Daniel McGruar was born 29 May 1815 in Inverness-shire Scotland. McGruar emigrated to the Miramichi with his family about 1823 and was apprenticed to a tailor, working in the trade for many years. In 1837 he married Janet Irving (b. c1820), and they had nine children, including Thomas McGruar (1844 - 1896) became a clerk in Newcastle. In 1858 Daniel took up the position as customs officer in Newcastle remaining until his retirement in 1889, at which time he returned to tailoring.

McGruar was active in the community, holding membership in a number of organizations. He participated in both the Mechanics' Institute and the temperance movement and was a member of the Masons, the Orange Order and the Presbyterian Church. In 1850 he helped found the Newcastle Sons of Temperance and, along with his sons, was a stalwart supporter. He also served as worshipful master of the Masons' Northumberland Lodge and was the first worshipful master of the No Surrender Lodge of Newcastle's Orange Society. Daniel McGruar died at Newcastle on 2 December 1902.

Source: Hamilton, W.D., Dictionary of Miramichi Biography (1997): 267; Provincial Archives of New Brunswick, Daniel F Johnson's New Brunswick Newspaper Vital Statistics: Daily Telegraph (3 May 1889).