(31 Aug. 1860-16 Dec. 1952), farmer. (Allan D. D. MacDonald, A. P. McDonald) Born at the Glen, Williamstown. Parents: D. D. Mcdonald the eminent contractor and his wife Ann (Annie) Cameron. Allan was married on 10 Nov. 1890 to Mary Isabelle McDonald (1862-1 June 1921), whose father, D. D. McDonald of Harrisons Corners, Stormont County, had a name which duplicated that of her new father-in-law.
“After completing his education at the Glen school, Mr. [Allan P.] McDonald attended High School at Williamstown. He worked for some time with his father in various railroad construction enterprises, but later returned to his academic studies. In 1881 he returned to the farm and became one of the successful farmers of the district and a prominent breeder of Holstein cattle.” One of the progressive farmers of GC at his time, he shipped milk to the Montreal market (one of the economic ventures that most GC farmers only aspired to) and installed an ice-making unit to replace his ice house (an ice house itself being a luxury few GC farmers enjoyed). He lost most of his Holstein herd when it was found in 1925 to have become infected with TB, then rebuilt the herd. The farm prefix of Beaverview was registered in 1939, though in use informally earlier. Beaverview Farm is one of Ontario’s Bicentennial Farms. Granted first to a U E Loyalist in 1784, this farm at the Glen has been in the same family line (though not the same surname) since 1784.
Allan P. McDonald served as reeve of Charlottenburgh, and as a JP, and was secretary of the school S. S. No. 6 Charlottenburgh for over half a century. “In politics he was a staunch Conservative.” He was presumably the Allan P. McDonald who was one of the pallbearers at the funeral in 1930 of the historian John A. Macdonell. Roman Catholic. ”A devout member of St. Mary’s Parish, he was a leader in parochial work. Later, when advancing years and delicate health forbade him taking an active part, he kept in touch with the world about him through books and newspapers.” Aged 92, he died at his home at the Glen. He is buried at St. Mary’s cemetery, Williamstown. (children: two daughters) He was the father of Mrs Florence MacDonell (Mrs Jerome MacDonell), a lifelong resident of Beaverview Farm, who was noted for her extraordinary knowledge of GC genealogy and history. She died 27 July 1984, aged 87. Angus H. McDonell, highly appreciative of her knowledge and collections, wrote a fine obituary tribute (Glengarry News 8 Aug. 1984).
He was the brother of James D. D. Mcdonald and of the contractors D. R. Mcdonald (MLA for GC) and John Angus Mcdonald. D. R. McDonald’s funeral in 1923 took place from Allan’s home at the Glen. See also D. A. (Big Dan) Mcdonald, lumberman.
The obituary (Standard Freeholder 2 Sept. 1938) of Donald McDonell, aged 95, a native of Greenfield in GC and a Cornwall resident, stated, “During the construction of the International Railway he worked for A. P. McDonald, contractor, in the district of Grand Metis, Que.” (Presumably the reference is to the A. P. McDonald of the present entry)
Glengarry News 19 Dec. 1952, 2 Jan. 1953, obituary (undated clipping but evidently from Standard Freeholder) WSC 119 (QF these sources) * Fraser, Gravestones, I, 21, 80 * Holstein 3, 40, [69] * Beaverview Farm is noticed in two books by John & Monica Ladell, Inheritance: Ontario’s Century Farms (1979) & A Farm in the Family (1985) * marriage: CF 14 Nov. 1890, cited DTL SFH 12 Nov. 1949 * obituary of his daughter Mrs Anna Susan MacCulloch, GN 2 May 1984 * Beaverview Farm, GN 7 Oct. 1998