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McColman, Neil, M.P.P., was
born in the parish of Kilcoman, Island of Islay, Argyleshire, on the 15th
of February, 1834. He is a son of Peter McColman and Ann McAffer, daughter
of the late Duncan McAffer, of the village of Kilnare, on the west coast
of Islay. Our subject's father adopted the life of a farmer, and with the
outflow of emigration, came to Canada in 1843. He settled in Caledon West,
where he remained for four years, then he removed to the township of
Collingwood and began as a farmer. Mr McColman died in 1878. There was
left a family of six, the subject of our sketch being the second youngest.
Neil McColman received a common school education in Islay, Scotland. After
coming to this country, being then only twelve years of age, he began
farming, and continued at this occupation with good success until 1883,
when he retired, and rented his farm of 100 acres. He then removed to
Thornbury to superintend the construction of the harbour works in that
village, where he still resides. In 1867, Mr. McColman was elected to the
township council of Collingwood, and in 1869 was elected reeve for the
same township, and he was re-elected for several years afterwards. In
1884, upon the death of the late A. W. Lauder, M.P.P., he contested the
representation for the East Riding of Grey for the Ontario house against
Robert Myles, of Euphrasia township, and he succeeded in defeating his
opponent by a majority of 622 votes, which was a very decided victory. Our
subject is a member of the Orange Association, and has held the office of
master for some years. At present he is district chaplain of Collingwood
District, and is a member of Lodge No. 1087. He is a man of wide and
ripened experience, and has travelled through the greater part of Canada
and the United States. In politics Mr. McColman is a Liberal-Conservative,
and was president of the East Grey Conservative Association for six or
seven years. He resigned this office at the time of his election. He is a
member of the Provincial Liberal-Conservative Association. He was married,
in 1857, to Martha Green, daughter of Maymon Green, of the County of York,
a native of Yorkshire, England, and by this lady has a family of six
children. Mr. McColman's public career, has, so far, been a credit to him,
and those who have watched his administrative abilities in municipal
matters, consider him a shrewd, level-headed man, and fit to take a place
in any deliberate assembly. |
