Merchant.
Born in Washington County, Kansas in 1886, son of Peter McKay and Mary McGregor, he moved to Collingwood, Ontario with his family and attended school there. In April 1899, he came to Manitoba and eventually operated his father’s store at Swan River in partnership with his brother, Percy James McKay.
On 6 August 1919, he married Ida May Andrews (1893-1981) at Kenville and they had five children: Donald McKay, Robert McKay, Peter McKay, Mayme McKay (wife of R. Sommerville), and Marianne McKay (wife of N. Cameron). He was a member of the AF & AM (Prince Arthur Lodge), Swan River Curling Club, Swan River Band, and Swan River United Church.
He died at Swan River on 22 December 1970 and was buried in the Birchwood Cemetery.
Marriage registration [John MacGregor McKay, Ida May Andrews], Manitoba Vital Statistics.
Pioneers and Prominent People of Manitoba, Winnipeg: Canadian Publicity Company, 1925.
“Final tribute paid to tent town pioneer,” Swan Valley Star and Times, 7 January 1971, page 1.
Obituary [Ida May McKay], Swan Valley Star and Times, 21 May 1981, page 2.
We thank Darryl Toews for providing additional information used here.
This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.
Page revised: 16 May 2024
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