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A Pioneer Story

By Dave Henderson
Thursday, August 23, 2007

This begins a multi-part story of a pioneer family and one of the founding families of the San Bernardino Valley and Mountains. This is a true story told in the words of the man who lived it.

It is a first hand, close up look at life in the 1840's and 1850's. It is the story of hardship in the life of pioneers at that time. It will bring to light a real-life crossing of the American west in a covered wagon, life and death struggles with disease, Indians, slavery and the church.

This is not a politically correct version of history and some passages may offend some readers. The presentation of this story is not meant to offend but to enlighten. The views set forth in this story are those of the author in that distant time and are not those of RIMOFTHEWORLD.net.

The Days of my Life

I William Laird Adam, first saw the light of day at Old Swallow Haugh near Calder Iron Works Parish of Old Monkland Lanarkahire, Scotland, August 7th 1836, and am the eleventh in a family of twelve born to my father William Thom Adam and Isabella Laird his wife. My father in his younger days followed the occupation of a coal and ironstone miner but before he reached middle life he took contracts to take out the minerals and often employed quite a number of men. And my mother being of an industrious habit with the aid of the older children managed a dairy and kept a shop for the sale of provisions and both being workers managed to acquire quite a little property long before recollection.

A tradition exists in our family that we originally spring from the MacDonalds of the Isles. That three of that clan came to the lowlands (probably on account of their adhesion to the cause of Prince Charlie) and changed their name to Adam the better to conceal themselves, one of whom became a retainer of Lord Kelsythe who was attached for loyalty to the Pretender and had to flee to France, and whose property was confiscated. So my grandfather came tram Kelsythe and my grandmother was of the Thom family of whom. Minister Thom of Gavin became famous for his eccentricities. So all our family had a warm side for the unfortunate Pretender. And some anecdotes at the Minister are extant in our family that I have never seen in print. And also one about a "Pell Mell" that I also got from my father.

Pell Mell:

It is told of a section of the Thom family who went by the name of Pell Mell that on a visit to the town of Ayr and getting along in years took fancy to a pair of staffs placed crossways that he saw exposed as he thought for sale in front of what seemed a place of business.

This was at a time when the use of the quarter staff was being encouraged throughout the country (to encourage a martial spirit no doubt). An expert would travel from one town to another throughout the Bourough challenging all comers to a bout and if the town failed to furnish a successful competitor after so many days he received a sum of money and so made his way to the next town. But if he was successfully met the winner was well rewarded and became quite a hero. Well while our country friend was handling the sticks deciding in his mind, which he preferred, the challenger approaches and informed him he might take which he wished for a bout, naming himself and business. The country men would fain be excused, was not aware that handling the sticks was the acceptance of a challenge, know nothing of a quarter staff, just wanted a walking stick, etc. No apology nor excuse would be taken and smart blow on the side of the head raised his ire, made him furious, he rushed on his antagonist, broke down his guards, belaboured him until he thought he was dead then rushed away making sure to take his stick with him, kept very shy of the town of Ayr and the award offered. The stick he carried off being the make of the one left identified him as the champion and secured for him the prize money and sobriquet of Pelt Mall which stuck to him ever after.

Minister Thom and the Cutty Stool:

A scandal had occurred and the culprit, a girl, for penance had to sit on the Cutty Stool in full view of the congregation while the minister after the sermon gave her an admonition as to the seriousness of her offense. Being close to Glasgow

an immense concourse of people gathered to enjoy the nevelty of the situation. The minister no doubt took in the situation and instead of administering a rebuke to the very humble and contrite girl he merely remarked, "Well, lassie, I anna say mickle to ye the day as I see maust of the sinners and blackguards o ' Glesca are here the noo."

Of my mother's family I heard Less than of my father's. I think her people were miners mostly. George Eaton whose mother was a Laird and a relative of my mother's tells me they were rather tall, very straight, had a proud military bearing, men of few words.

I knew as a child Uncle Jonnie Laird, my mother's half brother and heard of his one escapade in his life. (I could not have been over seven years old when I heard him say he had never been out of Lenarkshire in his life.

