DONALD McGILLIVRAY PASSES AWAY AT 92

[Welland Tribune December 2, 1943]

Port Colborne’s oldest and one of its most highly respected citizens, Donald McGillivray, 92 died at his residence, King and Charlotte streets, at one o’clock this afternoon. A native of the town, he has lived here all his life, with the exception of one year, and had gained a large number of friends and much respect both in this district and in the adjoining section of the United States.

A well-known philanthropist in his later years, he was one of the men responsible for bringing the International Nickel Co. to the town. He was a staunch Liberal all his life, and was an active supporter of the party. He had been a member of the town council and of the parks commission, and was a  member of the First Presbyterian church. One of the greatest events of his life came in 1939, when he was presented to the King and Queen at Niagara Falls.

Born in Port Colborne on January 14, 1852, he was educated in Port Colborne, and later attended Welland grammar school. He was employed for a time in marine work, on a dredge in the St Mary’s river and later attended normal school in Toronto. He came back to Port Colborne, where he worked as a clerk in a store in 1872, later establishing his own business.

The funeral will be held on Monday, December 6th, at 2.30 p.m. from his late residence, 46 Charlotte street, Port Colborne, to Overholt cemetery for interment.
A more extended obituary  reference will appear in tomorrow’s Tribune.

DEATH CLAIMS TOWN’S OLDEST RESIDENT, ENDS FINE CAREER

[Welland Tribune December 4, 1943]

Funeral Rites for Donald McGillivray to be held Monday; Was in 92nd Year
Donald McGillivray, oldest resident of Port Colborne, prominent Liberal member of the Niagara Parks Commission since 1935, philanthropist and distinguished citizen died at his residence 46 Charlotte street, Port Colborne, about 1.35 p.m. yesterday in his 92nd year. Death followed an illness of some three months, but the late Mr McGillivray had been in failing health for the past few years, although until his recent illness he retained his keen mental faculties and his interest in world affairs.

The late Donald McGillivray was widely known, for his interests exceeded the boundaries of the district and province and he was known throughout Canada. He is the last of a family of five children born to the late John and Marjorie McGillivray in Port Colborne. His interests centred in Port Colborne, and with the exception of a year or so when he resided elsewhere, he has lived his long life here. Had he lived until January 14 next, he would have reached the age of 92, although he would have been celebrating his 93rd birthday. For Donald McGillivray always maintained that the day he was born was his first birthday.

Familiar Figure
Until about two years ago Donald McGillivray was a familiar figure on Port Colbornr streets despite his age, his tall, slightly stooped figure with gray-white hair could be seen any morning as he went for his morning cup of coffee and again in the afternoon as he stopped here and there through the business section to chat with friends. He was as well liked as he was widely known and  had a keen and quick sense of humor. He was well read and a clever conversationalist.

The late Mr McGillivray was a life long Liberal and active in the ranks of the Liberal party for many years, being one of the chief contributors to the party in the district for many years. He was also a big contributor to First Presbyterian church and the church’s hall is named after him. He was generous to all worthy charities and, although few knew of it, was generous to a fault in assisting those in need.

In 1935 Donald McGillivray was appointed to the Niagara Parks commission and four years later when Their Majesties visited the Niagara district, he was one of those presented to them at Niagara Falls. This honor, Mr McGillivray felt was one of the highlights of his life. A year or so later he presented to the Town of Port Colborne a framed picture of his presentation to Their Majesties.

Donald McGillivray was born in Port Colborne and as a youngster had to cut wood for the woodbox that supplied the huge woodburner which furnished the heat for the McGillivray home. In the winter he went to the lake with a tub on his sled and drew drinking water from a hole chopped in the ice.

Mr McGillivray received most of his education in Port Colborne, attending school conducted by the rector of St James’ church. He attended the Welland Grammar school, now Port Colborne high school. And then composed of one room. He later attended Normal school in Toronto, playing football with the Normal school team until advised by his physician to return to Port Colborne.

Had Interesting Career
Mr McGillivray first followed the trade of carpenter and then turned to marine work. He worked as fireman of a dredge in the St Mary’s river, on the flats Canal, connecting the river with the lake. Later dredging jobs took him to Goderich and Kincardine before attending Normal school in Toronto. He returned to Port Colborne on May 24, 1872.

For a time Mr McGillivray worked as a clerk in a store in Port Colborne and then opened his own store. He sold drygoods, boots, and shoes and opened the town’s first tailor shop. He operated his business from 1878 to 1890 and then sold his business to interest himself in investments.

The late Mr McGillivray served as a member of the Port Colborne council during the years 1918 to 1920. He was one of the men who were influential in bringing International Nickel Co. To Port Colborne.

Until the last few months Mr McGillivray continued to follow current events in his newspapers and was a great reader. One of his most prized possessions was a scrap book of clippings of major political developments and other developments in the life of the Dominion and the figures associated with those developments. He was a great admirer of Winston Churchill and President Roosevelt. On his 90th birthday he was asked about the outcome of the war and, pointing to a picture of Mr Churchill said, “We’ll lick them, but it will take a long time. And here’s the man who is helping us do it.”
The late Mr McGillivray is the last of a family of five sons and daughters of John and Marjorie McGillivray. He was predeceased by a brother, John; two sisters, Mary and Catherine, and by another child of the family in infancy. His closest surviving relative is a first cousin Miss Mary McGillivray, residing in Rossshire, Sciotland. Second cousins reside in Toronto, Caledon East, Ingelwood, Petrolia, Peel Township and Little Falls, NY

The funeral will be held from the residence, 46 Charlotte street, Port Colborne, at 2.30 p.m. on Monday Dec. 6 Rev. R.T. Rutherdale minister of First Presbyterian church conducting the service, Interment will be in Overholt’s cemetery.