SINCLAIR HOLLAND GLASGOW M.D.

The history of the Glasgow family reads like a romance, yet it is founded on hard facts. Over a hundred years ago the early Glasgows settled in and around Stamford and Niagara Falls, and their lives and deeds are recorded many times in the early history of this section, as well as the brave deeds of some members of this family during the American Revolutionary War.

Dr. Glasgow, a native of Welland county, was born in Stamford on March 30^th, 185, and was the son of William Glasgow, who was born on the same farm and always resided in Stamford. The elder Glasgow held a commission for many years as justice of the peace; his wife, Mary Elizabeth, was the daughter of James and a grand-daughter of William Lundy, from whom Lundy’s Lane derived its name, and was one of the earliest county settlers.

The grandfather, Reverend Samuel Glasgow of Scotland, at an early age removed to the County of Tyrone, Ireland, and was educated for the ministry of Belfast. He was ordained by the presbytery of that city, and came to Canada previous to the war of 1812, settling in Stamford. It is claimed on good authority that the City of Glasgow, Scotland, took its name from the ancestors of this branch of the family. Another portion of the family history says: About four generations ago, Lady Douglas, a daughter of the Earl of Douglas, returned the affection of a lover whose suit the haughty Earl forbade.

Although no pains were spared to prevent the union of this heiress of the ancient Douglas’ rank and wealth, with a young man of inferior birth, the young couple proved the truth of the old adage that “Love laughs at locksmiths, “by embarking for America, where their marriage would not be forbidden by tyrannical parents. They sailed in separate ships, and Lady Douglas arrived safely in New York, but never heard of her lover, whose ship is supposed to have floundered at sea, or to have been captured by pirates. Thus Lady Douglas found herself in the strange city of New York, destitute of means, except her jewels, and these she decided not to sell in case she might at some time require them as proof of her identity. Realizing that she must do something to obtain for herself a livelihood, she sought employment and was eventually engaged as a servant in a household of wealthy New York merchant named Fortner. The Fortners discovered from her ladylike manner that she was occupying a position subordinate to her birth, and they made her an equal. She was finally persuaded to marry the merchant’s son, a youth in every way exemplary. Among the descendants by this marriage are to be found some of the leading citizens of the U.S.A. One of Mr. Fortner’s daughters married for her first husband, a Mr. Field. Her second husband was a Mr. Garrison. The ancestor of our subject, Mr. Anderson, her third husband, held the position of Colonel in the British Army during the American Revolutionary War, and for his services was given a grant of land, on part of which now stands the City of St. John, New Brunswick. Dr. Glasgow first attended school in the old school house on Lundy’s Lane, and afterwards went to the Drummondville grammar School for five years, whose principal at that time was the Rev. James Yeo Cameron, A.M. He graduated with a teacher’s certificate and for the next two years taught school. In 1874 he matriculated in the Toronto School of Medicine. He graduated with the degree of M.B. from Toronto University in 1878. In the same year he obtained an M.D. degree at the Victoria University, and a license to practice from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario. He began his practice in Welland in 1878, and in 1882 was appointed assistant surgeon in the 44^th battalion. In 1885 he received the appointment of gaol surgeon for the county of Welland and division surgeon on the Grand Trunk Railroad. He died on March 13^th, 1909, at which time he was president of the Ontario Medical Association and was Colonel of the 22^nd Dragoons, of which he was in command for several years. He was a Mason and ad adherent of the Presbyterian church, his funeral was said to have been the largest military funeral ever seen in the county. He was married in Ridgeway in 1888 to Mrs. Theodore Fortner, daughter of James Smith Graham of Bertie township. He was very fond of horses, and took a great interest in looking after the grounds about his residence.

Mrs. Glasgow’s great grandfather on her mother’s side was a U.E. Loyalist of the well-known Riselay family and they have some of the original land near Fort Erie, Welland county, still in their possession that came into this family through a crown grant of land given to Mrs. Glasgow’s great grandfather in the seventeenth century, and the fourth generation still owns a portion of the property yet.

A.E. Coombs
History of The Niagara Peninsula and the New Welland Canal
1930