John O. McKellar
Career Sailor, Business Partner and Friend of Captain Scott Misener
The first two decades of the company now known as Misener Shipping Limited were years of immense challenge. That the company survived at all is greatly based on the special relationship between captain Scott Misener and his partner John 0. McKellar. The two men were more than business associates. They shared a common vision of what a company could become and the friendship and loyalty inspired a family feeling that carried them through many rough times on the lakes and ashore. Ralph Misener, Chairman of Misener Holdings Limited states, "The meeting of John 0. McKellar was the most fortuitous thing that happened to my father. The two were great companions. When the going was tough he was an excellent man. He was astute in business but never lost his keen sense of humour."
John Oscar McKellar was born on June 28, 1878, in Lobo Township, near London, Ontario. It was known as the Scotch Country and young John had Gaelic as his mother tongue. He didn't speak English until he went to school.
Later, John's father got a job in Penetanguishene, Ontario, a Georgian Bay town home to many lake sailors. He no doubt came to know people who made their living on the lakes. He claimed his first sailing experiences was in a maple sugar pan on a duck pond but his interest in boats and water was quickly shown. The dinghy, LOUSY LIZZIE, was his first vessel.
There was no high school nearby so John completed his secondary school in Barrie. He would bicycle to that town from his home on Sundays and spend the week in a boarding house near the school. On graduation he attended the School of Practical Science at the University of Toronto. However, after his first year he changed his plans from a professional engineer and signed on in the engine room of a laker with the goal of becoming a marine engineer.
He qualified as a chief and spent many years on the little steamers of the time. One of the greatest disasters of lake shipping was the big storm of 1913 when 11 ships went down. John McKellar was aboard a ship that survived. He accepted what ever nature put forth with the attitude, "What is the point of worrying. What happens will happen and we have to make the best of it."
While he was sailing as an engineer John's father got a position in Sault Ste. Marie and this city became the family home. This was also the home at the time of Captain Scott Misener. The two met while each was serving aboard a ship in the Algoma Central fleet.
In 1917 Captain Misener bought his first vessel, the OVERLAND. His partner was the ship's chief engineer, Thomas O'Reilly. Three years later Captain Misener wanted to purchase a larger ship, the SIMON LANGELL. The partnership with Mr. O'Reily dissolved since he did not like sailing in heavy weather. Captain Misener needed a new chief who would accompany him even in storms so he asked his friend John McKellar to join him in the purchase of the SIMON LANGELL. The deal was completed and the partnership began.
One of the boarders at the McKellar home in the Soo was a young school teacher, Harriet Patterson. John took a liking to her and asked her if she would like to be a guest aboard the ship. She was an adventurous woman and accepted the offer. On the trip John proposed to her. They were married in 1923 and a few years later had one daughter, Mary.
In time the partnership moved on to the steel-hulled CLAREMONT. The new family was very close and during the summers Mary and her mother would travel from the Soo to a location handy to visit the ship. The first summer was spent in Port Dalhousie near the old Welland Canal. Other summers were spent at Matane, Quebec, while the CLAREMONT carried pulp-wood up the Saguenay. Mary remembers one summer when they stayed on a farm near Brockville. "Father had his own toot on the whistle — two long, one long, one short. When we heard that signal mother and I would get on the bus to the Cardinal Canal in time to have a visit with father."
The partnership continued to grow. Sarnia Steamships was formed with two brand new ships in 1928 and four more in 1929. John McKellar continued to sail as chief, now aboard his first namesake. He came ashore with the purchase of the Mathews fleet in 1933. The family moved to a home on Tennessee Avenue in Port Colborne. John was known for his droll sense of humour and colourful language. One spring when the ice was very thick John commented, "One of my favourite sights is to go home and sit down so I can look out the window and see all my competitors' ships stuck in the ice knowing that ours cleared a week ago."
Marine Superintendent was a busy position in a large fleet of 25 owned and managed vessels and no office support staff. Mary says, "We almost saw less of my father after he came ashore." Luckily telephone service was widespread. "It kept many lake families together," comments Mary. "One Father's Day he was a long way away and we sent him a telegram, collect. He called us back by phone, collect, and talked for twenty minutes. He was not usually a long talker."
He devoted himself completely to his work but he did have other pursuits. John McKellar took an active interest in community affairs and his church. He was a great reader who read on a wide variety of subjects. He experimented with colour film when it was introduced and was well known for the quality of his photographs. During the winter he was an enthusiastic curler.
Being described as a 'people person' is sometimes over-used but it applied in the case of John McKellar. He could go aboard any ship in the fleet and know the names of all the engine room crew including new firemen. Captain John Sharpe, who sailed with him and with Captain Misener says, "Mr. McKellar would really get his dander up if he thought a fellow wasn't getting a fair deal. There was a mutual liking between him and his employees. He was the best man at my wedding and stood up with lots of others. He and Captain Misener would continually kid each other and he was the only one who could settle the Captain down when he got upset. He was quite a guy."
