Catharine (McLean) MacFadden

Catharine Amelia McLean was born on June 21, 1839 in Brockville, Canada. Very little is known of her life. She was the eldest of at least 7 children. Her parents were William McLean and Jane McNish. William was a farmer while Catharine was growing up, probably of wheat, and Catharine was raised on the farm. Harvesting grain was a large and important task for farmers in the 1850s. It involved the entire family because it was a major source of money for the family. Everyone helped in the fields in mid- to late- July when the grain was ready. Harvesting was done by hand, either with a sickle or a grain cradle to cut the grain. The McLean family moved to the city of St. Mary’s when Catharine was in her teens. She married James MacFadden on January 19, 1860 in St. Mary’s, with her younger brother, George, serving as a witness. She was 20 years old at the time of her marriage, and her new husband was 18 years older than she. She had 7 children during her marriage (4 girls and 3 boys). Her eldest daughter, Jennie, born when Catharine was 22, is my great-grandmother. Her youngest child, Kate, was born when Catharine was 43 years old.
Six years after their marriage, the young family moved to Stratford because of James’ new job. Stratford remained Catharine’s home until her death in 1894. Their last home was located on Huron Street in Stratford. She listed her religion as Presbyterian, which was the religion of her parents.
Catharine died on June 30, 1894, at the age of 55, of stomach cancer.