(1856?- 19 June 1921), lumberman. (Duncan A. McKinnon, D. A. McKinnon) Born in Finch Township, Stormont County. Parents: Alexander McKinnon and his wife Mary MacLean. He was married in 1888 to Mary Jane McEwen (1861-1922), of Roxborough Township, Stormont County. (three children, two surviving him) It was probably at this time, or within a few years after, that he settled in Maxville, which was to be his home for the remainder of his life. T. W. (Tom) Munro, writing in 1938, says that McKinnon “had a natural bent for lumbering, particularly for the making of square timber, which he followed for many years with marked success.… The timber he shipped by rail, over the old Canada Atlantic Railway, to Coteau Landing, where it was rafted and floated down the St. Lawrence to Quebec, and thence forwarded to the Motherland.… When the supply of square timber began to wane in this district–and his operations extended over the counties of Glengarry, Stormont and Prescott–he built a sawmill here [Maxville] which he operated for some twemty years. He was also a large landowner. The sawmill building, which was on Catherine Street West, disappeared from view years ago.”

     In attempting to set dates for these events, the main problem is how his square timber business related chronologically to his years in Maxville. We get a glimpse of his business in operation from the Maxville columnist in the Glengarrian of 16 May 1890, who stated, “Mr. McKinnon has shipped all his timber, and has gone to Coteau to raft it there for Quebec.” Like many other GC sawmills at the time, his Maxville sawmill also made shingles. He was on the first Maxville council, 1892. During WWI he became a member of the local Exemption Board. (appointed, Glengarry News 26 Oct. 1917) And at the time of his death he was on the Mothers’ Allowance Board for GC. “He was prominently identified with the Liberal party in the riding” (obituary, Cornwall Standard) and was remembered to have once been asked to be his party’s candidate for MLA. Munro describes him as thickset, short-necked, square-jawed, of average height but “of extraordinary strength,” with powerful limbs, and with close-cut hair and moustache, and fiercely proud of his Scottish heritage. He died at his home in Maxville. Presbyterian. He was the father of Mrs Florence Allin, and his sister was married first to Alexander Peter MacDougall and afterwards to the Rev. John D. McEwen.

Cornwall Standard 23 June 1921 (QF), Glengarry News 24 June 1921 * Munro GN 3 March 1938 * Maxville (1991) 49, 83, 84, 295, 708-709 * Campbell, Tannis, & Stewart, MacDougalls, 284, 329, 345 * gravestone Maxville Cemetery