He was then quite an old man. It seems that feeling rather unwell, he walked to Glasgow, some twelve miles, to consult with a doctor. White looking around half bewildered with the rush and noise he is approached by a stranger who appeared to know him and called him Lairdy (the common name there for a farmer) and familiarly asked him about the folks at home, the wife, the weans, the horses, cows, markets etc. Altho unused to city life he detected the fraud and made answer that as he had guessed his name he could just guess the answers to his other question.

Well after a while he called on the doctor who began by asking questions of what ailed him, where he ached, etc., to which he made answer I came to you to tell me what was the matter with me and if you don't know I have no further business with you good day.

He always told this with a great deal of satisfaction with the dusting of my new kilt or hose or shoon.

Arriving at school the teacher, a Mr. Braid, and the scholars all, gave I welcome to the new scholar. I got one lesson in the forenoon another In the afternoon from the master and thereafter I was allowed to go where I wished among the scholars. when I was about six years old Andrew Baird became the teacher and I was taught by him until I went to Cartsherrie Academy.

Andrew Baird had only one arm. We heard he lost his right while an infant reaching after a plaything under some coal wagon went they started. But his left hand answered to mend pens (we used the goose quill at that time) write copy book head lines, sharpen slate pencils, trim his garden, etc. We used to think him very severe and cross. He seemed to think it necessary to chastise nearly all the scholars at least once per day and some even more, but it was the custom of the time. And come to think of it he must have worked quite hard. Sixty or more unruly pupils five and half days one week and six the next, seven and a half to eight hours per day, with only six holidays between Christmas and New Year. Now I do not think the children were inclined to be rude but they had such an exuberance of animal spirits. Racing, chasing, hooping, yelling, anything for action. A very merry thoughtless lot.

Our amusements when this time of year arrived would be spinning top, marbles, ball game of rounders, town ball, hounds and hares. hoops, or girs Scottish, road ball, swimming, sliding or skating, in winter when the ice when strong enough, hide and seek. And about New Year or "Nairdy Scots" the boys would form companies. and play Goloshine in the neighbours houses where we were invaribaly welcomed and well rewarded a few pennies was considered lots of money and with which we could buy candy, oranges, apples and gingerbread etc., and have a fine time out beside a penny or so a piece to put in pocket.

Sometimes with our nieces, Bell and Margaret, we would get up a show or theater on a very pri itive plan. Bell was the leader and door keeper. And some little novelty such as a few gaudy trinkets, bits of coloured glass, piece of broken mirror, string of beads around a cat's neck, Maggie dressed in some odd way and her face painted with keel (red chalk) and black ink would call attention in an assumed voice to the fairlies which with the aid of a tallow dip (candle) would be seen around on the walls of our rudely built little hut. A pin or a button gained admittance and if the intended visitor had none the door keeper would loan one.

When about eight years old our mother died. She had been, ailing quite a while, perhaps two years, with a dropsy when the end came. Father did all, he could evidently. Dr. Ranken was our family physician and all the skill of the time was employed and whenever a case was reported to have been successfully treated father would investigate. One man was brought from about Kelsyth who it was reported had cured himself with herbs. He lived with us several months using the same remedies but without success (he afterwards died of the same disease.) Come to think of it father must have been a model husband. At the time he was a contractor taking from the mines coal and ironstone for the Bairds of Gartherrie. He had been a working coat miner in his youth. But he gave that up and staid at home making it the business of his wait on Mother, and while she was able they took trips together around the country jaunting with a horse and chase and I was taken frequently along. I remember remember one trip was to the falls of clyde, and another to to the shotts iron works. To my young mind the falls were magnificent a stupendous sheet of clear water leaping from an immense height with a deafening roar, eddying and swirling and coming to the strand at your feet in little wavelets.

The impression then taken have never left me. In a little lodge house near by, by a deft placing of mirrors, I was frightened to see the water coming down on us, as it appeared. And can yet remember the mused expression on the faces of Father and Mother and her quick protecting embrace. The walks and carriage road were kept in fine repair and the slopes on each aide of the Clyde were in shrubbery. And under the falls was a cave in which the hero Wallace was said to have hidden from the English alter a defeat.

