Walter Mackenzie, registrar of the county of Prince Edward, and a native of Ross-shire, Scotland, is a son of Alexander Mackenzie, architect, and Christina Ross, and was born February 15, 1835. His father has been dead for many years; his mother is still living.
Walter received a parish school education; came to Canada alone in 1851, and located in Picton, where he had and still has a maternal uncle, Walter Ross, who was at one time a member of the Canadian Assembly, and not long ago of the House of Commons of the Dominion.
For this uncle, who was a general merchant, our subject clerked a few years, then went into the mercantile business for himself, and after trading a few years alone, became a partner of his uncle.
In May 1876, Mr. Mackenzie was appointed registrar of the county, and retired from mercantile life. He is attending to the duties of his office with the fidelity of an honest Scotchman, and as he holds the post during good behavior, we believe that nobody, who knows him, expects to live long enough to see him ousted.
Mr. Mackenzie is a Reformer, but was never a bitter partisan, or a very active politician; and, as far as we can ascertain, seems to have received the appointment, not as a reward for services rendered to his party, but simply on account of his trustworthiness and capabilities. He is a true man.
Mr. Mackenzie has long been a member of the Scotch Presbyterian church, and for years has been an elder of the same, and a commissioner to the general assembly, having a high standing among the laymen in that strong and influential body of christians He is a Master Mason.
October 19, 1865, Miss Lydia Jane Chapman, daughter of Dr. R. J. Chapman, of Picton and niece of Gideon Striker, M.P.P., became the wife of Mr. Mackenzie, and they have two children: Jessie Jeraldine Chapman, and Jerold Striker, both attending the Picton schools.