Person Record

Metadata

Name

McKay, James Wesley (Wes)

Othernames

usually seen as Wesley McKay, "Wes" McKay

Born

Dec. 31, 1895

Birthplace

Sydenham Township, Grey County

Places of residence

Lot 28 Concession A area of Sydenham Township, Grey County (one mile north of Leith)

Father

Hugh McKay

Mother

Jeanette (Jane /Janet) McKay (nee Chadwi

Nationality

Canadian

Education

S.S.#13 Sydenham (Leith School)

Notes

A pencil box that was personalized by "J. W. McKay" is in the collection at Grey Roots Museum.

In the 1901 census, James W. McKay was 5 years old.

J. W. McKay attended the Leith school, as did his siblings. He is not seen in a 1909 image of the Leith pupils, was he absent that day, or finished school then? His brother Ross and sister Ida are present in the image.

The McKay family farm was one mile north of Leith. They had a long dining table, and as there were six boys in the family, they had a wide bench to seat all six of them on one side of the table, and Hugh and Jeanette (Jane) and the girls sat on the other side. This bench is now at Grey Roots Museum.

James Wesley McKay was also known as "Wes" or Wesley. There was a club started at Annan in 1921 that was called the Excelsior Club. It was a Junior United Farmers of Ontario club, and had about 100 members. Wes served as the Secretary-Treasurer. The group had monthly meetings, on the Monday night before the full moon.

Wesley McKay also was a Director of the Sydenham Agricultural Society and served as its President in 1923-1924.

He married Maud McKee in 19__. Maud belonged to the Annan Women's Institute.

Wes and Maud attended the Leith United Church. In 1964, there was an image taken of him inside the church (see HISTORY OF SYDENHAM TOWNSHIP).

J. Wesley McKay died in 1973 and is buried in the Leith Cemetery, by the historic Leith Church. His wife Maud McKee's lifedates were 1893-1971.