John Ross McKenzie, a Canadian by birth, received a medical degree from the University of Toronto in 1894 and came to North Dakota immediately thereafter. He was born October 8, 1871 at Drumbo, Oxford County, Ontario; the member of a prominent family. His father had emigrated from Scotland in 1837. After his arrival in Carrington he became an active member of the business and social scene of the area. He was in the true sense of the word a "horse and buggy doctor". He was known affectionately to his friends and patients as the "Little Doc" on account of his short stature. He delivered many babies in farm homes by the light of a kerosene lamp. More than once operations were performed on a hastily improvised table- some, but not all, were successful. A 1915 paper lists the families of the twins he had delivered: Walter Wyard, George Hall, B.J. Holcomb, F.L. Cusack, James McHenry, Joe Hamel, W.E. Thurston, R.C. Butts, Albert Footitt, Jim Fornshell, C.W. Reichert, Bert Noble, Pat Carr and E.H. Moriarty- 19 in all.

His marriage to Jessie Soliday on September 10, 1903 was the social event of the season. She was born July 14, 1878 at Canton, Ohio, the daughter of Henry A. Soliday, one of the earliest settlers in Carrington. About this time the doctor built his residence at the location which is now 717 North First Street. Their only child, a son, George Lachlan, died at the age of 6 in 1910. Dr. McKenzie served briefly in World War I as a Lieutenant in the Medical Corps but he did not see overseas service. He retired shortly after the end of the war and he and his wife lived in California until his death April 6, 1928. Mrs. McKenzie survived him and died October 23, 1967; aged 95.

Source: A History of Foster County 1983 Page 221