(died 2 or 3 March 1913, in his 86th year), businessman, public official. (Big Donald the Assignee) Born probably on the South Branch, GC. Parents: Angus McLellan and his wife Catherine McRae. Catherine McRae was a niece of Finnan Mcdonald (Big Finnan of the Buffalo) and his brothers John Mcdonald le Borgne, and Col. James Mcdonald of the Glen, and was related to R. R. (Big Rory) McLennan. Donald McLellan was adopted by his uncle, Col. Donald McLellan of Belleville, Ont. Donald McLellan the younger, i., e., the subject of the present article, “was educated at Belleville, where he afterwards engaged in the grain and forwarding business, and was interested in a line of steamers and horse freighters. He subsequently came back to Glengarry, where for years he was official assignee for the United Counties of Stormont, Dundas, and Glengarry under the old Dominion Insolvent Act. In this way he came into contact with practically all of the business men of Montreal of that date.” Later, he followed lumbering and mercantile interests at Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., then returning home he had a general store at Williamstown, and a store and sawmill at Bridge End. An 1876 directory lists him under Williamstown as “McLellan Donald, merchant and County assignee.”

     He was described at the time of his death as “A Sturdy Glengarrian,” and “one of the fast vanishing type of the big Glengarrymen, who carried the fame of their native county to the furthest corners of the earth.” At this time also it was said that “Mr. McLellan was of stalwart physique, standing over six feet in height and weighing upwards of 250 pounds.” Physically he was said to resemble the 19th-century British prime minister William Ewart Gladstone. In his Brockville years, he knew the Hon. Robert Baldwin. Despite being himself a Liberal, he was a lifelong friend of Sir Mackenzie Bowell, the Canadian prime minister, who had been his boyhood contemporary at Belleville, and of Sir Charles Whitney, the premier of Ontario, both Conservatives. At the time of the Fenian Raids, he served in the militia. Among his contemporaries, his knowledge of Canadian and European history was much admired. He was apparently the brother of Angus McLellan. He was the uncle of John A. Chisholm the mayor of Cornwall, and of Mary Catherine McLellan, named in religion Sister St. Mary Alexander, and of Alexander J. McLellan. His father and General George B. McClellan, of the American Civil War, have been described as “cousins,” but this claim, if true, and if the claim was through the male branch, must relate to events far in the past of both families.

     Donald McLellan retired about 25 years before his death. “One of the most prominent residents of the South Branch” (Glengarry News obit.), he died at his home near Williamstown. He never married. He was a Roman Catholic, and is buried in St. Mary’s cemetery, Williamstown.

The Montreal Daily Star 5 March 1913 & Cornwall Freeholder 7 March 1913; (QF these sources); Glengarry News 7 March 1913 * Fraser, Gravestones, I, 34-36 (parents) * death of his mother, CF 17 Feb. 1888, cited DTL Standard Freeholder 22 Feb. 1947 * two obituaries of his mother, undated clipping, from collection of G. I. D. Cameron (copies in present author’s files) * The City of Ottawa and Central Canada Directory (Ottawa, 1876) 192