Born at Bonneybefore, Antrm, Libertybonksford, Ireland
Son of Edward Laird & Sarah Barr
Married Mary Rennie, 20 Aug 1847, Glasgow, Lanark, Scotland
Children - Joseph Smith Laird, Edward Laird, Elizabeth Laird, Almina Russell Laird, Mary Laird, James Laird, Harriet Ann Laird, Sophia Lois Laird, Sarah Jane Laird, Hugh Alexander Laird
Married Francis Churchhill, 24 Nov 1868, Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah
History - As a young man he went to Scotland to work in the coal mines. While working he met Michael Rainey. Michael and his sister Mary taught James the restored gospel of Jesus Christ and he was baptized in 1845.
James married Mary in 1846 and served a mission to Scotland in 1853. James and Mary boarded the ship Thornton with their three young children on June 14. After arriving in Iowa City by rail, they were assigned to the Willie Handcart Company.
James was called as an assistant to Captain Willie. One of James' tasks was to bury those who died during the night. One morning when Captain Willie came to say that there were more to lay away, James was concerned. He was losing strength. He had never refused to help before, but he told Captain Willie he was "afraid to use the shovel this morning."
Captain Willie gave him a handful of corn to give him strength. James was about to earth the corn when he looked at his family. Mary told him to eat the corn. She did not think she would survive since the baby was still nursing. Often after nursing, the baby's mouth would be streaked with blood. James put the corn into her lap, picked up the shovel and sent to help. He was sustained by his faith in God and this strength remained with him throughout the journey.
Arriving in the Salt Lake Valley November 9, the Lairds would eventually settled in Mountain Dell, where they organized a branch of the church.
Mormon Pioneer Overland Travel, James G. Willie Company (1856); Age at departure: 30
Son of Edward Laird & Sarah Barr
Married Mary Rennie, 20 Aug 1847, Glasgow, Lanark, Scotland
Children - Joseph Smith Laird, Edward Laird, Elizabeth Laird, Almina Russell Laird, Mary Laird, James Laird, Harriet Ann Laird, Sophia Lois Laird, Sarah Jane Laird, Hugh Alexander Laird
Married Francis Churchhill, 24 Nov 1868, Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah
History - As a young man he went to Scotland to work in the coal mines. While working he met Michael Rainey. Michael and his sister Mary taught James the restored gospel of Jesus Christ and he was baptized in 1845.
James married Mary in 1846 and served a mission to Scotland in 1853. James and Mary boarded the ship Thornton with their three young children on June 14. After arriving in Iowa City by rail, they were assigned to the Willie Handcart Company.
James was called as an assistant to Captain Willie. One of James' tasks was to bury those who died during the night. One morning when Captain Willie came to say that there were more to lay away, James was concerned. He was losing strength. He had never refused to help before, but he told Captain Willie he was "afraid to use the shovel this morning."
Captain Willie gave him a handful of corn to give him strength. James was about to earth the corn when he looked at his family. Mary told him to eat the corn. She did not think she would survive since the baby was still nursing. Often after nursing, the baby's mouth would be streaked with blood. James put the corn into her lap, picked up the shovel and sent to help. He was sustained by his faith in God and this strength remained with him throughout the journey.
Arriving in the Salt Lake Valley November 9, the Lairds would eventually settled in Mountain Dell, where they organized a branch of the church.
Mormon Pioneer Overland Travel, James G. Willie Company (1856); Age at departure: 30
Born at Bonneybefore, Antrm, Libertybonksford, Ireland
Son of Edward Laird & Sarah Barr
Married Mary Rennie, 20 Aug 1847, Glasgow, Lanark, Scotland
Children - Joseph Smith Laird, Edward Laird, Elizabeth Laird, Almina Russell Laird, Mary Laird, James Laird, Harriet Ann Laird, Sophia Lois Laird, Sarah Jane Laird, Hugh Alexander Laird
Married Francis Churchhill, 24 Nov 1868, Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah
History - As a young man he went to Scotland to work in the coal mines. While working he met Michael Rainey. Michael and his sister Mary taught James the restored gospel of Jesus Christ and he was baptized in 1845.
James married Mary in 1846 and served a mission to Scotland in 1853. James and Mary boarded the ship Thornton with their three young children on June 14. After arriving in Iowa City by rail, they were assigned to the Willie Handcart Company.
James was called as an assistant to Captain Willie. One of James' tasks was to bury those who died during the night. One morning when Captain Willie came to say that there were more to lay away, James was concerned. He was losing strength. He had never refused to help before, but he told Captain Willie he was "afraid to use the shovel this morning."
Captain Willie gave him a handful of corn to give him strength. James was about to earth the corn when he looked at his family. Mary told him to eat the corn. She did not think she would survive since the baby was still nursing. Often after nursing, the baby's mouth would be streaked with blood. James put the corn into her lap, picked up the shovel and sent to help. He was sustained by his faith in God and this strength remained with him throughout the journey.
Arriving in the Salt Lake Valley November 9, the Lairds would eventually settled in Mountain Dell, where they organized a branch of the church.
Mormon Pioneer Overland Travel, James G. Willie Company (1856); Age at departure: 30
Son of Edward Laird & Sarah Barr
Married Mary Rennie, 20 Aug 1847, Glasgow, Lanark, Scotland
Children - Joseph Smith Laird, Edward Laird, Elizabeth Laird, Almina Russell Laird, Mary Laird, James Laird, Harriet Ann Laird, Sophia Lois Laird, Sarah Jane Laird, Hugh Alexander Laird
Married Francis Churchhill, 24 Nov 1868, Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah
History - As a young man he went to Scotland to work in the coal mines. While working he met Michael Rainey. Michael and his sister Mary taught James the restored gospel of Jesus Christ and he was baptized in 1845.
James married Mary in 1846 and served a mission to Scotland in 1853. James and Mary boarded the ship Thornton with their three young children on June 14. After arriving in Iowa City by rail, they were assigned to the Willie Handcart Company.
James was called as an assistant to Captain Willie. One of James' tasks was to bury those who died during the night. One morning when Captain Willie came to say that there were more to lay away, James was concerned. He was losing strength. He had never refused to help before, but he told Captain Willie he was "afraid to use the shovel this morning."
Captain Willie gave him a handful of corn to give him strength. James was about to earth the corn when he looked at his family. Mary told him to eat the corn. She did not think she would survive since the baby was still nursing. Often after nursing, the baby's mouth would be streaked with blood. James put the corn into her lap, picked up the shovel and sent to help. He was sustained by his faith in God and this strength remained with him throughout the journey.
Arriving in the Salt Lake Valley November 9, the Lairds would eventually settled in Mountain Dell, where they organized a branch of the church.
Mormon Pioneer Overland Travel, James G. Willie Company (1856); Age at departure: 30
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