way between the head of navigation at Dundas and Hamilton, and the fertile lands of Dumfries and Waterloo. It could not be avoided, therefore, and the blazed road (A term in common use, indicating chips chopped off the sides of trees in the early settlements to show travellers the road.) through its long desolate morasses, was seldom passed without accidents and delays innumerable. A dozen teams all "stuck" (to use the expressive term of the period) within a few miles of each other, was no uncommon occurrence, and only the marines could believe the stories of the size and depth of the mud-holes which have been handed down to us.

Once upon a time a reckless rider attempted, contrary to advice, to pass through on horseback in the middle of the spring floods. A few hours afterwards a pedestrian found what at first glance he took to be a blue Scotch bonnet floating in the middle of a treacherous-looking pool. On attempting to recover the bonnet, he was horrified to find it covered the head of the reckless rider, who had plunged into the fatal morass, and, astride of his horse, had gradually sunk down, until arms, neck, mouth, and eyes, had been engulphed in the oozy, treacherous, almost fathomless abyss. Before assistance could be obtained, horse and rider had entirely disappeared!

How far this and similar stories can be relied upon, the reader can judge for himself, but certain it is, that the passage through Beverly swamp was greatly and justly dreaded. These feelings were increased by current rumours of an old peddler and even of other benighted travellers who had undertaken to pass through the swamp after dark, having mysteriously disappeared. These rumours became crimes of blood to the active imaginations of those days, and so widespread and strong had they become, that when Mr. Alexander Buchanan, a man certainly not deficient in courage, came in from New York State in 1819, he started through the wild and trackless woods after dark to his father's clearance near Branchton, rather than linger in Beverly swamp, with its dismal surroundings and evil reputation.

Reminiscences of the Early History of Galt and the Settlement of Dumfries in the Province of Ontario, by James Young , pg 56-57

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JOHN BUCHANAN, farmer, Township of South Dumfries, was born in Galt, County of Waterloo, Ontario, 15th August, 1821, and is a son of Alexander and Betsy Buchanan, natives of the United States, from which country they emigrated to Canada about the year 1817, and first settled in Galt, where they remained four years. They then moved to the farm in South Dumfries Township, on which Mr. Buchanan resided till sixteen years ago, when he returned to Galt and retired into private life. He is living there now with his second wife, hale and hearty, in his eighty-seventh year. His first wife died on the farm in 1842, and his second was Mary Wylie, still living. Mr. Buchanan had eleven children, ten of whom, six sons and four daughters, are still living. John Buchanan, the subject of this biography, was married 28th March, 1850, to Isabella McPherson, who was born in New York State 17th November, 1826. They are both members of the United Presbyterian Church at Galt. Their only child, Helen, was born 19th August, 1851, and is the wife of Dr. Webb, Town of Waterloo, Ontario. When Mr. Buchanan commenced life for himself, he purchased 100 acres of land, on which he at present resides, and to this he has since added 184 acres, making in all 284 acres of highly cultivated and improved land, bearing proofs of undoubted prosperity and industry.

The history of the county of Brant, Ontario: containing a history of the county: its township, cities, towns, schools, J. H. Beers & Co. Warner, Beers & Co.

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One of the most pressing necessities before the township could be brought into occupancy, was to have it properly surveyed. Mr. Adrian Marlett, of Ancaster, Provincial Deputy Surveyor, was promptly engaged by Mr. Dickson for the purpose, and surveyed a considerable portion of the lands in the neighbourhood of Galt during the fall of 1816. He commenced his work again early the following year, and continued it until it was completed.

The first building erected was near the corner of Main and Water Streets, where Mr. Alexander Buchanan's residence now is. It was constructed of logs, two stories high in front, with a one-storey kitchen attached. The front was enclosed by a log fence. This was deemed quite an ornament in those days, but would hardly be esteemed so highly at the present time. For many years afterwards one end of this building was used as a rude store by Mr. Shade, and the other as a dwelling for him-self and wife.

Reminiscences of the Early History of Galt and the Settlement of Dumfries in the Province of Ontario, by James Young, 1880 Toronto: Hunter, Rose Pg. 30, 31

Historic Building:
Constructed in 1855, possibly by William Leslie (carpenter) house known as the "William Leslie House" historic listed property city of Cambridge. Former Residence of Alexander Baird and family, murals were painted in this home by "Jack" Baird. Also the former home of R.P. SLater and family. Galt councillor and Mayor of Niagara Falls, Canada.

Elected Office:
Municipality Dumfries NYears on local council: 1852 Councillor; 1853 Reeve
Years on Waterloo County Council: 1853

Alexander — Elizabeth "Betsy" Leese. Elizabeth (daughter of John Mattison Leece and Margaret McArthur) was born CALC 18 Jan 1802, of, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 21 Apr 1841, South Dumfries Twp., Brant Co., Ontario, Canada; was buried , Mount View Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/141448531
• Name: Betsy Leese
• Name: Elizabeth "Betsy" Buchanan
• Name: Elizabeth Leece
• Name: Lizzie Leese
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-55144