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Elizabeth (Dunn) McLennan 1858-1940

Elizabeth Dunn was born October 30, 1858 in Kingston Mills, Ontario, to Scottish born James Dunn and his wife Jane (Sargeant) Dunn, who was born in Kingston in 1834. Elizabeth had an elementary education at Craigflower School in Victoria.

James and Jane Dunn, with Elizabeth and Martha, left Kingston in the winter of 1862 or 1863, crossing the frozen St Lawrence River and proceeding to Boston where they embarked on a sailing ship for Panama. They took a train across the Isthmus and again boarded a ship to San Francisco. James was an engineer so the family took up residence in San Matao where he drilled artesian wells. He was not happy in a republic and was said to miss the Union Jack, so the family moved on, finally settling on a farm at Parson’s Bridge near Victoria. Jane died in 1875, along with a newborn infant, and Elizabeth, at sixteen, took charge of her young brothers and the household. Martha was placed in service in Victoria.

With all her experience and an industrious nature, Elizabeth was an excellent pioneer homemaker. She could turn her hand at any household task and kept a huge garden, much of which was ‘put down’ for winter. She also assisted neighbours in need, but still found time to be a part of community functions and friendships. Her eight happy, healthy children were raised with a community attitude of cooperation, caring and respect.

When Alexander died, her youngest son, Murray, took over two hundred acres of the farm, the rest of the now over 600 acres being the property of Douglass, who lived next door. Elizabeth lived with Murray and his family until 1936, when they left the Island because of depression difficulties. She then moved to the home of her daughter, Maggie Lee, where she stayed until her death, November 24, 1940.

Elizabeth is buried in the Burgoyne Bay United Churchyard with Alexander and Ewen.