Biography:

Dr. Jonathan McCully was born in Howard Township (Chatham-Kent), Ontario on the 30th of November, 1834.  Dr. McCully was the eldest of 4 children born to Samuel McCully and the former Sarah Bennett.  Dr. McCully’s parents were from Nova Scotia and in 1833 Samuel and Sarah McCully moved from Nova Scotia and lived briefly in Rushton’s Corners (Chatham-Kent) before settling on a homestead in Howard Township. In 1835, Samuel McCully walked 75 miles in one day to Sandwich to record his deed of 100 acres in Howard Township to avoid a land dispute.   Dr. McCully’s siblings were; Hannah Ella McCully, Margaret J. McCully and Samuel Edward McCully.

Dr. McCully remained on the homestead until he was 30 years old. By this time, his brother Samuel McCully had graduated in medicine at Victoria College in Toronto.  Dr. Jonathan McCully began his medical studies at Victoria College in Toronto in 1864 and later attended Dr. Rolph’s College of Medicine. He graduated M.D. from Victoria College in 1866. Upon graduation, he started his medical practice in Cedar Springs.

Dr. McCully married Elizabeth Mills in November of 1868 in Palmyra, Ontario.  Mrs. McCully was born in Kent County in 1836.  She was the 2nd of 4 children born to Nathaniel Mills and the former Mary Gugherty.  Her parents were farmers and her siblings were; Mary, David and Daniel.

Dr. and Mrs. McCully had two children.  Their son, Samuel Bennett McCully was born in Chatham-Kent on the 10th of September, 1869.  He graduated from the University of Toronto and he practiced law in Toronto.  Their daughter Mary Jane (McCully) Hendrie, was born in Cedar Springs in October of 1872 and she became a school teacher.

In 1872, Dr. McCully purchased 50 acres in Cedar Springs and specialized in growing fruit. He continued to practice medicine, but acquired more land in 1902, increasing his farm to 118 acres. Dr. McCully had 50 acres devoted to fruit and became recognized as an expert in that field.  His son shared his father’s love of farming and they formed a business called Dr. McCully and Son.

His wife Elizabeth (Mills) McCully died in September of 1875 and she was buried at the Newcomb Cemetery in Harwich Twp.

According to the 1882 Ontario Medical Register, Dr. McCully joined the College of Physicians and Surgeons on the 7th of May, 1870.  He was listed in the 1885 Ontario Business Directory as practicing in Buckhorn (near Cedar Springs) and he is listed in the 1900 Ontario Business Directory as practicing medicine in Cedar Springs.  Dr. McCully’s medical practice (in Cedar Springs) is recorded in the 1891, 1897 and the 1900 Farmers and Business Directory for the Counties of Elgin, Essex, Kent and Lambton Counties.

Dr. McCully had an active political life in addition to his medical practice and his farm. He served on Harwich Township Council for many years, before being selected as third deputy reeve of Harwich in 1885 and he was Reeve from 1894-1895. Dr. McCully was the Medical Health Officer of Rondeau.

On the 22nd of June 1892, Dr. McCully married Annie Campbell in Harwich Township. Mrs. McCully was born in Harwich Twp., on the 4th of November, 1847.  She was the 4th of 10 children born to  Dougall Campbell and the former Mary Campbell (same name).  Her father was born in Scotland and immigrated to Canada with his parents in 1830.  Mrs. Campbell was also born in Scotland and immigrated to Canada with her parents when she was 14 years old.  Mr. and Mrs. Campbell married in Kent County, Ontario.  Mrs. McCully’s parents were farmers and her siblings were;  Peter, Isabel, Catherine, Maggie, Malcolm, Alexander, Neil, Douglas and Maud (who died at the age of 8 months).

Dr. McCully retired from the practice of medicine prior to his 86th birthday in 1920.

Dr. McCully died in Harwich Twp, on the 22nd of December, 1925.  He was buried at the Newcomb Cemetery.  His beloved farm was left to his son.  After the death of her husband, Mrs. McCully went to live at the home of her brother Douglas Campbell in Harwich Twp.  Mrs. Annie McCully died in Harwich Twp., on the 21st of January, 1928 and she was also buried at the Newcomb Cemetery.

*Dr. McCully’s brother Dr. Samuel Edward McCully, is also featured on the Chatham-Kent Physician Tribute website.

**Mrs. Elizabeth McCully’s brother was the Honourable David Mills who served in Canadian politics and was appointed to the Supreme Court of Canada