(29 Oct. 1860-20 May 1941), storekeeper and auctioneer. (commonly known as D. D. McCuaig; he had no middle name but adopted the D in its place; probably, in accordance with the GC system of adding a father’s name to the son’s in common usage, he was originally known as Duncan Donald) Born in the 4th Concession of Lancaster Township, GC, a few miles from the Bainsville where he followed his business career. Parents: Donald McCuaig and his wife Sophia Rebecca McCuaig. D. D. McCuaig studied at a business college. As a youth, he also received training in telegraphy. He was associated in business for some 54 years with James A. Sangster. They operated a general store at Bainsville under the firm name of Sangster and McCuaig. In the division of work in the partnership, D. D. McCuaig dealt with the inside merchandise (food, clothing, and the multitude of other home commodities in which a general store of the time traded), while Sangster dealt with the “outside” and bulkier commodities: grain, hay, coal, machinery and building materials. The partners also maintained three cheese factories, with Sangster supervising their management and D. D. McCuaig keeping the accounts.

     D. D. McCuaig was the postmaster of Bainsville from 1884 to 1937. Since much the same statement is made about his partner Sangster, we can safely assume that the position was in fact a shared one, a part of the business of the store rather than personal. In 1912 the partners suffered considerable loss to their business in a fire. (Glengarry News 10 May 1912) D. D. McCuaig was also an auctioneer. In 1916, he was the auctioneer in the sale of over 100 young cattle contributed by the parishioners of St. Raphael’s in support of the parish funds. (Cornwall Freeholder 28 Sept. 1916) Politically, he was a Conservative, while Sangster was a Liberal. In 1914, D. D. McCuaig was chosen to be the Conservative candidate to oppose Hugh Munro in the provincial election, but D. D. McCuaig withdrew from the race because of illness and Munro was as a result returned by acclamation. In the federal election of 14 Sept. 1926, D. D. McCuaig stood as the Conservative candidate against the Liberal Archibald J. Macdonald for the GC seat, but was defeated. “His knowledge of the Gaelic language, in which he could converse fluently, resulted in his becoming one of the best known citizens of his native county.” (obituary, Standard Freeholder) He is said also to have spoken French. In 1914 he moved into a fine new house built for him by the Alexandria contractor, Alexander (Sandy) Cameron. (Glengarry News 23 Jan. & 20 Feb. 1914 ) He died at his home at Bainsville. Originally a Presbyterian; after Church Union, he belonged to the United Church. He was married in Montreal on 17 July 1888 to Catherine McIntosh (1862-1947), of Lancaster Township. (eight children, six surviving him) She was a first cousin of his partner Sangster. Four of their sons are separately noticed in this dictionary: S. H. McCuaig, and the medical doctors C.H., V.C., and D. R. McCuaig. In addition, their daughter Gertrude was married to the Rev. Alexander Dawson Matheson.

Standard Freeholder 21 May 1941 * The McCuaigs of Bainsville (1984?) (pp. 40; largely on him, his wife and family, with portraits) * Fraser, Gravestones, II, 225 * LLC 556 * Ross, Lancaster, 280, 304, 334, 378 * 1914 candidature: Glengarry News 12, 19, 26 June 1914; Ostrom 181 * celebrates 50th wedding anniversary, Glengarry News 22 July 1938