Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2014 All Rights Reserved USGenNet Data Repository Please read USGenNet Copyright Statement on this page: Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott for the USGenNet Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ =========================================================================== Formatted by USGenNet Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. =========================================================================== A History of the Northern Peninsula and its People, Vol. 2 Alvah Littlefield Sawyer, 1911 [828-829] ALEXANDER MacKINNON. - Thifty, enterprising and energetic, ALEXANDER MacKINNON is a fine representative of the courageous men who came to the Upper Peninsula in pioneer days and have since been among the foremost in developing its varied resources and advancing its ma- terial interests. He is an esteemed resident of Iron River, which he and his brother, DONALD C., founded. A son of HUGH and SARAH (CAMP- BELL) MacKINNON, he was born in 1844, in the village of Mull, Argyle- shire, Scotland. His grandfather, a life-long resident of Argyle- shire, Scotland, married a MISS LIVINGSTONE, who was an aunt of DAVID LIVINGSTONE, the noted Scotch explorer and missionary to whom the world is so greatly indebted for much of its knowledge of Central Africa. A sketch of the parents of MR. MacKINNON may be found else- where in this volume, in connection with the biography of his brother, DONALD CAMPBELL MacKINNON. But an infant when he was brought across the ocean by his parents, ALEXANDER MacKINNON was brought up on a farm at Owen Sound, Providence of Ontario, where he attended school as opportunity afforded. When old enough to handle tools, he began to assist his father in building boats, and afterwards learned the carpenter's trade. Leaving home at the age of seventeen years, he came to the States in search of for- tune, locating at Marquette, Michigan, just at the time the Upper Peninsula was becoming somewhat noted as a mining region, although its hidden wealth, especially in the Iron and Gogebic ranges, was a yet unrevealed. After following the carpenter's trade for awhile, MR. MacKINNON spent a year in learning to burn charcoal, then an important industry, but gave it up and sought more congenial work. He was for a while variously employed, but in 1878, he and his brother, DONALD C., came as prospectors to what is now Iron county, walking from Quinne- see, the nearest railway station, packing their tents and provisions the whole fifty miles. Here MESSRS. MacKINNON discovered and filed claims on several different mines and tracts of land. Spending the following winter in Quinnesee, they returned to Iron county in the spring to explore the mines, and in addition to that work cleared about four acres of land in section twenty-six, townships forty-three and thirty-five, on which, in the spring of 1882, these brothers built a shanty, the first place of abode in this part of the Peninsula. The same spring they planted potatoes, that being the first attempt at farming in this part of the state. Very early in the same spring MR. MacKINNON and his brother platted the town of Iron River, and during the same year opened the Beta mine. MR. MacKINNON has been a resident here since, and still has an interest in the leases of various valu- able mining properties. He has never married, the presiding genius of his household being his sister MARY, who has lived with him during his stay in Iron River, as has also MISS MAY MacGINNIS. ===========================================================================