!SOURCE: Scott Richard McLeod, smcleod@@landoflakes.com
[The following biographical narrative is based upon information gleaned
from the Brenton McLeod Family Tree, interviews with grand-daughters
Myrna Joy McLeod-Grimes and Geraldine Esther McLeod-Houts, along with
public records listed below.]
The history of Archibald Alexander McLeod was very difficult to trace
down. He frequently lied about his age, origins and so on in public
records such as his childrens birth certificates and census records. But
piecing together clues from family memories, pictures, and common
statements in public documents, I have pieced together much of his past.
Archibald was born in Halifax Nova Scotia, Canada. His father was not
a well-educated man who worked on the railroads in Canada. Wanting a
better life for his son than the railroads could offer, he made sure his
son got a complete education. Archibald was highly educated and
attended college. His advanced education served him well over his life.
It always provided him a paycheck. But the career he sought often had
little to do with a good education. He most frequently found himself in
sales.
Archibald left Nova Scotia and moved to Saskatchewan where he
started selling real estate. He emigrated into the United States between
1868 and 1878. He first appears in the 1900 United States census living
in Fergus Falls, Otter Tail County Minnesota with his wife Esther. At
that time, he reports his occupation as a Journalist. He met Esther in
the Dakota territories. With Esther he had three sons; Brenton Archibald,
Lawrence Wallace and Chaston Harvey.
By 1905, he has moved the family to Tintah Township in Traverse
County. He had also changed careers to selling real estate. But
Archibald''s advanced education also allowed him to become a teacher at
the public schools in Tintah. All three of his sons were, at one time or
another, in his class.
Archibald and Esther relocated to St. Paul, Minnesota after 1910.
Archibald divorced Esther in 1919 and moved into a rooming house in St.
Paul, Minnesota. He later returned to Halifax, Nova Scotia, his parents
home, where he committed suicide.
!SOURCE: Brenton McLeod Family Tree.
!RESIDENCE: 1900 United States Federal Census for Fergus Falls, Otter
Tail County, Minnesota
!RESIDENCE: 1905 United States Federal Census for Traverse County,
Minnesota.
!RESIDENCE: 1920 United States Federal Census for St. Paul, Ramsey
County Minnesota.
!DIVORCE: Brenton McLeod Family Tree.