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D. M. Macpherson


Macpherson, D M., Lancaster, was born on the 1st concession of Lancaster, Lot No. 15, County Glengarry, on the 17th of November, 1847. He is a son of John Macpherson, who was born in Kinguessie, Scotland, in the year 1797, and came to Canada in 1801, settling down with his father on the present homestead, at Front Lancaster. When John Macpherson reached manhood's estate, he engaged as a merchant for a time in the village of Lancaster, and then carried on the lumbering business for several years; subsequently he settled on the farm mentioned of two hundred acres. He was very active and industrious, and a leading farmer until he died at the age of seventy-two. He was also a captain of the Clengarry militia. The mother of D. M. Macpherson was Catherine Cameron, daughter of the Hon. John Cameron, of Fairfield farm, Summertown, from Charlottonburgh, Glengarry, who re-represented the County of Glengarry from 1825 to 1832, when parliament met in Niagara. Mrs. Macpherson, who died in 1860, was a warm-hearted mother, a loving friend, and good to the poor, and it is not strange that she was beloved and esteemed by every-one. The subject of this sketch was educated in common county school, in school section, number one, township of Lancaster. With respect to political creed, Mr. Macpherson has always held reform views, and believes that the Liberal policy is the true party principle for advancement and improvement. He has had no connection with any secret society, nor does he believe that the same are conducive to the good of mankind. Mr Macpherson has travelled considerably in America and England, and his knowledge has been much widened in that way. Mr. Macpherson was engaged in farming pursuits, until twenty-one, when his father died. He was a prize taker and a professional plough-man, and noticing a good opening in the cheese manufacturing business, determined to give it a trial. So without any experience or advice he determined to begin making cheese from a dairy of eight cows, and a complete outfit was secured, and he began the manufacture in the spring of 1870. By hard work and close care the season was a fair success. The following year, 1871, he asked two of his neighbours to supply him with their milk. They did so and the trial proved very successful. The third year a good sized factory was established, the milk of two hundred cows was received, and Mr. Macpherson made all into cheese. But the. following year two petitions from adjacent sections were received for the starting of new factories, and Mr. Macpherson concluded to give that undertaking a trial. Consequently he began the new system of cheese factory combinations, and the results were very satisfactory, so much so that several more conjoined branches were added the following year, and each succeeding year large additions were made, until the past season of 1885, the number rose to sixty six factories, tuning out seventy thousand boxes, weighing 4,500,000 lbs. of cheese. All of this enormous output was shipped and sold in the English market, representing a value of over $350,000.00. The business now employs one hundred and fifty hands, and has a capital only of $50,000 or $60,000. In 1882, a cheese box factory and steam saw mill was added, and in 1885 an additional steam saw mill. These establishments turned out four million feet of lumber, and two hundred thousand boxes in 1885, giving regular work to forty hands. Mr. Macpherson has, in the meantime, taken out five patents on improved and original cheese machinery, two of which are a marked success. He was corresponding editor of the dairy department of the Hamilton Live Stock Journal for some time. The brand of cheese made is called the "Allangrove" of Canada. It is well known in England, and much sought for by dealers. Mr. Macpherson is a man of almost phenomenal activity, of splendid business ability, and has a great gift of foresight. But Mr. Macphersan has marked abilities of a general nature, and those who know him feel that if he would consent to enter the political arena he would be a decided acquisition to the public life of Canada. With respect to his religious and political views he is Liberal and Protestant. He married on 17th Jartuary, 1871, Margaret, daughter of Duncan McBean, of Front Lancaster.


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