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MacArthur, Donald
Alexander, Alexandria, Ont., was born on the 28th of October,. 1836, in
Charlotteburg, County of Glengarry, Ontario. His father, Alexander
MacArthur, was a son of Charles MacArthur, a native of Lochaber,
Inverness-shire, Scotland, who came to Canada in 1786, and settled in.
Glengarry. Donald MacArthur, his great-grandfather, served under Cameron,
of Lochiel, and took part at the battle of Culloden, when Prince Charles
Stuart’s forces were defeated by the Duke of Cumberland; and his
grandfather, Charles MacArthur, served at a later date in suppressing the
Irish rebellion. On coming to Canada, his grandfather took up land, which
he cleared, and on which he erected a homestead, and on this is the
residence of the subject of this sketch. Charles MacArthur died when his
son, Alexander, was very young, arid the latter was brought up by his
brother John, who was an extensive lumber merchant at Kingston. After
attaining manhood Alexander settled on the homestead, marrying Mary, a
daughter of John Macdonald, one of the United Empire loyalists. The issue
of this marriage was nine sons arid two daughters, of which family Donald
Alexander is the third eldest. Like other loyalists, Alexander MacArthur,
at the time of the rebellion of 1837-8, took up arms in defence of the
government. He was gifted with a splendid constitution, and at this
writing is still hale and in good health, though well advanced in life.
Donald Alexander MacArthur received his early education in Cornwall, and
took his classical course at the Alexandria Grammar School. At the age of
nineteen he left school, and thereafter for a time—till he was
twenty-two--pursued the avocation of teacher in his native county. He then
entered mercantile pursuits under the late A. S. Macdonald, of Alexandria,
with whom he remained seven and a half years. He then formed a partnership
with George Harrison, of Alexandria, the firm being known as Harrison &
MacArthur. This business was successfully carried on for five or six
years, when Mr. McArthur disposed of his interest therein. In 1874 he
commenced business for himself, and two years afterwards erected the
handsome premises which he now occupies. In 1881 Mr. McArthur was one of
the sub-committee of five, appointed by the board of directors for the
building of the Canada Atlantic Railway, his confreres being John Rankin
of Montreal; E. McGillivray, and C. R Mackintosh of Ottawa; Saxon
Casselman of Casselman, and Mr. Helmer of Russell. This committee made a
contract with D. C. Lindsay of Vermont, and it was ratified by the board,
and has since been carried to its completion. In the fall of 1882 Mr.
McArthur was nominated by the Conservative party for the representation of
Glengarry in the local house, his opponent being James Rayside, the
present member, who only succeeded in defeating him by the small majority
of seventy votes. In January, 1885, he was elected reeve of Alexandria,
defeating the then reeve, D.A. Macdonald. In 1886 he was elected reeve by
acclamation, and subsequently, on the 26th of January, at the first
meeting of the council, was chosen warden of the united counties of
Stormont, Dundas, and Glengarry. Mr. McArthur has always been a staunch
Conservative, and is president of the Conservative Association of the
County of Glengarry. In religion he is a Roman catholic, although that was
not the faith of his ancestors. |
