David Cathcart, the subject of the following sketch, was born in Port-na-Bleigh, County Fermanagh, Ireland, on the eve of the 5th of November 1805, which makes him at the present time ninety-three years of age. The family appears to be a branch of the Cathcarts of the west of Scotland, who, at the time of the colonization of the north of Ireland by James I, emigrated to that country and settled in the County of Fermanagh. They were a military family, the Scotch branch of which attained high rank in the British army - notably Major-General Lord Cathcart, whose exploits during the Crimean War brought such lustre to the British arms. During the American war of 1812 some, of them fought for the old flag, and at its close settled in the eastern part of the province, in the County of Carlton, named after one of the early governors of Canada, and who was also related to the Cathcarts. Mr. Cathcart was the son of a farmer, and as such was early initiated into the details of farm management. His education in comparison with ours of the present day was necessarily limited, but appeared to be the best his country could afford, and was quite sufficient for his purpose in after life when he had raised himself to a position of honor and trust in the country of his adoption. At the age of eighteen he enlisted im the yeoman cavalry of the county. His connection with the militia in that corps extended from his enlistment at eighteen until he left the country for Canada, in 1842, at which time he held the rank of sergeant The yeomen were considered then, and are now, a very important link in the service, and were recruited entirely from land owners and land holders of the county and their sons. Mr. Cathcart, at the age of eighteen, entered the ranks at the earliest time he could be admitted to the somewhat distinguished position of being a Yeoman of the county. His life during the period from eighteen to twenty-eight was passed in the manner in which the average farmer passes his time, sowing and reaping, going to markets and fairs, caring for stock, and regulating the affairs of the state.

At the age of twenty-eight he married Margaret Creighton, sister of the late James Creighton, of the base line, and who afterwards settled on the next lot to Mr. Cathcart, on concession 6, Blanshard. This union was a happy one, and it is safe to say that a kinder, more contented and jovial pair never linked their fortunes to fight the great battle of life. Mr. Cathcart was bluff, honest, not very demonstrative in success, nor apparently much crest-fallen in misfortune; and they had, as is the common lot of all, their share of both. Mrs. Cathcart was affectionate, extremely affable and lively; she was a kind mother, a tidy housekeeper, and had a heart as sympathetic and warm as ever beat in a woman's bosom. She was the average size, well made, and was sprightly and full of mirth up till near the time of her death. Even during the last years of her life, when suffering from perhaps the severest affliction that can befall humanity (the loss of her sight), she still appeared happy and was never heard to complain. She had unbounded confidence in David, as she always called him, and her countenance seemed to express the deepest anxiety in her dark days, as she appeared to strain her sightness eyes when his friends called on him, to see that they were suitably entertained. She died in the year 1882. After his marriage he began farming on a small farm of his own, and followed that business until he left his native isle with his family, to seek a new home for himself and them in the wilds of Western Canada.

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