- 1916, Friday April 7, The Almonte Gazette page 4
DEATHS
At 372 Frank St, Ottawa, on Sunday, April 2nd, P.C. McGregor, B.A. LL.D. in his 74th year.
1916, Friday April 7, The Almonte Gazette page 4
P.C. McGregor, B.A., LL.D., Passes Away
Just as the congregation assembled in the Presbyterian church on Sunday had raised their voices in the morning song of praise, and were about to bow their heads in prayer, a note was handed to Rev Mr Brown, and as he read, "Dr McGregor died this morning, " a very perceptible tremor passed over the gathering, and as the pastor led his audience in prayer there were many eyes bedimmed with tears, and many who joined sincerely in the thanks offered for so long an useful a life as Dr McGregor's had been. Only about four months ago, Dr McGregor gave up the position he held here as registrar and went to Ottawa to spend the balance of his life with his daughters there. But the time was not long, and he has gone to enjoy respite from the strenuous live lived by him, having passed away on Sunday morning after a brief illness. Peter Campbell McGregor was born in Glasgow, Scotland, Dec 6th, 1842. In August, 1843, his parents came to Canada and settled at Balderson, where the family had ever since lived. He remained on the paternal farm until he was 16 years old, when he attended the Perth grammar school for a little more than a year, and studied under the late Judge Livingston, of Norfolk County. During 1860 and 1861 he taught the Union public school between Bathurst and South Sherbrooke, known as Strong's school. He then returned to the Perth grammar school to prepare for matriculation, but after a time he went to Kingston and studied for about a year in the Kingston grammar school and matriculated into Queen's University on October 1863, taking the first position among the matriculants and capturing the Watkins Scholarship, valued at $80. During every session of his college course he took a scholarship and several class prizes in classics, English, mathematics and mental and moral philosophy. He graduated in 1866, taking the first place in classics mental and moral philosophy. and English, and second in mathematics. In August, 1866, he became principal of the Bath grammar school, and in April, 1868, when about to resign his position in order to enter upon the study of theology, he met with a severe railroad accident at Ernesttown station, on the G.T.R., when returning to Bath from his Easter holidays. Owing to this accident he was compelled to resign his position, was confined to bed for the greater part of two years, and had to use crutches for seven years. In June 1870, having partially regained his strength, he became head master of the Morrisburg high school. At the end of 1871, his lameness again troubling him, he was obliged to resign, and was laid aside during 1872. When he became principal of Morrisburg high school it ranked the lowest of all the five high schools in the united counties of Glengarry, Stormont and Dundas, and when he resigned it ranked the highest. In January, 1873 he became head master of the high school at Niagara-on-the-Lake, and in 1874, he removed to Brockville, and returned in July, 1882. He held a B.A. from Queen's University, a public school inspector's certificate, a county examiner's certificate, and a specialist's certificate in classics, and was a member of the county board of examiners. Mr McGregor was for two years examiner in the history of education for first class public school teachers and for assistant high school teachers. In 1900 Dr McGregor was appointed registrar for North Lanark, a position held by him until last November, when he was as his own urgent request released. In 1901 the degree of LL.D. was conferred upon him by his old alma matter, Queen's University. For over twenty years he was a valued member of the Trustee Board of Queen's and in that capacity rendered good service. He was a member of the Board of Directors of the Rosamond Memorial Hospital, and for several years was president, and was representative of the R.M. Hospital on the Board of the Victorian Order of Nurses. He was also a member of the Provincial Library Association, representing the Almonte Public Library. After his retirement as principal of the high school he served several years as a member of the Board of Education, part of the time as chairman of the Board. In this capacity his experience as teacher made him most helpful member and helped to give to his fellow members a clearer insight into educational matters from the teacher's viewpoint. He was for many years a member of St John's church session and of the Presbyterian church session after the union. He was a member of Alpha Lodge I.O.O.F., the Sons of Scotland, the A.O.U.W., I.O.F. and other organisations, and is nearly all these was almost continuously connected in some useful official capacity. In politics he was an ardent Liberal, but on account of the positions held by him he was debarred from active participation in such matters. On Christmas Day of the year 1879 Dr McGregor was married to Miss Kate Ferguson McNabb, who died about five years ago. A number of years ago his only son, a lad of about ten years, was accidentally drowned. He was a bright boy, and great hopes had been built upon his future, and this sudden ending of these hopes was one of the sorest bereavements that had entered the Doctor's life. He is survived by two daughters, Miss Annie K. , of the Auditor- General's Department, and Miss Grace, of the Mines Department; also one brother, James, and one sister, Margaret, both living at Balderson. A service was conducted by Rev Orr Bennet at the home at Ottawa on Monday evening, and on Tuesday morning the remains were brought to Almonte for interment. The body was taken to the Presbyterian church which had been suitably draped in black and relieved by a great profusion of flowers, the gifts of many friends who thus desired to express their love and respect for the deceased. The funeral took place at two o'clock, public service being conducted by Rev S.G. Brown, assisted by Rev Mr Stevens of the Methodist church, and Rev Mr King of the Baptist church. The church was filled to its capacity and in reservation made were the Session, high school teachers and pupils, and also members of Alpha Lodge, Rebekah Lodge, Sons of Scotland and others. At the close of the regular service the Oddfellows, among whom were a number of brethren from surrounding places, conducted the burial service of their order. At the grave after Dr Campbell of Montreal has offered the committal prayer, the Oddfellows concluded the service. The pallbearers were Wm Thoburn, M.P., Jas Rosamond, Adam Scott, Allan Naismith, Angus Sutherland and Jas McLeod. The cortege was one of the largest ever seen in Almonte and probably on no other such occasion were the hearts of the people stirred as upon this one. Besides the large number of townspeople there were many from outside points who had come to participate in the last sad rites and by doing so showed their appreciation of so worthy a life as that lived by Dr McGregor. Among those were Dr Robt Campbell of Montreal, senior clerk of the General Assembly, in which the deceased was a active worker, Mr Andrew Haydon of Ottawa, representing the Board of Trustees of Queen's University and others. Dr McGregors' daughters, Misses A.K. and Grace S., of Ottawa; his brother, his sister, his cousin James McGregor, and his nieces Grace and Mary McGregor of Balderson; his cousin, Dr Robt Campbell of Montreal and his sister-in-law, Mrs John McGregor, were among the relatives present at the funeral.
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1842 - 1916 (73 years)
