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In 1800 the majority of the McKerrow's lived in Scotland, undergoing famines, poor working conditions and share cropping.
Their adventurous spirits led them to Canada, United States, Australia and New Zealand. We are indebted to Alexander (Sandy) McKerrow of Edinburgh who compiled a book, " Your Folks and MIne, the story of the Mckerrow's."
For 400 years McKerrow's farmed at the Garlaff farm near Old Cumnock, Aryshire, Scotland, jsut south of Glasgow. Wealthy landlords hired many families to share crop. George McKerrow (1789-1837) worked on the farm. In 1814 he married Isabella Johnston ( ? - 1837) and they had nine children. The second child, James (August 8, 1816- August l, 1907), married Janet McClanachan in 1837, the same year both of his parents died.
James continued to farm at Garlaff and they had four children: George (1838-1881), Janet (1839-?), Andrew (Nov. 22, 1841-April 18, 1886), and James, Jr. (1844-1851). The family sailed for New York State on May 16, 1844.
Fifty day trip to New York, Erie Canal, ox cart, Genesee Valley Canal, then to Freedom, New York.
Andrew moved to Missouri to farm and on July 17, 1870 married Susan Elizabeth Stagner (1850-1912). They had nine children:
Nettie (1871-?), Ida (1872-1961), Eva 1874-1957), Mary (1875-
1879), Agnes (1877-1942), Matthew James (Jan. 12, 1880-July 27, 1934), William (1881-1951), Hattie (1883-1885), and Carrie (1884-1967). Matthew married Eleanor "Nellie" Theresa haynes in 1905.
Matthew filed a Homestead Claim 17 miles north of Great Falls,
Montana in October 1912. The next year family, furniture, livestock and machinery were railed to Montana. Children were
Mabel (1906-1990), Walter (1911-2004), Harold (1912-1983) and Robert (1914-2003). Nellie's sister Ethel Haynes also had
a homestead claim.
Robert McKerrow married Bernice Moore on August 7, 1936.
Their four children were Glenn (March 30, 1937), Loren (November 3, 1938-November 2, 2003), Kathleen McKerrow
Ferguson (June 12, 1942-September 8, 2007), and Gordon
(May 21, 1946). Glenn was a Disciples of Christ Minister,
Loren was an ophthomologist, Kathleen a homemaker and Gordon continues the family farm 15 miles North of Great Falls.
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