Biography:

Dr. Robert McKenzie was born in Montreal, Quebec in the 10th of March, 1813.  Dr. McKenzie was the 7th of 10 children born to Robert McKenzie and the former Anna Aird.  His father was a merchant in Montreal and his siblings were; Alexander McKenzie (who died at the age of 2 months old), Jane McKenzie, Ann McKenzie, William George McKenzie, Mary Rebecca McKenzie, Elizabeth Rosina McKenzie, twins Margaret and Thomas McKenzie and Sophia Markland McKenzie (who died at the age of 13 months).

The source of Dr. McKenzie’s education is unknown at this time.

Dr. McKenzie married Jessie Bryden in May of 1858 in Chatham.  Mrs McKenzie was born in Dumfriesshire, Scotland in 1833.  She was the daughter of John and Janet Bryden.  According to the 1841 census, Mrs. McKenzie was still living in Scotland with her parents and siblings.  In 1858 her father was a blacksmith in Dawn Mills (Chatham-Kent) and her siblings were; Esther, Nancy, John and Betsy.

In 1861 Dr. McKenzie was practicing medicine in Tupperville. Dr. and Mrs. McKenzie had 5 children; Anna (who died in childhood), Nancy, Isabella, Lilly and Robert John McKenzie.

Dr. McKenzie died in Chatham Township on the 21st of March, 1877.

Mrs. McKenzie married Thomas Gilpin Ritchie in Chatham on the 29th of July, 1878.  Mr Ritchie was born in Ireland and married Jane Ardrey in Scotland on the 31st of December, 1856.  They had 3 sons born to them in Scotland, James, David and John.  Between 1861 and 1871 Mr. Ritchie’s wife Jane died and he immigrated to Canada, settling in Chatham Township with his father, brother, and his 3 sons.  Mr. Ritchie was a farmer.

Mrs. Jessie (Bryden) (McKenzie) Ritchie died on the 16th of April, 1901.  She was buried at Riverview Cemetery in Wallaceburg.  Mr. Thomas G. Ritchie died on the 11th of March, 1910 in London, Ontario.  He was buried at Mount Pleasant Cemetery (London, Ontario).