Captain Sharpe also remembers the McKellar sense of humour. "He didn't smoke and he was dead set against drink but boy could he swear. One time he had his friend the minister aboard for a trip. The minister wandered down to the engine room when things were not quite going right and Mr. McKellar was letting go a blue streak. When he stopped he turned around and saw the minister who commented, 'John, I didn't know you were fluent in French.' John replied, 'You're G-D— right I am!"
Helping a person in financial need was something John McKellar was known to do but he did not want anyone to know about it. One of the cases that came to light was the son of the local Lutheran minister who was very talented musically. His family was unable to send him for further training so John met his fees at university. He went on to become the famous choir director Elmer Eisler. Asked how he could ever repay the debt, John told him he didn't want the money back but that when Elmer was successful, as he no doubt would be, then he should help someone out in a similar position. The result was the establishing of the McKellar Prize for Music at the University of Toronto.
The company formed and managed by the two sailors continued to expand through the 1940's. In 1951 the first large ship built to their account was completed and another ordered. The first was named the SCOTT MISENER (2) and unfortunately John 0. McKellar did not live to see the second and larger one completed. He died on September 19, 1951. On his death Captain Misener announced that the new ship would be named for his partner and devoted friend.
The christening of the JOHN 0. McKELLAR at Port Weller
John O. McKellar on christening day. The largest ship in Canada.
The spirit of John O. McKellar lives on in the company today through the family feeling and the high maintenance standards aboard ship. Mary, his daughter says, "He would highly approve of the new ocean-lakers because of the forward looking challenge they represent and also because they are so well appointed for the crews. He always wanted the best for his people."
SS JOHN 0. McKELLAR Leaves the Fleet
JOHN O. McKELLAR entering the Welland Canal from Lake Ontario
Many Misener employees and followers of lake shipping were surprised when the sale of the SS JOHN 0. McKELLAR to P&H Shipping (a division of Parrish and Heimbecker Limited) was announced, effective October 15, 1984. The JOHN 0. McKELLAR had not operated at all this season, remaining in lay-up in Owen Sound. Her future was in question but ship sales between Canadian lake companies are rare and few observers expected a sale such as this to •happen. It is a situation that benefits both companies and ensures the operation of the ship for the foreseeable future. The JOHN 0. McKELLAR was a marginal unit of the Misener fleet. She now becomes the largest, most modern ship in the P&H fleet. They have a fine ship with a record of steady service for their flagship.
The shipping industry is facing challenging times. Many companies are reorganizing to chart a course into an uncertain economic future. Specialization at what you do best, in the most efficient way, is required. The Misener fleet is engaged in the long haul movement of grain from Thunder Bay to the St. Lawrence with significant amounts of Labrador iron ore into Lake Michigan and petroleum coke from South Chicago to Port Alfred. These are routes best served by maximum-sized lakers and there
is strong competition for these cargoes. The building of the ocean-lakers and the chartering in of other maximum diesel ships is the way Misener is facing the future. In this environment the JOHN 0. McKELLAR is not competitive. She was the largest ship in Canada when she was built and set many cargo records during her early years but time passes relentlessly and we are in a very different market situation. There are many Canadian lakers at the wall. Some are larger than the JOHN 0. McKELLAR and have been laid up for a longer period. She was the one selected by P&H as part of their fleet reorganization. She is now operating as the SS ELMGLEN.
Parrish and Heimbecker Limited, a grain company with offices in Winnipeg and Toronto, has been involved in lake shipping for many years. They are major sellers of grain to feed and flour mills in Southern Ontario. At one time the two ship fleet of Northwest Steamships, Ltd. ran steadily for P&H. One of the two was the former Misener canaller RAHANE. The company ceased operation in 1959 with the opening of the St. Lawrence Seaway and P&H started to contract a ship to run for their account. Various companies provided this service. In 1982 P&H got back into the lake shipping business directly
when it purchased the floating assets of the bankrupt Soo River Company to ensure the continuity of their grain deliveries to the Bay ports. With the acquisition of this fleet P&H took over and has maintained contracts with the Canadian Wheat Board, another grain company and some iron ore. The total tonnage they move is very small compared to that moved by Misener so they have requirements for a vessel that can operate in the St. Lawrence grain trade part of the time but still be of a size to trade into the shallower docks in Goderich and Owen Sound. The JOHN 0. McKELLAR fits these requirements well. In addition her bow thruster and six cargo holds make her well suited for P&H requirements. Often a ship on their account will carry a different grain in each cargo hold. It is referred to as a parcel grain trade. Much shuttling between the elevators in Thunder Bay harbour is required to make up these loads.
The sale of the JOHN 0. McKELLAR involves the trading of an asset that was not particularly useful to Misener to a company that can use her to advantage. Both companies have come out ahead. We wish good sailing to the owners of the ELMGLEN and all those who sail aboard her.
