Description Photograph: Simon Roderick Fraser of Toney River, seated, with Al McKay of Toney River, circa 1905

The young man in the photo is Alfred Samuel "Al" McKay, the nephew of Simon Fraser (son of James and Catherine (MacKenzie) McKay. Catherine is the sister of Simon Fraser's wife Jessie). The photo was taken at the MacKenzie Photo Co. by former Pictonian Colin S. MacKenzie soon after Al McKay's emigration from Toney River, Nova Scotia to Aberdeen on March 20, 1904.

Simon Fraser was born May 5, 1860 at Toney River, Pictou County. He is the son of James and Nancy (McRae) Fraser.  His father James is believd to have been born in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. His mother, Nancy was born at Watervale, West River, Pictou County. Simon married Jessie Ann MacKenzie on April 15, 1891 at Toney River.  They had a daughter, Margaret Matilda, born at Stellarton on January 16, 1894.  The family emigrated to Aberdeen, Washington in July 1898.  Another daughter, Gertrude Catherine was then born there on December 16, 1905.  Simon worked as a teamster for the Wilson Bros. Lumber Mill in Aberdeen. He and Jessie were considered Aberdeen pioneers.  Simon died August 24, 1929 at his home in Aberdeen, Washington and is buried with his wife Jessie at Fern Hill Cemetery.

Alfred Samuel "Al" McKay was born at Toney River, Nova Scotia on March 25, 1884. He is the son of James and Catherine (MacKenzie) McKay. His mother was the sister of Simon Fraser's wife, Jessie (MacKenzie) Fraser. According to Al's Naturaliation applications and US Census returns, as well as his WWI Draft Registration, Al worked in construction and as a logger. He was living at Ward's Hotel in Hoquiam and working in construction in December 1917, and he was living in Montesano and working for the Wynoochee Timber Company in September 1918 - just days before his marriage to Lillian Boyce. It was said he started his own logging company at one time (the Elk River Logging Company) but this venture does not appear to have lasted long. Al McKay died at Hoquiam on March 29, 1939. Al McKay is also buried at Fern Hill in Aberdeen. 

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Contributor:    Robert Stoddard | View all submissions
Tags: Simon Fraser, Alfred McKay, James McKay, Toney River, Catherine MacKenzie
Views: 274
Uploaded on: October 24, 2020
Source: Robert Stoddard, Ron Stoddard

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