McKenzie, Alexander Finlay “The Laird”

5 CARDS Laird of Tulloch Ard (High knoll) Similkameen Star Aug. 20, 1942 Born March 1856 in Kintael Rossshire Scotland and passed August 16, 1942 at the age of 85. Buried on hill between One Mile Road and cabin. Was then Indian Trail (1900) At age 13 family moved to Skye stayed 1865-75 moved to Stafford place, SX Dingwall. Spent some years in Edinburgh where he qualified as a veterinary surgeon, for three years lived in London. Crossed the Atlantic 3 tomes 1890-1900 spent in California. Came to Canada 1900. Took up land on the lake named after him. Built log cabin, burned down May 26, 1930. New smaller cabin built. Great hunter; 30 mountain lions, 200 bears, others uncounted. Dog was Yarroww. Never married. He had a ferocious lynx which he intended to tame in 1914 and hoped to get a mate for it, and start a lynx colony for commercial sale. On another occasion the Laird shot a bear, wounding it on teh snout. The bear charged and the rifle discharged it point blank into the bear’s face./ The bear was so close that it ripped the hunter’s coat with its claws. One mile had a delightful ranch suitable fro a country seat shooting and fishing. His hay crop is excellent and only requires a few days of fine weather. Known as The Laird of Tulloch Ard (after whom Laird Lake was named) was widely known was a Mighty Hunter. On one occasion he captured a lynx alive, a feat that was witnessed by a party of campers from the lake. The lynx has been attracted to the Laird’s estate by some choice of Hungarian hares. It was spotted by the Yarrow, the Laird’s favourite dog, who soon treed the stranger. The Laird quicklly decided that teh fur was not quite prime and that the lynx should be kept alive till its pelt would bring top market price. Carrying a noose at the end of a stick McKenzie climbed the tree, faced the sharling brute, pushed the noose over its head, choked it into submission and kept it till the fur promised desired place. J. G.S. of S. Sept. 11, 1912 Died 1942 age 85 Came from Island of Skye, Scottish Highlands, emigrated in 1865 came to Canada. Took up land One Mile (Indian Trail) 1900 Built a log cabin like a Swiss Chalet 1913 had a ferocious lynx which he planned to tame as a pet or perhaps a lynx farm. Raised goats The ‘Laird of the One Mile’ was Alex McKenzie (‘Goatman’) Ref – K. Seaman . He once loaned his black saddle horse to a hunter friend who rode out hunting deer, tied the pony to a tree, walked away looking for deer, he must have made a large circle and saw in the distance what he thought was a black bear. He shot it and when he got to where it was it turned out to be the black saddle horse. Homesteaded