Dòmhnull Chaluim Dhòmhnuill Ghuaire

Daniel “Dan” Ernest MacQuarrie was from Upper Middle River, Victoria County. His great-grandfather, Quarrie MacQuarrie, came from Ulva, Isle of Mull. Quarrie had three sons born in Scotland—Laughlin, Malcolm, and Duncan—and a fourth, Donald, born after the family arrived in Middle River, Cape Breton.

Born March 1, 1890, Dan was the son of Malcolm MacQuarrie and Elizabeth Finlayson. Malcolm and Elizabeth moved to the United States for work, but sadly, Elizabeth died while living there. Malcolm returned to Nova Scotia to work as a linesman in Halifax and sent his sons back to Middle River to live with Elizabeth’s family.

When Dan was 25 years old, he and his brother Malcolm enlisted in the army to serve in World War I. Malcolm was killed in action and is remembered on the Vimy Memorial. After the war, Dan returned home to farm, but during the Second World War, he worked for the railroad at Ottawa Brook as a watchman.

Dan married Isabel “Belle” Annie Carmichael from Margaree Valley, and together they had two children, David and Ada. The family first lived in Humes River before moving to his mother’s family home, the Finlayson stone house in Upper Middle River.Dan is remembered for always having peppermints in his sweater pocket for the children in the family. He wore a shirt and MacQuarrie tartan tie every Sunday and never missed a church service. He was proud of his Gaelic heritage and enjoyed attending Gaelic events at the Gaelic College and Highland Village.

In his later years, Dan resided at the Veterans’ Hospital in Sydney Mines, where he passed away on January 12, 1988. At the time of his death, he had nine grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren.