Macdonell, Angus Alexander

(27 July 1870-24 Jan. 1950), merchant. (Angus A. Macdonell, A. A. Macdonell) Born at Lancaster village, GC. (place of birth Alexandria also found) Parents: Mr and Mrs Alexander D. Macdonell. He came to St. Raphael’s with his family when he was aged nine. He attended primary school locally, high school at Williamstown, and the Ontario Business College at Belleville. In 1900, he was employed by the contractor and Glengarry MLA Donald Robert Mcdonald at Sault Ste. Marie, and in 1903 he was doing railway work for, or perhaps in association with, the same contractor at Labelle, Que. (Glengarry News 30 Nov. 1900, 22 May 1903) In 1904 Macdonell opened a general store at St. Raphael’s. (Glengarry News 2 Dec. 1904) However, he may not have continued in general merchandising for long at this time, since the dates 1912 and 1914 are also given for his beginning a general store at St. Raphael’s, probably about the time at which he withdrew from contracting. In his earlier years, he was “a contractor on public works projects,” and “followed public works and contracting” in Ontario, Quebec, and the Maritimes (obituary, Harkness). He operated the store at St. Raphael’s till he transferred his store and farm in 1949, the year before his death, to his son Duncan Macdonell. (GN 23 Sept. 1949)

Angus A. Macdonell was a councillor, deputy reeve and reeve for Charlottenburgh Township, and was warden of The United Counties of Stormont, Dundas & Glengarry in 1928. An active and loyal Conservative, he had refused attempts by friends to have him nominated as a candidate beyond municipal office. He died in his sleep at his home, and is buried in St. Raphael’s cemetery.

He was married 7 Sept. 1909 to Marjorie McKenzie of Williamstown, the daughter of the contractor D. H. McKenzie. (GN 17 Sept. 1909) (seven children) She was born in Port Arthur, Ont., in Jan. 1884, and died 5 Feb. 1945. (obituary, Standard Freeholder 16 Feb. 1945) Angus A. and Marjorie’s children included daughters married to Gerald Mcdonald and Lloyd McHugh, and a son Duncan Macdonell, who operated the general store at St. Raphael’s, and afterwards the Atlantic Hotel in Alexandria, and was active in the sports life of Alexandria, and was married in 1950 (GN 27 Oct. 1950) to Marie-Paule Menard, the daughter of Wilfrid Ménard.