Then another time we went to either the Shotts or Carron Iron works where there were furnaces, rolling mills, and stores at iron in all shape from the crudest form to the manufactured article in bars and castings. One warehouse was devoted to culinary articles of which Father purchased a few articles. Many other rides were evidently taken for the pleasure of being out in each others company. But the trip to Rothasy was the great treat and I can remember several excursions there. We would start in the morning and take the trackey boat at Sheepford locks on the Monkland Canal, reaching Glasgow before noon. From the trackey-boat we had to walk to the Broonielaw and passed tennants stalk, a very high chimney that I was told carried away the smoke and noxious vapors from the chemical works. Once we passed the Glasgow College, a high and very dark looking building and it looked to me then as the abode of awful learning black arts and skeletons. And I can yet remember the narrow roadway, dismal black houses, of some street, and also of the beautiful Argule street the Arcade, and the open square where was the large equestrian figure in marble, and around which was the Banks and the palatial residence

of the Merchant Princes. Polished marble and granite everywhere, and everybody, even the nurse girls, dressed as if going to church. Evidently no coal carts or scavenger wagon, were permitted there. Smart carriages, liveried coachmen and flunkies, or ladies and gents on horseback attended by grooms.

At a place between Coatbridge and Glasgow there was a steep incline on the Canal, consequently several locks where we had to walk, taking another trackey—boat. And I noticed an incline railway wider than the ordinary and Father told me it was an experiment to see if the coal, barges etc. could not be hauled up the incline instead of going through several locks. And at Mossburn, near Calderbank iron works, there was an incline with a stationary engine at the top which let down coal wagons and hauled them up same as on street cars now. Only difference the cable was on top running over pulleys overground instead of under as now.

At Glasgow we would take the river steamer for Rothsey Isle of Bute and lodge with a Highland woman named Jean. Three days we usually stayed there bathing, boating, and looking around the old castle loopholed for archery, the dismal looking dungeons, the Port Cullosed entrance. One Sunday there was preaching in the courtyard and I went climbing around, inquisitive even at that early age, asking questions of Father—what this and that was for—-and his answers were always lucid and given with patience. (Jean, the landlady, seemed an old acquaintance of our father and mother.) And my impression is they (Father and Mother) were a very loving couple. In all my recollections there never was the slightest difference between them. Even then my mother's infirmity prevented her from walking out with us. Father, Aleck, and I often going along for our morning bath and walk about the quey or harbour. There was also so cannon here where we bathed, rusty and unused looking, that Father told us had been placed there during the wars with the French. Everybody spoke galic, and herring fishing and handloom weaving seemed the principal industry. Many of the houses were built of a dark coloured rocks probably whetstone, which gave them rather a gloomy appearance.

These outings and many of the incidents thereto are very fresh yet in my memory—Port Glasgow, Dumbarton Castle, Creenock and other places where landings were made, the stir on board of the little steamer, a bagpipe skirling or a fiddle playing and the steady thump thump of the paddles, the signing of Carousers, and clatter of plates down in the cabins kept everybody wide awake no doubt. But mothers health gradually declined and when I was less than seven years old my sister Janet died and about one year Later mother died of the dropsey that had been her ailment for a long time.

Well what a change occurred then. Father often absented himself and his business was left to the hired help. Sister Jemima was quite young, and brother Charles was at college, and to cap all, father married a young woman—much younger than several of his married daughters—- and they resented the intrusion and no doubt us younger ones took our que and our home was without the recognized head directory that was Mother's unquestioned due. Business fell off and Father began to think of emigrating to America and he fell under the blandishments of some glib-tongued American Mormon Elders and soon thereafter sold his property, consisting of some houses that he used to rent which brought him some fifteen hundred pounds sterling (quite a snug sum) to a brother-inlaw, William Hamilton, on a deferred payment of four hundred pounds ($2000.00) for which be took no security and eventually lost it. How much Charles got or how it was all disposed of I never heard. (This sum judiciously managed would have benefited much his declining years.) But this is far in advance of my story.

Charles, my elder brother, was destined to be a physician by my mother and while she was still alive he was sent to Glasgow University. He came home Saturdays and stayed till early Monday helping with the business of the place and during his early vacations worked building stone wall. (The vacations were I think about six months in the summertime.) In the last two years he acted as helper to the resident physician, thus acquiring practice, and while in lodgings in Glasgow as he acquired Knowledge of his profession he, as with others in the same class, took their turn at sick calls in the poorer quarters in town. And some of his experiences as he detailed them were quite interesting.

