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Donald A. Duff, filling the
office of city clerk at Lethbridge, was born in Perthshire, Scotland,
December 14, 1879. His grandfather, Charles Duff, was a farmer, cattle
man and distiller of Scotland and there spent his life. The grandfather
in the maternal line was Duncan Mackay, who also devoted his attention
to agricultural pursuits. John Duff, the father of Donald A. 1)uff, was
born in Scotland in 1822, and his life record covered the intervening
years to 1898. The mother, who bore the maiden name of Janet Mackay, was
born in Scotland in 1835 and died in 1920. They were reared, educated
and married in Scotland and came to Lethbridge in June, 1885. The father
was a farmer and ranchman who owned a large tract of land, on which the
city of Lethbridge now stands. He formerly ran cattle on his place as
there was no town at the time. The Duffs were the second family here,
their predecessors being the Staffords. Mr. Duff owned a good ranch
property, with always from two hundred and fifty to four hundred head of
cattle upon the place and also a large number of horses. As the years
passed he prospered in his undertakings, and making judicious
investments in realty, accumulated considerable valuable property. He
platted the Duff addition to the city of Lethbridge and in all of his
business affairs followed progressive and constructive methods. He
planted some of the first trees in the city in 1886 and there are today
magnificent and beautiful trees around his old home place. Whatever he
(lid seemed to benefit the public as well as to advance his individual
fortunes and he was regarded as one of the most progressive, valued and
honored residents of this section of the Dominion.
To the marriage of John
Duff and Janet Mackay nine children were born, seven of whom are living:
Mrs. Challand, now of London, England; Duncan, who is a farmer residing
near Coaldale, Alberta; Mrs. Frank W. Fane, whose husband was a major in
the World war and now lives at Edmonton; Mrs. Starner, a widow residing
in Lethbridge; James, who is superintendent of the town site for the
Canadian Pacific Railway at Calgary; Mrs. E. H. Wilson of Victoria; and
Donald A., of this review. The parents were members of the Presbyterian
church and both took an active and helpful part in its work, doing all
in their power to promote its growth and extend its influence.
Politically Mr. Duff was a Conservative.
Donald A. Duff obtained
his education in the schools of Lethbridge, for he was a had of but six
years when brought by his parents to this city. He passed through
consecutive grades to the high school and when his textbooks were l)Ut
aside he turned his attention to civil engineering, continuing to follow
that profession until 1918. In the previous year, however, he became
city clerk and has occupied the position continuously since, covering a
period of six years. He is making a most capable official through the
prompt and efficient manner in which he discharges his duties and thus
he has been continued in the office for some time. Politically he
maintains an independent course. He has some property holdings in
Lethbridge and his attention is divided between the supervision of his
real estate and his official interests. He is well known here, having
remained a resident of Lethbridge since his boyhood days, and he enjoys
in large measure the confidence, esteem and goodwill of his fellow
townsmen. |
