The late Mrs. John McLean formerly Miss Flora McKinnon, who was buried in Queen Hill cemetery on Wednesday last, May 7th, was born in Mull, Scotland, 93 years ago, from which place she migrated to Canada with her parents, the late Mr. and Mrs. Angus McKinnon. In 1846 and settled in Vaughn Twp., York County, where about two years later she was wedded to Mr. John McLean. Shortly after their marriage they moved to Queen’s Bush, as Bruce County was then called, and settled near what is now known as Queen Hill.
With her husband she spent most of her life on the farm where she reared a large family of sons and daughters, amidst the hardships and privations of pioneer settlement days. She was a faithful wife and mother. Among her outstanding characteristics were her kindliness of heart, cheerfulness of spirit and simplicity of life.
Since the death of her husband, about 25 years ago, she had been living for the most part with her daughters in the West and in Ontario, finally passing away on Monday of last week at the home of her daughter, Mrs. James McQuarrie, at Toronto.
In her early life when the stormy days of the disruption (1843) were over, Mrs. McLean found herself much perplexed about deciding what church to select. She had strong leanings towards the Auld Kirk and strong misgivings about joining the Free Church with which her parents had identified themselves. Peter’s vision about the net let down by the four corners came home to her with spiritual impact, and those words “What God had cleansed, that call thou not common or unclean” settled it forever with her that her father’s and mother’s church would henceforth be her choice likewise. “Thou shalt come to thy grave in a full age like as a shock of corn cometh in his season” was fulfilled in the life of the aged pioneer. Both in retrospect and prospect she could say with the psalmist: “Thou who hast shown the great and sore troubles shall quicken me again and shall bring me up again from the depths of the earth.” Benjamin’s picture of a puzzling and inextinguishable flame, burning up against a wall, found explanation in the fact, that unseen to others, the flame was secretly fed by a stream of oil on the opposite side of the wall. Simple faith in the promise “my grace is sufficient for thee” was the explanation of her victorious bearing amidst all the shocks and sorrows of her long life.
Of a family of thirteen children four survive. Deceased was also blessed with 65 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren. What is also a noble record fifteen of her grandchildren served in the late war, two of whom paid the supreme sacrifice.
The remains were accompanied here on Wednesday last by her son, Mr. Angus McLean, and grandson, Robert McQuarrie, of Toronto, Rev. Mr. McKay, pastor of Queen Hill Church, officiated at the grave and the following old friends of the family acted as pall-bearers: Neil McGillivray, Thos. Swalwell, John McCallum, Peter Thompson, Arch. Bell and Arch. Cameron.