McKellar, Peter, 1837-1920

MCKELLAR, MCARTHUR

Posted By: Lydia Lucas - Volunteer (email)
Date: 11/3/2016 at 22:35:23

From the Rock Valley Bee, January 7, 1921:

FORMER PIONEER RESIDENT DIES IN MINNEAPOLIS
Peter McKellar Passed Away at Home of Son at Advanced Age

Peter McKellar, a former pioneer resident of Rock Valley, died at the home of his son, D. A. McKellar, in Minneapolis, Minn., Friday, December 31, 1920, at the advanced age of eighty-three years, nine months, and seventeen days, his death being due to hardening [of] the arteries. He had been afflicted with this dread disease for some time. A year ago he was very sick with it and at that time little hopes were entertained for his recovery, but he rallied and became quite strong again for one of his age. A few months ago he began to fail and continued to grow weaker until he passed peacefully away.

The subject of this sketch was born at Argylesville, Scotland, March 14, 1837, near the city of Rothsay. When he was seven years old, his parents immigrated to this country, settling in the state of New York. A few years later, they moved to Elgin, Illinois, where he grew to manhood, and where in February, 1864, he was united in marriage to Isabell McArthur who died at Rock Valley March 24, 1899. To this union five children were born, Mary, who died in infancy; Mrs. John F. Klinger, who died in Rock Valley, May 6, 1896; A. F. McKellar, of Hancock, Minn.; Mrs. R. E. Roantree and D. A. McKellar, of Minneapolis.

Mr. McKellar is the last of a family of thirteen children.

He moved with his family to Fayette County, Iowa, in 1868, where they lived about ten years at West Union. They moved to Sioux County and settled on a farm in Plato Township where they lived until the spring of 1894 when they moved to Rock Valley.

For about six years, Mr. McKellar was engaged in the furniture business here. After the death of his wife he left Rock Valley, but visited here frequently with relatives and his many old friends. For some time past he had made his home with his son, D. A. McKellar, in Minneapolis.

Mr. McKellar was a man of kind and generous disposition and was highly respected and loved by all who knew him.

Funeral services were held at Rock Valley Tuesday afternoon from the Methodist Church, the services being conducted by Rev. Anderson of DeWitt, Iowa, a former pastor of the Presbyterian Church at this place, and who also conducted the services at the funeral of Mrs. McKellar several years ago. The remains were taken to Valley View Cemetery for burial beside his wife.

Among those from a distance who were present at the funeral were his children, A. F. and D. A. McKellar and Mrs. R. E. Roantree, who have the sincere sympathy of many friends in their great sorrow.

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A similar obituary was published in the Alton Democrat, January 8, 1921: Rock Valley news. It adds his Hancock son's name as Fred McKellar; they came to Plato Township, Sioux County in 1878; and after his wife's death he found a home among his children. It then goes on to say:

He was engaged in the furniture and undertaking business, and pursued that business for several years. He was a devout member of the United Presbyterian church, and lived a consistent Christian life, and enjoyed the confidence and highest esteem of a large circle of friends. In the beautiful heyday of life he was strong, industrious, energetic, buoyant, hopeful, with firmness in the right, as he was given to see the right. A man of pleasant disposition, companionable, and possessed the faculty of making friends. He lived his allotted time, and stepped from life's busy stage into the blissful regions of immortality.

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Minnesota death certificate no. 1920-MN-023115.