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Commemorative Biographical Record of the County of Kent, Ontario
James McGregor


JAMES McGREGOR, a retired farmer of Euphemia township, in the County of Lambton, whose place is located on the line dividing Lambton and Kent, has been a resident of that county for over 70 years, having come here with his parents in childhood.  He was born August 14th, 1826 in Perthshire, Scotland, son of Donald and Margaret (McGregor) McGregor, and grandson of Duncan McGregor, all natives of Perthshire.  The grandfather came to Canada in 1854, and here passed his remaining days.

Donald McGregor came to America with his family in 1831, and, settling in the County of Lambton, Ontario, took up 100 acres of land, devoting the remainder of his life to its cultivation and improvement.  There he passed away August 14th, 1866, at the advanced age of eighty years, and his wife followed him to the grave in March 1874,seventy-five; they were buried in Butler's cemetery.  Both were members of the Presbyterian Church.  They were the parents of seven children, namely:  Duncan and Gregor, both deceased; James; Daniel, who is a farmer of Michigan; Robert, who is a resident of Chicago, Illinois, engaged with a railway company; John, who resides in Michigan; and Janet, deceased.

James McGregor came to Canada with his parents when five years of age, and has lived in the County of Lambton ever since.  He remained at home until twenty-one years of age,, after which he worked for other farmers for some time before purchasing his present place.  He spent one year in Kalamazoo, Michigan, where he learned the trade of brickmaking.  When he purchased his present place, comprising 100 acres, it was all a wilderness, but by hard and persistent work he succeeded in bringing it to a profitable state of cultivation, and it is a credit alike to the owner and to the section in which it lies.  Of late years he has given up active labour, and now lives retired, enjoying the results of his industry, his son Frank at present having charge of the farming.  Mr. McGregor has made many substantial improvements on his palce, and in 1874 erected a fine brick residence, the brick for which he made himself.

On July 4, 1862, in Detroit, Michigan, Mr. McGregor was united in marriage with Lydia Outhouse, who was born September 10th, 1841, in Zone township, County of Kent, daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth Outhouse, who were early settlers in that township, coming from Nova Scotia.  Mr. Outhouse took up 100 acres of land, on which they made a permanent home, and there he died May 25th, 1877, at the age of 74.  Both are buried in the cemetery at Bothwell.  Mr. and Mrs. Outhouse had a family of nine children:  Johiah, a farmer of Zone township; Prudence, widow of Alexander Bourne of Windsor,, Ontario; Hannah, deceased; Lydia, Mrs. McGregor; Frederick, a miner of California; Susan, widow of John McGregor, of Kalamazoo, Michigan; Elizabeth and Harriet, twins, the former of whom is a trained nurse in Chicago, Illinois, the latter the wife of Alexander Catto, of Detroit, Michigan; and Georgina, who married Charles Webb, of Chicago, Illinois.

Mr. and Mrs. McGregor have ahd children as follows:  Margaret, who is the wife of William H. Pierce, of Zone township; Malcolm, a farmer of Dover township, County of Kent, who married Susie Stacy; Wellington, an engineer, of Chatham, Ontario; Frank, who lives with his parents and carries on the home farm; Frederick R., who died young; Alexander, who is engaged in farming in Zone township; Nellie, of Cleveland, Ohio, a trained nurse; and Louisa, who died in infancy.

The parents of this family are not connected with any church, but contribute to the support of all, especially the Methodist Church, which they attend.  Mr. McGregor is a reformer in political faith.  he is a prominent man in his community, and has considerable influence in his section, which he uses for the advancement of everything which will contribute to the welfare of his township and county.


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