To get you going, try googling "Alexander Duncan McRae" and you will learn much about a fascinating man of more significance to Canadian history than is often recognized. He bought and sold great tracts of Canada's West, for instance, and made himself many fortunes in lumber, land dealing, mining etc... from Florida to Alaska!! A fascinating book about him, recently published, is Merchant Prince. The Story of Alexander Duncan McRae -- see
http://www.heritagehouse.ca/summaries/merchantprince.htm McRae had native talent galore but also learned a lot from a certain George Coleman Howe, then millionaire entrepreneur of Minneapolis, MN!
Howe saw so much in the young Alexander that reminded him of himself some years before, both having left farms in rural Ontario to seek their fortunes in the US. The young McRae not only learned big business from his Howe mentor but married Blaunche Latimer Howe, the only child George and Mary Elizabeth (Johnston) had. George & Mary Elizabeth grew up together in Kitley Twp, Leeds County, close to Lake Eloida (if I have my geography correct). Lorna Johnston (no relation) has already given you the parents of George; Mary Elizabeth was the daughter of William and Elizabeth (Latimer) Johnston. Oh how far these two kids travelled from farms on the furthest south concession road in Kitley to great wealth in the U.S., and a grand mausoleum in Minneapolis.
Blaunche Howe was to rise even higher as Mrs. A.D. McRae, wife of one of Canada's great multi-millionaire entrepreneurs, World War I general, and eventually Senator McRae. She was the lady of the house at their spectacular mansion in Vancouver, known as Hycroft. This home was the centre of high society and grand annual balls to mark the key points of the year. It was here that King George VI and Queen Elizabeth stayed as guests during the Vancouver segment of their 1939 cross-Canada royal tour.
Rather than tie up this message board with more, be in touch at my personal address if you have questions. I think I have pictures of the Howe house in Kitley. I may have some questions of my own for you! ;-)