John McKellar
Encyclopedia
John McKellar was a businessman and political figure in Ontario
, Canada. He was the first mayor of Fort William, Ontario
(later part of Thunder Bay
), serving from 1892 to 1898.
He was born in Mosa Township, London District, Upper Canada, the son of Duncan McKellar and Margaret Brodie, both immigrants from Scotland
, and was schooled at home. The family moved to Ontonagon County
in 1855 but left Michigan
at the start of the American Civil War
. McKellar and his brothers Peter and Donald laid claim to a number of mining properties north of Lake Superior
; the profitable mines were generally sold to American interests. With the aid of his cousin Archibald McKellar
, he received a land grant on the Kaministiquia River
within the future borders of Fort William. McKellar served on the council for the municipality of Shuniah
which governed the Lakehead townships. In 1881, six townships, including Neebing Additional Township where McKellar's property was located, separated from Shuniah and formed a new municipality, known as the Municipality of Neebing. McKellar later became a councillor, then reeve for Neebing 1888-92. He campaigned for the incorporation of the town of Fort William and served as its first mayor. McKellar died in Fort William at the age of 66.
The John McKellar Memorial Hospital (later McKellar General Hospital) was named in his honour in 1902.
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada. He was the first mayor of Fort William, Ontario
Fort William, Ontario
Fort William was a city in Northern Ontario, located on the Kaministiquia River, at its entrance to Lake Superior. It amalgamated with Port Arthur and the townships of Neebing and McIntyre to form the city of Thunder Bay in January 1970. Ever since then it has been the largest city in Northwestern...
(later part of Thunder Bay
Thunder Bay
-In Canada:Thunder Bay is the name of three places in the province of Ontario, Canada along Lake Superior:*Thunder Bay District, Ontario, a district in Northwestern Ontario*Thunder Bay, a city in Thunder Bay District*Thunder Bay, Unorganized, Ontario...
), serving from 1892 to 1898.
He was born in Mosa Township, London District, Upper Canada, the son of Duncan McKellar and Margaret Brodie, both immigrants from Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, and was schooled at home. The family moved to Ontonagon County
Ontonagon County, Michigan
-National protected areas:* Keweenaw National Historical Park * Ottawa National Forest -Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 7,818 people, 3,456 households, and 2,225 families residing in the county. The population density was 6 people per square mile . There were 5,404 housing units...
in 1855 but left Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
at the start of the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. McKellar and his brothers Peter and Donald laid claim to a number of mining properties north of Lake Superior
Lake Superior
Lake Superior is the largest of the five traditionally-demarcated Great Lakes of North America. It is bounded to the north by the Canadian province of Ontario and the U.S. state of Minnesota, and to the south by the U.S. states of Wisconsin and Michigan. It is the largest freshwater lake in the...
; the profitable mines were generally sold to American interests. With the aid of his cousin Archibald McKellar
Archibald McKellar
Archibald McKellar was briefly leader of Canada's Ontario Liberal Party from 1867 to 1868 and, unofficially, the first Leader of the Opposition in Ontario's new provincial legislature and went on to serve as Commissioner of Public Works in Ontario Premier Oliver Mowat's first government.He was...
, he received a land grant on the Kaministiquia River
Kaministiquia River
The Kaministiquia River is a river which empties into western Lake Superior at the city of Thunder Bay, Ontario. Kaministiquia is an Ojibwe word meaning " with islands" due to two large islands at the mouth of the river...
within the future borders of Fort William. McKellar served on the council for the municipality of Shuniah
Shuniah, Ontario
Shuniah is a municipal township bordering the city of Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada on the east. Shuniah was incorporated by an act of the Ontario legislature in 1873, and at that time included much of present-day Thunder Bay and its predecessor and surrounding municipalities...
which governed the Lakehead townships. In 1881, six townships, including Neebing Additional Township where McKellar's property was located, separated from Shuniah and formed a new municipality, known as the Municipality of Neebing. McKellar later became a councillor, then reeve for Neebing 1888-92. He campaigned for the incorporation of the town of Fort William and served as its first mayor. McKellar died in Fort William at the age of 66.
The John McKellar Memorial Hospital (later McKellar General Hospital) was named in his honour in 1902.