| Archibald McLean Born November 15, 1837 Port Elgin, Ontario Died January 23, 1920 Strathclair, Manitoba Married May 16, 1867 in Bruce County, Ontario to: Catherine Sinclair Born March 21, 1845 Cathy, Scotland Died 1937 Manitoba Archibald McLean was born of Scottish parents in Port Elgin, Ontario. He grew up in Ontario where he met and married Catherine Sinclair. Catherine's wedding ring was made of gold that had been mined by her husband. Archibald worked as a butcher until he decided to go west for a homestead in 1867. Before returning east to bring his family out the next year he built a house on his homestead three and one-half miles east and three miles north of Strathclair, Manitoba. They set out in a covered wagon drawn by a yolk of oxen, leading a cow behind to supply milk for the six children - two sets of twins age seven and four, a two year old and a new babe in arms. As Port Elgin is on the eastern shore of Lake Huron the trip was no easy feat and took most of the summer. Catherine Sinclair was the daughter of Edward Sinclair (1818-before 1871) and Isabella Reid (1824 - before 1871). Edward and Isabella were married on May 13, 1842 in New Kilpatrick, Dunbarton, Scotland. Ever true to her brave Scottish Heritage Catherine was the second white woman to settle in the Strathclair- Elphinstone district of Manitoba. Many times she made bannock for the neighbouring bachelors! Archibald had to take his first crop of wheat to Rapid City, Manitoba to be milled into flour. He walked all the way to Winnipeg to get a title for a second homestead expanding the family farm. In 1901, he almost lost one of his legs to gangrene. 1904 saw Archibald seeking the family fortune in the Klondike but he returned as poor as he had left and became postmaster in Strathclair. The building, including the apartment they lived in was destroyed by fire in 1906. They re-built and Archie remained postmaster of the area until1913. He retired and moved with Catherine to Elphinstone where they took up residence with their son, Edward. Catherine was a very religious person. Every Sunday she was found in Church and every evening she read a passage from her Bible. Archibald and his beloved Catherine had fourteen children namely: Mary, twins Isabelle and Archie, twins Catherine and Annie, Edward, John (Sandy), Malcolm, Mary, Neil, Edith, Olivia, Roy and Mamie. Archie passed away in 1920 at the age of 83 and Catherine in 1937 at the grand age of 92. Both are buried in the Strathclair Cemetery. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ (1) Mary McLean Born 1870 in Ontario This Mary died at the age of six before the family made their move west. ===================================================================== (2) Isabelle McLean Born January 21, 1867 in Ontario (Belle) Died June 1931 in Manitoba Married July 12, 1898 in Strathclair, Manitoba to: Henry Sleigh Born November 14, 1851 Cornwall, England Died June 1918 Henry came out to Ontario as a young man in his early twenties and had his own bake shop. He had learned the art of baking in England. Henry later sold his shop and moved out west settling in the balley eight miles north of Tossburn, Manitoba. He married Isavelle McLean who was the frist teacher who taught at the Valley School and had met her as he was the secretary-treasurer of the local school blard. Henry drove all the way to Strathclair with a horse and buggy to attend his wedding and collect his new bride from her family home! Archibald and Catherine gave them a mare colt for a wedding gift they named "Buddy". She was a small brown mare and was the foundation of all the horses the Sleigh family were to own - with the exception of a lot of fine clydesdales! Henry and Belle had three children namely: Gladys, Stella and Harry. ==================================================================== (3) Archibald McLean Born January 21, 1867 Ontario, Canada Died July 9, 1910 ===================================================================== (4) Edward McLean Born 1871, Ontario, Canada Died 1955 Edward farmed two miles south of Elphinstone, Manitoba. He owned a large threshing outfit that did the majority of the threshing in the area for many years. Ed was a quiet spoken man who minded his own business. He was an elder in the Presbyterian Church in Elphinstone for many years. Ed was fond of children and his home was open to many foster children - all of whom spoke well of him. John Powers, one of his foster sons, later married his sister, Mamie Simpson. John and Maime lived with Ed until he passed away at the age of 84. ===================================================================== (5) Catherine McLean Born February 28, 1873 (Twin) Bruce County, Ontario Married to George Sinclair ===================================================================== (6) Annie McLean Born February 28, 1873 (Twin) Bruce County, Ontario Died June 11, 1924 Poplar Point, Manitoba Married to: John Wesley Winters Born October 5, 1860 Marmora Township, Hastings County, Ont. ===================================================================== (7) John Alexander McLean Born 1877 John or Sandy as he was better known, worked at many enterprises in his lifetime. Sandy was a wonderful dancer, square dancer and caller! For a few years he had a square dance group which attended the surrounding town's square dance competitions and won quite a few! Jack Devlin and Sandy ran an implement business in Strathclair, Manitoba in the early days. He farmed at Dauphin, later farming the original family homestead and a farm one mile north of Strathclair. He bought his first car, a McLaughlin in 1914. Sandy was a cautious and slow driver. The story was told of how a young indian lad in a vehicle following Sandy jumped out, ran alongside of Sandy's car - and passed him! Sandy was the last person in Strathclair to still use oxen driving three of them with a horse for many, many years. He ran a sawmill at Lake Audy from 1930 until 1933. Being a manager of Sportsman Park for another couple of years was another short venture for this enterprising McLean. ===================================================================== (8) Malcolm Sinclair McLean Born August 14, 1879 Died April 5, 1961 Married in England to Elizabeth Berry October 23, 1873 - March 14, 1918 Married in Canada to Maude Woods Mac was the first child born to his parents after they came west. He farmed just south of Elphinstone,Manitoba just across the road from his brother Ed. He met "Lizzie" while on a holiday in England. She came back to Canada with him and settled down to be a farmer's wife. They had five children together. Lizzie had surgery in Winnipeg and died as a result of complications leaving Mac with a young family to raise. He later married his housekeeper, Maude Woods and they had one son together, George Irving. George was killed overseas during WWII. Maude was a wonderful cook and was always eager to pass her talent on! Mac and Elizabeth had the following children: James, Clarence, Mary, Neil and Edith. ===================================================================== (9) Mary McLean Born 1881 Died - 1968 Married to Sam Glover *** Had two children: Archie and Rita. *** ===================================================================== (10) Neil McLean Born - September 28, 1883 Died - January 12, 1912 ===================================================================== (11) Edith McLean Born December 24, 1885 Married to Reginald Hooper ===================================================================== (12) Olivia McLean Born September 12, 1888 (Ollie) Died November 16, 1919 Olivia never married and like her sister Annie went into nursing. She died as a result of a flu epidemic that swept Manitoba in 1919 killing hundreds of people. ===================================================================== (13) Roy McLean Born June 8, 1891 Died March 24, 1920 ===================================================================== (14) Mamie Elizabeth Simpson Born April 18, 1903 Died 1994 Married to John Powers *************************************************************************************************************** |
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Mac and Lizzie McLean and Clayton |
Mary McLean and Sam Glover |
| Archibald McLean |
Catharine Sinclair McLean |
Ed McLean |
Annie, John Wesley William and Ivan |
Roy McLean |
Isabelle McLean |
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McLean Family Reunion Manitoba 1951 |
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