Biography:

Dr. Matthew Thomas MacFarlane was born on the 6th of April, 1869 in Pontiac County, Quebec.  He was the 2nd of 4 sons born to Matthew MacFarlane and the former Martha Craig.  In 1921, his father was a dry goods merchant in Ridgetown and his siblings were; James S. MacFarlane (who died in Ridgetown on the 10th of January 1894 at the age of 27), William Wallace Craig MacFarlane and Harold Norman Gordon MacFarlane.  Dr. MacFarlane’s youngest brother, Harold was born in Ridgetown, Ontario in 1887.  The MacFarlane family resided at 20 York Street in Ridgetown.

Dr. MacFarlane graduated from The University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine in 1888.  Dr. MacFarlane returned to Ridgetown to practice medicine.  He is listed in the 1895 and the 1897 Business Directory’s in Ridgetown.

Dr. MacFarlane married Margaret MacFarlane on the 29th of August, 1902 in Fitzroy Harbour, Ontario.  At the time of his marriage Dr. MacFarlane resided in Olds, Alberta.  Mrs. MacFarlane was born on the 22nd of November, 1870.  She was the 8th of 11 children born to David MacFarlane and the former Annie Henderson.  Her parents were farmers in the Fitzroy Harbour area and her siblings were; James M. A. MacFarlane, Alexander Allan McFarlane (died on the 13th of July, 1864 at the age of 13 months), twins David Allan MacFarlane and Alexander Henderson MacFarlane, John Buchanan MacFarlane, Mackison MacFarlane, Alphonso MacFarlane, Anne MacFarlane, Alexandra Elizabeth MacFarlane and William MacFarlane.  Mrs. MacFarlane was a nurse.

Dr. MacFarlane died on the 9th of May, 1904, barely 2 years after he was married.  It is believed that he had a son, also named Matthew.  Dr. MacFarlane was buried at Greenwood Cemetery in Ridgetown.

*Dr. MacFarlane’s younger brother Harold MacFarlane also became a physician and he served during World War I.

**Mrs. MacFarlane’s brother Private William MacFarlane was killed during WWI on the 21st of August, 1917.  He was buried at Bruay Communal Cemetery in Pas-de-Calais, France.