Archibald McNair was born on Heron Island in Restigouche County, New Brunswick, Canada, the oldest son of Nathaniel "Nathan" and Mary Currie McNair. The McNairs were among the early Scottish pioneers who settled in northeastern New Brunswick, having arrived in Canada in 1821 from the Peninsula of Kintyre, Argyleshire, Scotland. In 1833, Archie's grandfather, Archibald, moved to Heron Island where he was granted one of the eleven original land grants that was issued for the island by the British Crown. It was in this pristine setting, on a land mass in the Chaleur Bay that was no more than five mile long and one mile wide, that the McNair family lived for many years.
The Currie family arrived in New Brunswick in 1851. John and Catharine (Stewart) Currie had emigrated with their family from the Isle of Arran, Buteshire, Scotland during a period of famine, disease and severe economic depression. They, too, settled on Heron Island, with the intention of "beginning a farm." It was there that Nathaniel met and courted Mary Currie.
Archie's parents were married on March 5, 1861, in the Presbyterian Church at New Mills, a village on the mainland that the Islanders regularly visited for their mail, supplies and church services. The family remained on the McNair farm on Heron Island until 1876, when they emigrated with their six children to the United States, settling in northwestern Missouri near the town of Tarkio in Atchison County. Archie's uncle and aunt, Peter and Mary (Dutch) Currie, had moved with their family three years earlier. The McNair's followed them, and remained at Tarkio for the next six years.
In 1882, the McNair family moved once again, this time to southeastern Nebraska. They settled on a farm outside of Pawnee City in Pawnee County, Archibald moved with his family, although it is uncertain how long he stayed at Pawnee City.
Archibald married Sarah Elizabeth (Sadie) Palmer in 1886, the daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth (Mason) Palmer. Sarah was born in Ottumwa, Iowa, in 1866. Soon after their marriage, the newlyweds returned to Nebraska. According to their youngest daughter, Mabel, "they bought a relinquishment claim two and a half miles north of Cairo, paying for it with a blind horse, a mule and a wagon box."
The couple's first home was a dugout, a typical shelter used by those who settled on the prairie. It's construction was relatively simple since it was nothing more than a hole dug into the side of a hill. Three earthen walls surrounded the excavated room, covered by a partial roof of soil. Archie only needed to add a door frame and and extend and cover the roof that sloped back over the hill. Although only temporary, the dugout was dusty and dirty, with very cramped living quarters.
Archibald and Sadie were blessed with five children: Hattie, born in 1888; Maude, born in 1890; Myrtle, born in 1892; Donald, born in 1894; and Mabel, born in 1898. Hattie and Maude, who died in 1894, were born in the dugout. The remaining children were born in Archie and Sadie's one room sod house. Over the years, the couple enlarged the soddie, adding two bedrooms, an upstairs, a dormer window and shingled roof. The floors were covered with white pine wood, and the interior walls were plastered and painted white with air slacked lime. It was one of the largest and finest soddies in the county. Neighborhood dances were often held in their home, with Archie calling the square dances.
Archibald's faithful and beloved wife, Sadie, died in 1934 following a lingering illness. Archie followed her four years later, dying from a heart attack. He was found in his home by his son Donald, and son-in-law, Walter Brand, with purchases that he had made a few days earlier still sitting on the kitchen table. His death signaled the end of an era in the farming community north of Cairo.
Archibald was well-known throughout Hall County and was well respected for his integrity, concern for his neighbors and love of family. He was a general farmer all of his life, and a charter member of the M.N.A. Lodge.
Services were conducted at the local Methodist Church, with many people attending to pay their last respects. Surviving were three daughters, Mrs. Hattie Newhouse, Okalahoma City, Oklahoma; Mrs. Myrtle Sorensen, Mason City, Nebraska; and Mrs. Mabel Brand, Grand Island, Nebraska; and one son, Donald, of Cairo. Internment was in the Mount Pleasant Cemetery.
The Currie family arrived in New Brunswick in 1851. John and Catharine (Stewart) Currie had emigrated with their family from the Isle of Arran, Buteshire, Scotland during a period of famine, disease and severe economic depression. They, too, settled on Heron Island, with the intention of "beginning a farm." It was there that Nathaniel met and courted Mary Currie.
Archie's parents were married on March 5, 1861, in the Presbyterian Church at New Mills, a village on the mainland that the Islanders regularly visited for their mail, supplies and church services. The family remained on the McNair farm on Heron Island until 1876, when they emigrated with their six children to the United States, settling in northwestern Missouri near the town of Tarkio in Atchison County. Archie's uncle and aunt, Peter and Mary (Dutch) Currie, had moved with their family three years earlier. The McNair's followed them, and remained at Tarkio for the next six years.
