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JAMES
MACFARLANE emigrated from Scotland in 1836 and located near Hamilton,
Ontario. He was one of the valued educators of the Province, and was
retired near Hamilton, when he had passed the time limit. In 1851 he came
to the County of Kent and purchased the fine property now occupied by his
distinguished nephew, Dr. Macfarlane, naming it Gowrie, in memory of his
old home. He continued to teach until 1860, after which he removed to
this beautiful property, in which he made his home until his death. For
many years he was a prominent citizen, a justice of the peace in Dover
township, for two terms was township reeve, and in his political views was
a Liberal. Mr. Macfarlane interested himself so prominently in the
drainage of the locality that one of the great canals bears his name, and
the one in the vicinity of Gowrie he also was permitted to name – the
Gowrie drain. Prior to coming to Dover township he was an elder in the
Presbyterian church, and it was one of the drawbacks to the enjoyment of
his beautiful estate that he was separated from the church at Chatham,
eight miles distant. In 1885 he established his nephew here and made him
his heir, having never married. His death occurred in August, 1896, at
the age of ninety-one years, and his burial took place at Jacks cemetery,
in Dover township. |
