David Patterson
With his father in 1867, David Patterson first came up to Lake McKellar. In 1869, after he had completed some schooling, Patterson returned and built a small shanty at the place where the current town of McKellar is situated.
When the Armstrongs arrived and wished to use the rapids for a mill, Patterson gave them the land and moved about a mile north to what would later become the Ball Farm. Patterson began farming there and would occasionally supply teach at the school when the teachers were otherwise occupied.
With his health a concern, he sold the farm in 1890 and moved into the town of McKellar. There he began first one store business bought by Mr. Jno. Canning shortly after opening it, and then began another store 1893 on the corner where the garage now sits. He also purchased the 'Armstrong House' from that family and ran it as a Temperance Hotel until selling it as well to Canning.
Patterson was very involved with the Temperance movement and with the local Methodist church, which he helped to build. He had many roles in the early community, acting over his life as: Division Court Clerk; Registrar of Births, Deaths, and Marriages; Township Clerk; Commissioner; Conveyancer; and Issuer of Marriage Licenses.
Patterson died on December 1st of 1904 from being involved in a street railway accident in Toronto while there attending a Temperance convention.
When the Armstrongs arrived and wished to use the rapids for a mill, Patterson gave them the land and moved about a mile north to what would later become the Ball Farm. Patterson began farming there and would occasionally supply teach at the school when the teachers were otherwise occupied.
With his health a concern, he sold the farm in 1890 and moved into the town of McKellar. There he began first one store business bought by Mr. Jno. Canning shortly after opening it, and then began another store 1893 on the corner where the garage now sits. He also purchased the 'Armstrong House' from that family and ran it as a Temperance Hotel until selling it as well to Canning.
Patterson was very involved with the Temperance movement and with the local Methodist church, which he helped to build. He had many roles in the early community, acting over his life as: Division Court Clerk; Registrar of Births, Deaths, and Marriages; Township Clerk; Commissioner; Conveyancer; and Issuer of Marriage Licenses.
Patterson died on December 1st of 1904 from being involved in a street railway accident in Toronto while there attending a Temperance convention.