(22 June 1828-23 Oct. 1907; date of birth 1837 also found), surveyor, civil engineer. (A. McDonell) Born in Dundee Township, Huntingdon County, Que., across the lake from GC. Parents: Austin McDonell and his wife Isabella or Isabelle McRae, both natives of Scotland. McDonell attended the grammar school at Williamstown, GC. He probably never lived in GC at any other time. However, it may be noted that he had a GC contact through his mother’s family being settlers in the 4th Concession of Lancaster Township, GC. He attended normal school in Toronto, 1850-1853, then moving a little farther west taught school in Kent County for some years. In 1863, he was admitted to practice as a land surveyor. At Chatham, where he had been a resident since 1859, he practised the twin professions of surveying and civil engineering for many years. Rose’s biographical dictionary states, “He was one of the promoters of the Erie & Huron Railway, and was one of the engineers of its construction. He has also been prominently connected with the drainage of wet lands in the peninsula, and introduced a number of important changes in the Drainage Act of Ontario. These changes were essential for the successful practical working of the drainage system.” The Ontario Drainage Act was passed in 1873. The Lambton County Land Registry Office (Sarnia, Ont.) has subdivision plans for Petrolia drawn up by McDonell in the 1860s.

     He was married at Chatham 14 Aug. 1861 to Margaret Flynn or O’Flynn, of Brockville and Chatham. (at least five children, four surviving him) His death at Chatham resulted from injuries sustained in the runaway of his horses earlier that day. His survivors included a son, Dr John F. a physician in Detroit. Augustine McDonell was a Roman Catholic.

The Daily Planet (Chatham, Ont.) 23 & 25 Oct. 1907, with portrait; quotes biog. sketch of McDonell which appears in Commemorative Biographical Record of the County of Kent (1904) * Rose, i, 488 * his biog. in OLS No. 36 (1921), with portrait * parents: Whyte i, 211, 321, 322; Fraser (1959) 114, 132