Biography:

Dr. James Templeton McKillop was born in Renfrew County, Ontario on the 12th of October, 1860.  Dr. McKillop was the 2nd of 9 children born to Archibald McKillop and the former Marian Templeton.  Dr. McKillop’s parents were farmers and his siblings were; Alexander McKillop, Donald McKillop (died in 1879 at the age of 17), Agnes McKillop, Susan McKillop, Marion McKillop, Archibald McKillop, Maud Grace McKillop and Jessie Rosabell McKillop.

According to the 1881 Ontario Census Dr. McKillop was a 20 year-old school teacher in Westmeath Twp, Renfrew County.

In 1888 Dr. McKillop graduated M.D.,C.M. from Trinity College in Toronto.  He graduated M.D.,C.M. from Queen’s University (Kingston) in 1889.  Dr. McKillop joined the College of Physicians and Surgeons on the 22nd of May, 1889.

Dr. McKillop set up his medical practice in Wardsville (Middlesex County) where he appears on the 1891 census.  Dr. McKillop made house calls to his patients in Chatham-Kent and his name appears on birth and death records. (Wardsville is approximately 12 km to Bothwell in Chatham-Kent).

Dr. McKillop married Jean Sinclair Mann in Dufferin County, Ontario on the 14th of March, 1900.  Mrs. McKillop was born in Syracuse, New York on the 14th of November, 1871.   She was the 3rd of 7 children born to Robert Mann and the former Elizabeth Sinclair.  According to the 1881 census, the Mann family was living in Orangeville, Ontario and her father was an architect.  According to that same census, her father was born in Scotland and her mother was born in Quebec.  Mrs. McKillop was the only child in her family born in the United States and her siblings were; Emma Elizabeth Mann, Alexander Mann, Robert Mann, Christiana Louisa Mann, Cynthia Porter Mann and Margaret McCrae Mann and they were all born in Ontario.  In 1885 Mr. and Mrs. Mann and their family resided at 23 Zina Street in Orangeville.  Her father owned Mann’s Fruit and Confectionary store located at 167 Broadway Street.  Mr. Mann was also a local manager for Bell Telephone and the first switchboard in Orangeville was installed in his store in 1885.

Dr. McKillop was a member of the Masons and belonged to D.D.G.M. of Erie District and No.1 A.F. & A.M.

Dr. McKillop died of kidney disease on the 6th of April, 1902, less than 2 years after his marriage.  Dr. McKillop was well-respected in his community and the surrounding area.  According to a funeral write-up in a local newspaper, schools and businesses were closed on the afternoon of his funeral.

Mrs. McKillop returned to Orangeville where she tended to the sick and injured as a nurse.  Mrs. McKillop died in Orangeville on the 2nd of April, 1903 less than a year after her husband died.  She was 31 years old.  They did not have any children.

Dr. and Mrs. McKillop were buried at the Wardsville Cemetery.