In 1882, the McNair family moved once again, this time to southeastern Nebraska. They settled on a farm outside of Pawnee City in Pawnee County, Archibald moved with his family, although it is uncertain how long he stayed at Pawnee City.
Archibald married Sarah Elizabeth (Sadie) Palmer in 1886, the daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth (Mason) Palmer. Sarah was born in Ottumwa, Iowa, in 1866. Soon after their marriage, the newlyweds returned to Nebraska. According to their youngest daughter, Mabel, "they bought a relinquishment claim two and a half miles north of Cairo, paying for it with a blind horse, a mule and a wagon box."
The couple's first home was a dugout, a typical shelter used by those who settled on the prairie. It's construction was relatively simple since it was nothing more than a hole dug into the side of a hill. Three earthen walls surrounded the excavated room, covered by a partial roof of soil. Archie only needed to add a door frame and and extend and cover the roof that sloped back over the hill. Although only temporary, the dugout was dusty and dirty, with very cramped living quarters.
Archibald and Sadie were blessed with five children: Hattie, born in 1888; Maude, born in 1890; Myrtle, born in 1892; Donald, born in 1894; and Mabel, born in 1898. Hattie and Maude, who died in 1894, were born in the dugout. The remaining children were born in Archie and Sadie's one room sod house. Over the years, the couple enlarged the soddie, adding two bedrooms, an upstairs, a dormer window and shingled roof. The floors were covered with white pine wood, and the interior walls were plastered and painted white with air slacked lime. It was one of the largest and finest soddies in the county. Neighborhood dances were often held in their home, with Archie calling the square dances.
Archibald's faithful and beloved wife, Sadie, died in 1934 following a lingering illness. Archie followed her four years later, dying from a heart attack. He was found in his home by his son Donald, and son-in-law, Walter Brand, with purchases that he had made a few days earlier still sitting on the kitchen table. His death signaled the end of an era in the farming community north of Cairo.
Archibald was well-known throughout Hall County and was well respected for his integrity, concern for his neighbors and love of family. He was a general farmer all of his life, and a charter member of the M.N.A. Lodge.
Services were conducted at the local Methodist Church, with many people attending to pay their last respects. Surviving were three daughters, Mrs. Hattie Newhouse, Okalahoma City, Oklahoma; Mrs. Myrtle Sorensen, Mason City, Nebraska; and Mrs. Mabel Brand, Grand Island, Nebraska; and one son, Donald, of Cairo. Internment was in the Mount Pleasant Cemetery.
Archibald McNair was born on Heron Island in Restigouche County, New Brunswick, Canada, the oldest son of Nathaniel "Nathan" and Mary Currie McNair. The McNairs were among the early Scottish pioneers who settled in northeastern New Brunswick, having arrived in Canada in 1821 from the Peninsula of Kintyre, Argyleshire, Scotland. In 1833, Archie's grandfather, Archibald, moved to Heron Island where he was granted one of the eleven original land grants that was issued for the island by the British Crown. It was in this pristine setting, on a land mass in the Chaleur Bay that was no more than five mile long and one mile wide, that the McNair family lived for many years.
The Currie family arrived in New Brunswick in 1851. John and Catharine (Stewart) Currie had emigrated with their family from the Isle of Arran, Buteshire, Scotland during a period of famine, disease and severe economic depression. They, too, settled on Heron Island, with the intention of "beginning a farm." It was there that Nathaniel met and courted Mary Currie.
Archie's parents were married on March 5, 1861, in the Presbyterian Church at New Mills, a village on the mainland that the Islanders regularly visited for their mail, supplies and church services. The family remained on the McNair farm on Heron Island until 1876, when they emigrated with their six children to the United States, settling in northwestern Missouri near the town of Tarkio in Atchison County. Archie's uncle and aunt, Peter and Mary (Dutch) Currie, had moved with their family three years earlier. The McNair's followed them, and remained at Tarkio for the next six years.
In 1882, the McNair family moved once again, this time to southeastern Nebraska. They settled on a farm outside of Pawnee City in Pawnee County, Archibald moved with his family, although it is uncertain how long he stayed at Pawnee City.
Archibald married Sarah Elizabeth (Sadie) Palmer in 1886, the daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth (Mason) Palmer. Sarah was born in Ottumwa, Iowa, in 1866. Soon after their marriage, the newlyweds returned to Nebraska. According to their youngest daughter, Mabel, "they bought a relinquishment claim two and a half miles north of Cairo, paying for it with a blind horse, a mule and a wagon box."
The couple's first home was a dugout, a typical shelter used by those who settled on the prairie. It's construction was relatively simple since it was nothing more than a hole dug into the side of a hill. Three earthen walls surrounded the excavated room, covered by a partial roof of soil. Archie only needed to add a door frame and and extend and cover the roof that sloped back over the hill. Although only temporary, the dugout was dusty and dirty, with very cramped living quarters.
