Embro in Oxford County, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)

Donald McKenzie

1798-1884

Photographed by Tim Boyd, June 28, 2024

1. Donald McKenzie Marker

Inscription. Born at Dores, Inverness, Scotland, and educated in Aberdeen and Edinburgh, he was ordained by the Presbytery of Dingwall, synod of Ross, 1834, and sent as a missionary to Zorra. In June, 1835, he was inducted into the Zorra Congregation Log Church, Lot 9, Con 7, Zorra) as its first minister. In 1836 a frame church (Auld Kirk) was built in Embro, and in 1861 the cornerstone was laid for a large brick edifice, with a seating capacity of 1000, and a steeple 52 feet high. Mr. McKenzie taught some elementary education as well as the classics, was instrumental in having schools built, and teachers obtaining certificates. In 1844 he was appointed the first Superintendent of Education in Zorra. In 1872 he resigned, after 38 years as Minister of the Zorra Church, having guided 38 young men into the Ministry and many more into the Professions. Mr. McKenzie died in Ingersoll, April 1884, and is buried in the North Embro Cemetery The Presbyterian Church in Canada Centennial Year 1875-1975

Erected 1975 by The Presbyterian Church in Canada.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Education •

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Religion & Religious Structures. A significant historical year for this entry is 1835.

Location. 43° 9.374′ N, 80° 53.968′ W. Marker is in Embro, Ontario, in Oxford County. It is on Saint Andrew Street 0.1 kilometers east of Huron Street, on the left when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 118 St Andrew St, Embro ON N0J 1J0, Canada. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Southwest Ontario Area

and in Southwestern Ontario.

It is also in Central Canada.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once a British colony,

the Viceroyalty of New France,

the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

and Rupert’s Land.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 11 kilometers of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Reverend George Leslie Mackay/ Le Révérend George Leslie Mackay/ (a few steps from this marker); Embro Cenotaph (a few steps from this marker); Henry John Cody 1868-1951 (within shouting distance of this marker); Cody’s Corners (approx. 3.9 kilometers away);

Photographed by Tim Boyd, June 28, 2024

2. Donald McKenzie Marker

Robert Douglas Hayward (approx. 3.9 kilometers away); Oswald J. Smith, Litt.D., D.D., L.L.D. (approx. 3.9 kilometers away); Lt. Colonel Joseph Whiteside Boyle, D.S.O. (approx. 11 kilometers away); Thomas “Carbide” Willson (approx. 11.2 kilometers away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Embro.

Rev. Donald McKenzie image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tim Boyd, June 28, 2024

3. Rev. Donald McKenzie

Source: Pionner Life in Zorra (public domain)

Credits. This page was last revised on July 17, 2024. It was originally submitted on July 9, 2024, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. This page has been viewed 357 times since then and 35 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on July 9, 2024, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.