JOHN McCULLOCH, whose long and honourable career as a merchant and business citizen has gained for him the respect and esteem of his fellow citizens in Ridgetown, was born in Blanshard township, County of Perth, Ontario, on June 21st, 1846, a son of John and Charlotte (Montgomery) McCulloch, the former of whom was born in Ayrshire, Scotland in 1813, and the latter in Lower Canada in 1819.

John McCulloch, the father, was a son of David McCulloch, who settled among the earliest pioneers in Lower Canada, where he reared a family in comfort and fitted them for life.  Some of his children reside in Canada and the others in Scotland.  John McCulloch, a son of David, came to the County of Perth after his marriage, purchased land, and here built a log cabin in the woods.  Mr. & Mrs. McCulloch, like their parents, belonged to that brave and courageous band who faced privation and hardship for many years, and by their energy, industry and steady perseverance made possible the conditions of modern living in the same locality.  Prior to settling in the County of Perth, John McCulloch had engaged in lumbering, and thus was prepared for the hard work which fell to his lot in clearing his land and making a comfortable home in Blanshard township.  Before he laid aside the cares of life and passed into an honoured grave, in 1881, he had cleared a large farm and replaced the log cabin with comfortable frame buildings, making many other substantial improvements which greatly enhanced the value of his property and converted it into one of the attractive farms of the township.  His devogted wife survived ten years, passing away surrounded by those who loved and appreciated her.  Early in life they both united with the Presbyterian Church, and they lived pious, virtuous lives.  In political sentiment Mr. McCulloch was a Reformer, and he always took a deep interest in the successes of his party.  A family of thirteen children was born to himself and wife, eleven of whom grew to maturity, namely:  (1)  William, (now deceased) grew up in the old home, married Mary Roy, a native of the County of Perth, and settled in Logan township, in the same county, where they lived until a few years ago, when they removed to the town of Mitchell, where he lived retired until his death, in November, 1901.  (2) Margaret, born in the County of Perth, is the wife of Donald Sinclair, of that county, and they have a family.  (3)   children, Duncan and Mary.  (4)  Andrew, born in the County of Perth, learned the blacksmith's trade and followed the same until his death, in 1878; he never married.  (5)  David, born in the County of Perth, married Mary Horn, of the same county, and they now reside in North Dakota, where he has been the successful superintendent on a large farm for 20 years, for a Boston firm.  They have four children, and we have record of two, Florence and Milton.  (6)  Mary, born in the County of Perth, died in young womanhood.  (7)  Rebecca and (8)  George are twins.  The former is the wife of George Edwinson, a butcher in North Dakota, and has one son, Basil.  The latter settled in North Dakota, and is now superintendent of the County House in Brainard, and has a wife and family.  (9)  Joseph, born in the County of Perth, married and settled in Cooperstown, North Dakota, where he follows contracting and building and has three children.  (10)  James died when a young man, and two children died in infancy.

John McCulloch, bearing his father's name, inherited many of the sterling qualities of his parent which have contributed to his success in life.  his boyhood days were spent alternately in work ont he farm and attendance upon the district school, and in early manhood he took a business course in a college at Mitchell, Canada, and then accepted a position as clerk in the grain shipping house of Carter & Co., of that city, with whom he remained for six years.  Mr. McCulloch then moved to Ridgetown, where he purchased a bakery which he conducted for two years, in 1881 buying a general store, in the First ward, where he engaged in a mercentile business for 15 years, retiring from business activity in 1896.

On April 28th, 1875 Mr. McCulloch married Barbara Haggart, the worthy daughter of Neil and Janet (McNaughton) Haggart, the former of whom was born in the County of Elgin, in Aldborough township, in 1820.  His wife was born in Scotland, and after their marriage they settled in Aldborough township, where he engaged in farming and worked at his trade of tailor.  His death occurred on his farm in 1882, his widow suriving ten years; both were most highly respected and sincerely mourned.  They have five children born to them, as follows:  Isabel, who married Leonard Bentley, resides in Detroit, and they have five children.  Duncan, who resides on the old homestead, married Maggie Mctaggart, now deceased, and two of their children survive, Maud and Neil.  Sarah, born in the County of Kent, is the wife of William Hagart, of Chatham, and their children are Nettie, Cassie, barbara and Joseph.  Mary E. born on the old homestead, is the wife of John Laird, who resides on a farm one mile east of Blenheim, and has one son, Joseph, who is now pursuing his studies in an agricultural college.  Barbara, who became Mrs. McCulloch, was born in 1847, was educated int he schools of the County of Kent and is a lady of intelligence and most amiable character.

Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. McCulloch:  Janet, born in 1876 and John Neil, born in 1878, both died in childhood.  Lottie E., born in September, 1880, in Mitchell, Canada, was liberally educated, graduating from the Collegiate School in Ridgetown, was for three years one of the superior teachers in the public schools, and is now attending university at Toronto; she is a lady of much culture and refinement.  Duncan born in Ridgetown, is a student in the high school of the city.

Both Mr. and Mrs. McCulloch are active members of the Presbyterian Church, of which he is a trustee, and they have both taken a deep interest in the work of the Sunday School.  While a resident of Mitchell Mr. McCulloch was secretary and treasurer of the church there.  Mrs. McCulloch was for many years the beloved teacher of the infant class in the Sabbath-school, is president of the Foreign Missionary Society and also acts as vice-president.  Politically Mr. McCulloch belongs to the strong old Reform party and has served with credit in the city council of Ridgetown.  Fraternally he belongs to the order of Odd Fellows and the Home Circle.

Mr. and Mrs. McCulloch are among the prominent and leading residents of Ridgetown, taking an active part in its religious and social life, and enjoying the esteem and affection of a wide circle of frineds.

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