(died 27 Oct. 1926, in 92nd year), teacher . (James Smith, M.A.) Born at Methlick, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. He graduated from what is now Aberdeen University. He was probably the James Smith of Methlick who graduated as master of arts in 1848, but the date was remembered later in Canada as 1852. Either date would make him young (13 or 17) for a degree by modern standards, but his contemporaries at Aberdeen got degrees when they were virtually children. He and his wife, Margaret McDonald, came to Canada in 1863, and lived at Brantford, and he took part at this time in the defence against the Fenian Raids. James Smith taught for six years at Pakenham, two at Pembroke, and for 14 years at the Cornwall Grammar School, before coming to Alexandria in 1886 as principal of Alexandria High School. He remained principal for nine years, or by another account, for six years (till 1892). Afterwards, he was deputy registrar of deeds for GC, serving under two successive registrars, John Simpson and J.A. McRae. Smith remained deputy registrar till 1918, when he was in his 80s. In 1925 he was believed to be the oldest living graduate of Aberdeen University (Cornwall Freeholder 21 May 1925 and obituary), and when he died the following year, he had been an Alexandria resident for 40 years. (five children surviving him)

     An obituary describes him as hospitable, a great student and a great reader. It would be to a high degree interesting to have some hard facts on the intellectual side of his life during the years in Canada. While a Cornwall man, he was most likely the “James Smith, A. M., Observer,” whose weekly weather report on temperatures and rainfall appeared in The Cornwall Reporter. (Cornwall Reporter 31 Dec. 1881 and presumably other issues) Presbyterian. Burial was in the Protestant cemetery, Alexandria, with the funeral service conducted by a friend and fellow Aberdeen University graduate, the Rev. G. Watt Smith of Vars, and by the Rev. Donald M. MacLeod of Alexandria. The ex-principal’s wife survived him to die 5 April 1930. They were the parents of of A. L. Smith and of Mrs G.W. Shepherd. A son, James F. Smith, became a bookkeeper in the weave shed of the Canada Cotton Mill, Cornwall, in 1883, and later was a bookkeeper “for years” at the Alexandria carriage firm of Munro and McIntosh. From 1934, there was another principal of the high school of similar name, James Travers Smith.

Glengarry News 5 Nov. 1926, Cornwall Freeholder 11 Nov. 1926 * obituary of his wife, CF 9 April 1930 * obituary of his son J.E. Hume Smith (who “owing to failing eyesight was prevented from pursuing higher education”), GN 10 July 1936 * Ostrom 313 * MacGillivray & Ross 255-256 * Alexandria High School 1894-1954: 1981 Reunion (1981) * information from Aberdeen University Archives * Senior 300-301 * his brother Dr W. G. Smith killed in railway accident, South Africa, GN 19 June 1914 * James F. Smith: CF 7 Sept. 1883 cited DTL Standard Freeholder 4 Sept. 1948 ; Ostrom (QF)