====== MacLeod, John Duncan ====== (1901-12 July 1968), agricultural expert, farmer. (John D. MacLeod, known as “Big John”) (date of death 11 July also given, but evidently in error) Born at Dunvegan, GC. Parents: Duncan R. MacLeod and his wife Jessie Ann MacQuaig (spelling MacCuaig also found). After graduating (1925) from Kemptville Agricultural School, he was employed by the Ontario Dept. of Agriculture as a weed inspector with responsibility for Eastern Ontario. Later, based at Toronto, he was director of the Crops, Seeds and Weeds Branch of the Ontario Dept. of Agriculture. While in Toronto, he founded the Glengarry Society of Toronto. Returning to Dunvegan in 1948, he re-established himself in farming, on a farm just south of the village of Dunvegan. He was the Conservative candidate for the GC constituency in the federal election of 27 June 1949 (the election to choose the successor to Mackenzie King as GC’s MP), but he was defeated by W. J. Major, Liberal. Along with his farming, John D. MacLeod operated a seed-cleaning plant in the village of Dunvegan, and was active in a very wide variety of community services, with great success in terms of achievements. He had been one of the principal founders of the original Clan MacLeod Society of GC in 1935 (said to have been the first Clan MacLeod society in Canada), and was active in its affairs up to his death. He was one of the originators of the printed history of //The Macleods of Glengarry// (1972), though he did not live to see it in print, and was one of the promoters in establishing the MacLeod Cairn near Dalkeith (dedicated 1965). Also, he is regarded as the principal founder of the Glengarry Pipe Band. Likewise, he was one of the founders of the Glengarry Historical Society, and served as its president, and was one of the founders of the Glengarry Pioneer Museum at Dunvegan, and had some involvement in the earlier stages of founding the Loyalist and Nor’Wester Museum at Williamstown. And he was a worker also for the Glengarry Highland Games and the Kenyon Agricultural Society, and was on the board of Maxville Manor and the Glengarry Memorial Hospital. A Presbyterian, he was an elder in Kenyon Presbyterian Church, Dunvegan, and a Sunday school superintendent. He was killed in a tractor accident during hay baling on his farm. He is buried in the Dunvegan Cemetery. There is a portrait of him, commissioned by the St. Andrew’s Society of Ottawa, in the museum at Dunvegan. He was the co-author of J. E. Howitt and John D. MacLeod, //The Weeds of Ontario// (Toronto, Ont. Dept. of Agriculture, 1940, repr. June 1949; pp. 129, with illustrs. in black-and-white and colour). This work, which includes sections from other contributors, is of value not only to farmers but to those people (pitifully few indeed in the 1940s, but grown numerous since) who are deeply interested in the scenic and ecological aspects of the plant life of the Ontario countryside. John D. MacLeod’s father-in-law George H. Clark was co-author of a rather similar work, George H. Clark and James Fletcher, //Farm Weeds of Canada// (Ottawa, Dept. of Agriculture, 1909; 2nd edn. enlarged 1923; pp. 192). Clark was also co-author of George H. Clark and and M. Oscar Malte, //Fodder and Pasture Plants// (Ottawa, Dept. of Agriculture,1913). Both the volumes of which Clark was co-author were issued with gorgeous water colour illustrations by Norman Criddle. John D. MacLeod was married to Helen Catherine Clark of Ottawa (1910-4 Feb. 1995). (three children) (Helen MacLeod) Her father George H. Clark was Dominion seed commissioner, Ottawa. Helen MacLeod taught home economics in the high schools at Maxville and Alexandria. Some years after the death of John D. MacLeod, she remarried to Malcolm Grant, a widower and prominent farmer in Kenyon Township. Malcolm Grant farmed at “Little Ireland,” west of Laggan. He was a member of the Kenyon Township Council, and at the time of his death on 12 July 1996 had been an elder of the Kenyon Presbyterian Church for two weeks short of 60 years. In their later years, Malcolm Grant and Helen lived in Maxville. Both Malcolm and Helen were involved over many years in community work, Helen being, among other community activities, a dedicated worker for the Glengarry Pioneer Museum at Dunvegan. ---- //Glengarry News// 18 July 1968 (with portrait and editorial) * his gravestone, Dunvegan Cemetery * //MacLeods//, i, 14-34 (with portraits), 167-168, ii, 9-34 (with portraits), 190-193 * obituary tribute, GHS, 8th //Annual Volume//, 1968-69 * MacMillan, //Kenyon Presbyterian Church//, 46, 52, 86 * //Soccer//, 5, 348 * Hugh P. MacMillan, “the Founding of a Historical Society,” //Glengarry Life// 1997 * Isabel C. MacLeod, //50 Years of History: Glengarry Clan MacLeod 1936-1986// (1986) * MacPhee 70-71 (with portrait), &c. * MacGillivray & Ross 382 * personal knowledge * //Addresses: Annual Convention Ontario Crop Improvement Association//, 1945, 1946, include his reports as this organization’s secretary treasurer * Hazel I. MacTaggart, //Publications of the Government of Ontario 1901-1955// (1964) 31, 60 * weed inspector, //Cornwall Freeholder// 15 May & 22 June 1929, //Glengarry News// 17 May 1929, 8 April 1932, 11 Jan. 1935 * his article on fanning mills, //GN// 2 Jan. 1942 * article on his views on problem of perennial sow thistle, which has been encouraged by rainy weather this year, //Standard Freeholder// 25 Sept. 1943 * chairman of annual “Glengarry Gathering” in Toronto, //SFH// 1 April 1947 * to return to “his family farm home at Dunvegan,” honoured by Toronto friends on departure, //SFH// 2 April 1948, //GN// 2 & 30 April 1948 * 1949 election: //GN// & //SFH// at this time * visits Scotland for MacLeod Clan parliament, //GN// 12 July 1962 * his wife: her obituary //GN// 8 Feb. 1995; //Bibliography of Glengarry// 136 (publication by her); (Marin 357?); personal knowledge * obituaries of Malcolm Grant: Winter //GN// 17 July 1996, //GN// 7 Aug. 1996, & //Manor Chatter// Sept. 1996 * George H. Clark: //Who’s Who and Why// (1921) 278; Ella S. G. Minter, ed., //Publications of the Canada Department of Agriculture 1867-1959// (Ottawa, 1963): index [<6>]