| <tab>By 1888, when Alexander (b. 1854, in GC) left the company, Archie (6 Jan. 1862-2 Feb. 1911) was also one of its members. John R. was born in Scotland, in 1850 and raised in GC. He came to Michigan when he was about 16, and remained there for 13 years, “employed as a lumberman,” but also finding time to learn the carriage-making trade. In 1880, he joined his brothers in carriage making in Crookston. John R. was interested in other business activities besides carriage-making. “In 1887 he erected the McKinnon block [in Crookston], the first good business building to mark its progress from village to city.” John R. was also associated over many years with the First National Bank, of Crookston, being one of the bank’s directors. Like his brother Allan, he was a Roman Catholic. The following brothers were mayors of Crookston: Alexander (mayor in 1890 and in 1892, also described as being in his second term as mayor in 1911), Allan J. (elected 1909 to be mayor 1910), and John R. (elected by acclamation 1895). Crookston has a population today of over 8000. Alexander evidently had a hand in getting Dr N. M. Watson to settle in the Crookston area of Minnesota. | <tab>By 1888, when Alexander (b. 1854, in GC) left the company, Archie (6 Jan. 1862-2 Feb. 1911) was also one of its members. John R. was born in Scotland, in 1850 and raised in GC. He came to Michigan when he was about 16, and remained there for 13 years, “employed as a lumberman,” but also finding time to learn the carriage-making trade. In 1880, he joined his brothers in carriage making in Crookston. John R. was interested in other business activities besides carriage-making. “In 1887 he erected the McKinnon block [in Crookston], the first good business building to mark its progress from village to city.” John R. was also associated over many years with the First National Bank, of Crookston, being one of the bank’s directors. Like his brother Allan, he was a Roman Catholic. The following brothers were mayors of Crookston: Alexander (mayor in 1890 and in 1892, also described as being in his second term as mayor in 1911), Allan J. (elected 1909 to be mayor 1910), and John R. (elected by acclamation 1895). Crookston has a population today of over 8000. Alexander evidently had a hand in getting Dr N. M. Watson to settle in the Crookston area of Minnesota. |
| <tab>For another family of five brothers who were pioneering in the United States about this time, see James and John R. Wood. And for still another, there were five brothers from Williamstown of the surname McGruer who lived in the Dakotas or perhaps the Dakotas and other nearby pioneer areas. In 1885 Dan McGruer was said to be a U. S. postmaster in the Dakotas, while James and Bob McGruer owned “one of the best conducted hotels in the state.” In 1886, Dan McGruer as reported to be doing well at Hamilton, Pembina County, Dakotas (now North Dakota). | <tab>For another family of five brothers who were pioneering in the United States about this time, see [[wood_james|James]] and [[wood_john_r|John R. Wood]]. And for still another, there were five brothers from Williamstown of the surname McGruer who lived in the Dakotas or perhaps the Dakotas and other nearby pioneer areas. In 1885 Dan McGruer was said to be a U. S. postmaster in the Dakotas, while James and Bob McGruer owned “one of the best conducted hotels in the state.” In 1886, Dan McGruer as reported to be doing well at Hamilton, Pembina County, Dakotas (now North Dakota). |
