The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1906-08-17
ALEXANDER McBAIM
Dies at the Ripe Old Age Of Sew.
enty-five Years.

Alexander McBain was born in
Cornwall. eastern Ontario. Oct. 49,
1881. His father had been born in the
state of New York of Scottish parents,
who afterwards moved to Canada when
the deceased was Il mere child, the
family moved westward settling in
Bruce County about 1S45. Here Mr..
McBain grew to manhood engaged in
hewing home from the great forest
For time he was engaged in business
pursuits in Tiverton Ontario but most
of theyears spent in Bruce county were
spent on the farm.
In 1868 Mr.. McBain became chris.
tian and the next year becamea charter
member of the Baptist church of Tiv-
erton. In 1855 he was united IN mar
riage with Harriet M. Bagsley. who
survived him. Of this union have been
born ten children five of whom pre-
ceded him to the grave.
When the Canadian northwest
opened to settlement Mr. McBain
caught the fever and in 1878 he moved
his family to the Little Saskatchewan
valley settling at place afterwards
known as Strathclair. He assisted in
the organization of aud became a
member of the Strathclair Baptist
Church.
In 1888 after struggling with un.
favorable conditions he moved to Da-
kota, settling on the farm where he
died. Three children had already
passed away and here two more, Jerry
and William were laid to rest.
From his earliest manhood Mr.. Nc
BAN was identified with those best
things which go to make up commu-
nifty of strong conviction, deep earnest
pietv and rigid sense of right and
wrong, his voice and influence were
always on the side of right. When
the Bottineau settlement was in its
infancy, be with one NJ r. Boyer, Or
ganized and arranged for the first re-
ligious services held here. When law
and order required champion he was
one Of the organizers of the law and
order league. Whatever may have
been tho attitude Of others, Mr.. Nc
Balm always contended for what he
knew to be right. His influence has
been felt especially in the work OF the
Baptist church here. In 1885 he was
one of the charter members Of the
Baptist church of this city, and was
elected Deacon therein, position
which he held to the day of his death.
He served his community as county
assessor, being appointed to that office
by Governor Ordway in 1884, also as
county commissioner and for several
years was on the school board.
His health in the last years failed
him and it was apparent to all that
Deacon McBain, as he was familiarity
called, was failing fast. The end
came week ago and surrounded by
several members of mis- family he
breathed his last He is survived
by his widow who resides in the old
home, one son, I. D. McBain mer.
chant of Bottineau, and four daugh-
ters, Mrs. J. B. Sinclair of Kalispell,
Mont, Mrs. Archie Macarthur of Mos
COW, Idaho Mrs.J B. Taylor Of Seattle,
Wash, and Mrs.. r. G.. Michael Of
Willow City.
Deacon Mccain was man of strong
convictions, strict integrity and deep
religious feeling. In many ways he
resembled the old Puritans and help.
ed to fix in this community that deep
religious feeling and that firm respect
for law which characterises this city.
The funeral services were held IN
the Opera House and were attended by
a large number of old friends and ac-
quaintances despite the rush and de-
mand of the harvest season. Rev.
Waterman of Minneapolis conducted
the services, the male quartette from
the Baptist church furnished the lnu-
sic, and "a. Burr for the old settlers
spoke feelingly of the life and influence
of the deceased. He was laid to rest
in Oak Creek cemetery by the side of
two sons, there to rest till the last
| trump sounds.