Archibald and Sadie were blessed with five children: Hattie, born in 1888; Maude, born in 1890; Myrtle, born in 1892; Donald, born in 1894; and Mabel, born in 1898. Hattie and Maude, who died in 1894, were born in the dugout. The remaining children were born in Archie and Sadie's one room sod house. Over the years, the couple enlarged the soddie, adding two bedrooms, an upstairs, a dormer window and shingled roof. The floors were covered with white pine wood, and the interior walls were plastered and painted white with air slacked lime. It was one of the largest and finest soddies in the county. Neighborhood dances were often held in their home, with Archie calling the square dances.
Archibald's faithful and beloved wife, Sadie, died in 1934 following a lingering illness. Archie followed her four years later, dying from a heart attack. He was found in his home by his son Donald, and son-in-law, Walter Brand, with purchases that he had made a few days earlier still sitting on the kitchen table. His death signaled the end of an era in the farming community north of Cairo.
Archibald was well-known throughout Hall County and was well respected for his integrity, concern for his neighbors and love of family. He was a general farmer all of his life, and a charter member of the M.N.A. Lodge.
Services were conducted at the local Methodist Church, with many people attending to pay their last respects. Surviving were three daughters, Mrs. Hattie Newhouse, Okalahoma City, Oklahoma; Mrs. Myrtle Sorensen, Mason City, Nebraska; and Mrs. Mabel Brand, Grand Island, Nebraska; and one son, Donald, of Cairo. Internment was in the Mount Pleasant Cemetery.
The Currie family arrived in New Brunswick in 1851. John and Catharine (Stewart) Currie had emigrated with their family from the Isle of Arran, Buteshire, Scotland during a period of famine, disease and severe economic depression. They, too, settled on Heron Island, with the intention of "beginning a farm." It was there that Nathaniel met and courted Mary Currie.
Archie's parents were married on March 5, 1861, in the Presbyterian Church at New Mills, a village on the mainland that the Islanders regularly visited for their mail, supplies and church services. The family remained on the McNair farm on Heron Island until 1876, when they emigrated with their six children to the United States, settling in northwestern Missouri near the town of Tarkio in Atchison County. Archie's uncle and aunt, Peter and Mary (Dutch) Currie, had moved with their family three years earlier. The McNair's followed them, and remained at Tarkio for the next six years.
In 1882, the McNair family moved once again, this time to southeastern Nebraska. They settled on a farm outside of Pawnee City in Pawnee County, Archibald moved with his family, although it is uncertain how long he stayed at Pawnee City.
Archibald married Sarah Elizabeth (Sadie) Palmer in 1886, the daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth (Mason) Palmer. Sarah was born in Ottumwa, Iowa, in 1866. Soon after their marriage, the newlyweds returned to Nebraska. According to their youngest daughter, Mabel, "they bought a relinquishment claim two and a half miles north of Cairo, paying for it with a blind horse, a mule and a wagon box."
The couple's first home was a dugout, a typical shelter used by those who settled on the prairie. It's construction was relatively simple since it was nothing more than a hole dug into the side of a hill. Three earthen walls surrounded the excavated room, covered by a partial roof of soil. Archie only needed to add a door frame and and extend and cover the roof that sloped back over the hill. Although only temporary, the dugout was dusty and dirty, with very cramped living quarters.
Archibald and Sadie were blessed with five children: Hattie, born in 1888; Maude, born in 1890; Myrtle, born in 1892; Donald, born in 1894; and Mabel, born in 1898. Hattie and Maude, who died in 1894, were born in the dugout. The remaining children were born in Archie and Sadie's one room sod house. Over the years, the couple enlarged the soddie, adding two bedrooms, an upstairs, a dormer window and shingled roof. The floors were covered with white pine wood, and the interior walls were plastered and painted white with air slacked lime. It was one of the largest and finest soddies in the county. Neighborhood dances were often held in their home, with Archie calling the square dances.
Archibald's faithful and beloved wife, Sadie, died in 1934 following a lingering illness. Archie followed her four years later, dying from a heart attack. He was found in his home by his son Donald, and son-in-law, Walter Brand, with purchases that he had made a few days earlier still sitting on the kitchen table. His death signaled the end of an era in the farming community north of Cairo.
Archibald was well-known throughout Hall County and was well respected for his integrity, concern for his neighbors and love of family. He was a general farmer all of his life, and a charter member of the M.N.A. Lodge.
Services were conducted at the local Methodist Church, with many people attending to pay their last respects. Surviving were three daughters, Mrs. Hattie Newhouse, Okalahoma City, Oklahoma; Mrs. Myrtle Sorensen, Mason City, Nebraska; and Mrs. Mabel Brand, Grand Island, Nebraska; and one son, Donald, of Cairo. Internment was in the Mount Pleasant Cemetery.
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