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Show Hector McQuarrie Starts Work At 10 Years Old By Ella J. Seegmiller Hector McQuarrie was born October 2, 1S33, in Kilmalcolm, Scotland. His parents were high-landers high-landers but were not greatly blessed with this world's goods. He had to begin work for wages when he was 10 years of age, working from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. turning a wheel for the rope spinners. spin-ners. For this he received 4o cents a week. He worked at this trade for two years, then went into a blacksmith shop to learn that trade. His years at school were few as he could only attend at intervals. When he was 10 years old he had to quit school altogether and begin work. But. being anxious to get an education, he studied at home in the evenings after work, reading read-ing what few books he could get access to, and in this way learned to read and write very well. Baptised In 1852 Hector's parents Were Presbyterians Presby-terians .although he never affiliated affiliat-ed himself with any church until he became a Latter Day Saint, being baptised into this faith on May 4, 1S52. He was the first member of the family to join the so called Mormons, and thus gained gain-ed the ill will of his parents, brothers and sisters. Leaving Scotland. February 13, 1S55, for America, he was eight weeks on the ocean due to heavy storms. The company he came with landed at Phildelphia, then traveled by train to Pittsburgh and then took the steamboat up the Mississippii and Ohio rivers to St. Louis. After a few days stop over they started on their long journey across the plains, with Richard Ballantyne head of their company. The trip was Jong and monotonous. But Hector was a strong healthy youth, and stood ' the journey well. They arrived in Salt Lake City September 21. 1S55, remaining there the next two years. When Johnston's army came in ' (Continued on page three i Agnes Gray McQuarrie (Continued from page two her oldest sister. Janet, who came to join her after their mother's '- death. One of these, a nephew, Matthew McMurtrie. obtained work at Pine Valley and soon had a homo there for his three sisters, ; Elizabeth. Janet and Jane. Was Religious Agnes was always sincere in her religious convictions and was a sweet singer. At her work she was often singing, "Annie Laurie" or other ballad or church hymn. Rut she never regretted leaving her home "for the Gospel's sake". She was the neighborhood yeast maker of those days and children who came with a cup of flour or a few spoonsful of sugar learned to love this good lady as they later did her successor. Elizabeth Mc-. Mc-. Murine, who carried on this custom. cus-tom. I Agnes Gray McQuarrie died October 25, 1900, and was buried in St. George cemetary. |