Washington

MACKIE, George Cardno

Men of Vermont: Illustrated Biographical History of Vermonters & Sons of 
Vermont. Ullery. Brattleboro: Transcript Publishing Company, 1894, p 252 
(portrait p 252)

George Cardno MACKIE, of Barre [Washington County, Vermont], was born 01 May 
1849 in Fraserburg, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, son of John and Ann (CLARK) 
MACKIE. He received his education by attending the public schools of his 
native land, and when seventeen years of age was apprenticed to the trade of 
a granite stone cutter. He emigrated to America in 1871 and worked at his 
trade in many states of the Union. At this time the art of cutting and 
polishing granite was in its infancy and mostly all of the finished work of 
this description was imported from abroad. Mr. MACKIE came to Barre in 1880, 
accompanied by his half brother, James C. SIMPSON, and entered the employment 
of Wetmore & Morse. They were the first Scotchmen to ply their trade in that 
community, though at present there are probably a thousand of their 
countrymen engaged in similar pursuits in and around the neighborhood.

In 1884 Mr. MACKIE commenced business in partnership with his brother [half 
brother?]. They met with great success and at the end of three years found 
themselves the owners of a valuable property and employing sixty men. At 
this time they made an advantageous sale of their business to Jones Brothers 
of Boston, and for five years he continued to act as their superintendent, 
during which time the firm has been very prosperous, owing not a little of 
their success to the industry and executive ability of their manager. Since 
parting with his interest in the quarry, Mr. MACKIE has invested largely in 
real estate and to the care and improvement of this he has devoted much of 
his time and energy. In 1893 he bought out the firm of Sortwell & Morse and 
now owns one of the best manufacturing plants in Barre, consisting of about 
six acres of land, a fine water power, with some very valuable granite 
cutting machines. 

Mr. MACKIE belongs to the brotherhood of the "square and compasses" and is 
treasurer of Granite Chapter, Royal Arch Masons, of Barre, and is also 
trustee of the Burns Club of that place. Republican; has held the office of 
village bailiff. He has had to make his own way in life, and affords a 
notable example of what can be accomplished by energy, intelligence, and 
public spirit. In 1869 he [George Cardno MACKIE] was married to Mary, 
daughter of William and Jane (SCOTT) CAMERON, of Aberdeenshire, Scotland, and 
they have four sons living: James, William, John, and Robert. His sons, 
James and William, are now his business partners.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly