Hi: Here is the page that I have. I received an email from Jim Laird in Florida and that reminded me that this page didn't come from Cumberland Historical Society, but from Jim about a year and 1/2 ago. Sorry, Jim, age is getting to my brain and I am getting rather forgetful. Please excuse the mistake, anyway, here is the page!! THE HISTORY OF THE LAIRD FAMILY BY BELVA LAIRD MILLER The original roots of the Laird family tree were found in Scotland, where the name "Laird" means "lord". Laird families are located in Novia Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Upper Vermont, New York State, undoubtedly arriving fromthe St. Lawrence River Valley area. At all of these places, the different members of the Laird clan uniformly rose to levels of leadership in their respective communities and cities. Those who landed at either Philadelphia or New York City likewise populated New York State, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware and maryland and their descendants continue to give good account of their activies along all professional lines. These settlers had previously endured back home in their native lands many periods of discouragement, brought about by crop failures, unemployment generally, hot winds that were devastating to crops, plus religious wars. These people were endowed with powers of endurance and a high degree of faith; faith in themselves to overcome, with the aid of providence, the many obstacles they were destined to meet. Thus equipped, they had no hesitancy in walking aboard the flimsy sailing boats of that era, for the trip over the unruly waves of the high seas and arriving six or eight weeks later at such points of entry as Montreal, New York City, Philadelphia, Baltimore etc. Upon land ing on our shores, proceeded immediately to locate on lands that appreared to be promising to them. The main trunk of the Laird family tree was formed many years ago, in 1803, when Thomas Laird married Ann Lapsley of Scotland. Since 1803 several hundred Laird's have been hung on the mythical family tree but fortunately we can say with pride that not one Laird has ever been conviced of any crime. No Laird has ever been accused of any criminal act or dishonesty. Johnston Laird son of Thomas and Mary Ann Laird, was born in Erie, Pennsylvania, in 1807. On April 10, 1833, Johnston Laird married Mary I. Russell, who was born in 1816. The Russell family of three brothers and three sisters settled in Erie County and took 400 acres of land near the city of Erie. Johnston and Mary L. Laird began housekeeping five miles west of her father's home in Erie County. The area was a dense forest and trees had to be notched in order to find the way to Erie. At one time the Laird properties occupied a mile frontage on Lake Erie. There were thirteen children born to Johnston and Mary I. Laird, two boys and two girls dying in infancy. Their children born in Erie County, Pa., were: William Thomas Laird, born 1834 Hamlin Russell Laird, born 1836 George Laird, born 1838 Sarah Laird, born 1839 Ellen Laird, born 1841 In 1840, the Laird family traveled by covered wagon to central Illinois. Their children born in central Illinois were: Mary r. Laird, born 1843 Henry Richard Laird, born 1845 Benjamin Franklin Laird, born 1850 George Clarence Laird, born 1848 John Charles Laird, born 1852 While in Illinois, Johnston Laird became sick, and Mary, his wife, supplemented the income by teaching in the local schools. After about a ten year stay in Illinois, the family continued to travel by covered wagon across teh Mississippi River to Troy, Missouri, where Johnston's Uncle David lived. From there they came to Fremont County, Iowa, in 1853, and settled six miles north of Sidney. At that time the U. S. oland office was at Kanesville, now Council Bluffs. Johnston Laird went there and bought land fromt he government for $1.25 an acre and farmed it with oxen. The deed to the Laird land was parchment and was signed by Franklin Pierce, President of the United States. Children born to Johnston and mary Laird in Fremont County were: Francis Marion Laird, 1855 James R. Laird, 1859 Charles Christy Laird, 1861 The four infants who died were: Sarah Laird, 1840 George Laird, 1841 Ellen Laird, 1842 Charles Christy Laird, 1863 Eight sons and one daughter lived long useful lives. The only daughter of the Johnston Laird family, Mary R. Laird, was married to Hulbert L. Kellogg February 10, 1865. Two children were born to this couple, Anna and Frank. They spent their lives in Greeley, Colorado. The eight sons of the Laird family were: William Thomas, Hamlin Russell, Henry Richard, George Clarence, Benjamin, John Charles, Francis Marion and James R. The Johnston Laird family entered pioneer days of the midwest amid great confusion and uncertainty. They were faced with floods, heat waves, droughts, blizzards, locust plagues and falling markets. They drove their cattle to Omaha markets, a distance of forty-five miles, facing many blizzards. Francis marion Laird, son of Johnston and Mary Laird, was born on the Johnston Laird farm in 1855 and enjoyed a long, active life. He died in Tabor in 1934. On May 5, 1879, Francis Marion Laird and Phoebe Reeves were married. Two children were born to this couple: Fred Chester Laird, born May 22, 1880 Belva Mary Laird, born July 5, 1883 Fred Chester, May 22, 1880 and Belva Mary, July 5, 1883 In 1893, the F. M. Laird family moved fromthe farm to Tabor to educate their two children. Fred graduated from Tabor High School in 1899 and from Tabor College in 1903. In 1906, Fred graduated fromt he Nebraska University Law School and he joined a law firm in Fremont, Nebraska. On June 15, 1911, Fred C. Laird and Leo Alice Loomis were married and made their home in Fremont. In 1912, Fred Laird was elected County Judge in Nebraska. He served in this office for fifty years, until his death in 1962. Belva Laird graduated from Tabor Academy in 1902, and from Tabor College in 1906. On May 3, 1911, Belva Mary Laird and Doctor Brownlow Miller were married and made their home in Tabor, where Dr. Miller spent fifty years inthe pursuit of his medical profession. A daughter, Patricia Aileen, was born October 7, 1912. A graduate of Tabor High School and Nebraska University, she traveled extensively. Her death occured in 1938. After her marriage, Belva Laird Miller spent many years in organization work, and like her father, wrote poetry and several books. She has enjoyed literary pursuits her entire life.