Peter McArthur: the Sage of Ekfrid

Peter McArthur: the Sage of Ekfrid. . Peter McArthur, the writer known as "the "Sage of Ekfrid" was self described as a writer who "played at farming"., Peter McArthur began life in 1866 on the family homestead at lot 17, concession 1 in Ekfrid Township two miles southwest of Appin. Peter McArthur moved to Toronto after attending Strathroy Model School (an early teachers' college). His work in Toronto included reporting for the Globe. He then moved on to New York City where he worked as a freelance writer and roomed with the likes of fellow Canadians poet Bliss Carman, nature writer Charles G.D. Roberts and Arthur Stringer. Initially McArthur barely survived in this work so he took a position as editor-in-chief of a magazine called Truth which featured the work of Carman and Roberts as well as Stephen Leacock. In addition to McArthur's essays, he wrote a biography about Stephen Leacock (requested by Leacock). He also wrote a biography of Prime Minister Sir Wilfred Laurier. All of these people were great friends throughout McArthur's life. Peter McArthur married and had five children, three of whom followed in his footsteps as writers., When McArthur returned to the farm at age 42 he combined his farming career with his old career of freelance writing - success at last. His work appeared in the Globe and the Farmer's Advocate. His newspaper columns were collected and reprinted in a series of popular books including In Pastures Green (1915), The Red Cow and Her Friends (1919), The Affable Stranger (1920), Around Home (1925), Familiar Fields (1925) and Friendly Acres (1927). The last publication The Best of Peter McArthur was published in 1967. Familiar Fields was enjoyed as a reader in many Ontario classrooms., McArthur also enjoyed a speaking career which took him as far as Massey Hall in Toronto where the review in the Toronto Star hailed him as "Canada's philosopher of rural life"., McArthur died in 1924 at the age of 58 after complications from an appendectomy. He was at the height of his popularity at the time., The McArthur home was moved in the early 1960s to Doon Pioneer Village in Waterloo, ON in recognition of Peter McArthur's writings. The County of Middlesex Library Services maintains and preserves a biography file on McArthur as well as several of his works. McArthur's writings are often remembered for their humorous philosophy of rural life.