About this time (I was about twelve years old) the family had moved to Langloan near Coatbride where Father had purchased an apothecary shop for Charles who was about to graduate. Sister Margaret and her family had gone to America (St. Louis, Mo.) leaving their two eldest children William and Isabella with us. William waited on the apothecary shop and Bell stayed with us. We were waiting for Charles to graduate before leaving Scotland.

I then went to Gartsherrie Academy and formed the acquaintance of some boys of about my own age a and Thomas ans James Junsey, brothers, and an especial chum, Geordee Johnstone, an Edinburgh boy who told me all about Leith pier and Leith rodeo. And then when we had a full Saturday to ourselves we would visit all the places of interest for miles around. Bothwell Brig, where the battle occurred between the covenanters and the King's troops; Hamilton, the County seat of Lanarkshire where is Hamilton Place, the seat of the Duke of Hamilton; the ruins of bothwell castle and other old ruins of a Priory. Then down the Clyde towards Ruglin, then across country southwards to the Calder stream with its old-fashioned grist mills and spade forge and bleach greens.

On one memorable occasion we walked into Glasgow, made a discovery of the Park, or as it is called there, the Green, a large level meadow on the Clyde, walks and monuments in intricate profusion, groups of people in holiday attire prominading, loitering, and enjoying the cooler air. At this time there was a structure representing Balmoral. Castle and occupied by John Anderson, the Wizard of the North, a very wonderful slight-of—hand man of that time. Many were the tales told at his wonderful doings. He was suspected of being in league with Satan, even his good old aunt insisting to see for her self if he had not a cloven foot. Then there was the bridge at the end of the Green where the fishing boats unloaded the product of lock Fyne and other fishing grounds.

Georgie and I had a sneaking notion of how nice it would be to run away and be a sailor but when we saw the boys of about our own age busy in dirty clothes cleaning fish, washing and cleaning deck, cooks scullions, barefooted ragamuffons, the picture was not quite what our fancy had painted it. So we did not linger overlong but took up our march toward home. On passing a very tall building, factory of some sort, we were startled by a very loud screaming steam whistle in different keys, culminating into a tune quite familiar, "The Lass 0' Gowrie". It was well, played but of such volume as to be very astonishing to us. This was the first time we heard the Calliope. Our combined cash bought us some scones and, tired and very contented, we made our way home.

About this time Geordie Johnstone loaned me a volume of Walter Scotts works: "The Monastry" and "The Portunes of Nigel', and so started the romantic imagination spurting. He was also a keen reader and all, we could get or get time to read was duly absorbed

and discussed.

We were going to Salt Lake which mustt have an outlet into the Gulf of California which I would find, and then we were on the Spanish Main. The rest was easy, but we were not to be pirates, but pirate hunters, releasing their prisoners, capturing their stolen wealth, thus getting renown and wealth at one stroke. What castles in Spain we built, what feats in navigation on the seas and in the air, what giants we fought and overcame for the honour of Old Scotland and always in the interest of the right.

After a while the time arrived when we should make departure for the land of promise. For some time Father had been making preparations, getting tools of different kinds together such as be supposed would be indispensable for the settlement of the new country to work in iron or wood, and six large chests were made to stow everything in.

So early in September, 1850, we took steamer at the Broomielaw for Liverpool where we took ship to cross the Atlantic. Charles came with us to Liverpool and the voyage was made mostly in the night. We all stayed on deck as long as we could see any trace of Scotland and next morning vs went on board of the sailing vessel "North Atlantic", one thousand tons burden, then considered a large ship. Next day Charles went back home and that was the last seen of any of our kin and our home in Scotland.

To Be Continued...

This article was first published on Tuesday, August 21, 2007 at 12:00 am. This article has been viewed 1002 times.

Dave Henderson is the Vice-President of Operations for RIMOFTHEWORLD.net and it's parent company Vicinitas, LLC. Dave is the commercial and operational manager for the site.

The views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of RIMOFTHEWORLD.net. This column is copyrighted by Dave Henderson.