Scotland

Biographical Sketch of McKnabb, John

John McKnabb, a Scottish native who settled in Fort Bend County in 1837, participated in the ill-fated Santa Fe expedition of 1841. He volunteered for the arduous journey, facing severe hardships such as scarcity of water and food. Captured by Mexican forces, McKnabb endured nearly two years of hard labor and mistreatment before his release. He returned to Texas via Galveston and later lived in Richmond, where he passed away in 1894 and was buried on his farm near the Brazos River. He had one son, A. D. McKnabb.

Biographical Sketch of John Harrison

John Harrison, born in County Monaghan, Ireland, in December 1824, was a notable pioneer of Douglas Township, Ida County, Iowa. After moving to Scotland with his family, he married Jeanette Stevenson in 1845 before immigrating to the United States in 1855. Harrison served in the Civil War and later settled in Iowa, where he took a pre-emption claim in 1868. His home served as a stage station and gathering place for travelers. He and Jeanette had six children, engaging in farming and stock-raising throughout their lives.

Biography of David Nicoll

Rev. David Nicoll, born on February 22, 1841, in Delaware County, New York, was a minister of the United Presbyterian Church and a notable farmer in Battle Township, Iowa. Son of Scottish emigrants, he served in the Union Army during the Civil War, participating in significant battles and sustaining a gunshot wound. After his military service, he completed his theological education and became a pastor in Iowa. Nicoll also contributed to his community as a school board secretary and township clerk while managing his 320-acre farm. He and his wife Isabella had three children.

Biographical Sketch of Hector Baxter

Hector Baxter, born on June 16, 1834, in Argyleshire, Scotland, immigrated to the United States in 1877. Initially a shoemaker, he transitioned to farming after purchasing 160 acres in Tama County, Iowa, which he sold in 1881 to acquire 320 acres in Ida County. There, he built a home and barn, specializing in farming and stock-raising, particularly shorthorn cattle. He married Margaret Stuart, and they had seven children: Nellie, John, James, William, Mary, Hector M., and Stuart.