James McFarland was born October 25, 1835 in Boreland, Fifeshire, Scotland, a son of William and Margaret McCormick McFarland. Boreland is a calliery village belonging to the Earl of Roslin by the name of Boreland. His father was an overseer in the mines there. William McFarland was an Elder in the Presbyterian Church, but was not content with its doctrine. One night while returning home from work, he heard the Mormon Missionaries preaching. He became interested in this new religion and was baptized, June 4, 1842. The members of his family followed him in baptism, even Mary Blair, James' grandmother, who was 88 years of age at the time, and who lived with the family until her death.

The family was persecuted when they joined the church, and so made plans to come to .4merica. When James was nine years of age his schooling stopped; he went to work in the mines driving a donkey cart, hauling ore, under the direction of his father. In 1847 his father sold their household belongings and moved to Bo'ness where they worked in the mines. His mother saved the wages of her husband to pay their passage to America and fed the family on the wages of her sons.

James was baptized December 31, l849 when he was 14 years old. December 17, 1854, the family left Bo'ness in a large carryall for the railroad station to Linlithgow, then to Glasgow and Liverpool. They were conveyed to the ship "Heliar" in small boats. After two nights aboard ship, as they were proceeding down Mercy River a violent storm arose, causing the ship to run aground. The ship had to be returned to dry dock. The family returned to Liverpool where they waited three weeks. Finally the ship "Charles Buck" arrived from India. They boarded it for America. Such a journey! The ship's owners were to provide their food, but there was little and hardly fit to eat. The water had not been changed since the ship left India and was so filthy they could not drink it. His father mixed meal with the water, making a gruel which was the only way they could use it. Pa3sengers were sick and many died from the food. They reached New Orleans, March 5, l855, took a steamer up the Mississippi River to St. Louis where they rested a few days at the home of a dear friend, Alexander Dow, then moved on to Nauvoo.

They left Nauvoo in July 1855; they had purchased wagons and supplies for the journey across the plains. At that time James was 20 years of age and drove a team of oxen all the way to the valley, arriving September 25, 1855. James told of hunting buffalo for food on the plains.

James and his brothers, Archie and William worked for John Sharp at Red Butte, cutting stone form the quary for the Salt Lake Temple foundation. They each received $150 and their board, for a years work.

James married Hannah Boyack, April 6, 1857. Later when Johnston's Army came into the canyon, James went with the Militia to protect the Saints from the invaders. He was in the mountains until nearly Christmas and returned very destitute for clothing. 1858 was a severe winter. The grasshoppers had eaten most of the crops. They dug sego bulbs and boiled thistle roots for food. The brothers began making adobies for homes as they had suffered severely from the extremely cold weather. The family acquired four acres of land in American Fork, which they farmed; the family always worked together.

When the news of stranded and suffering "hand-cart" companies reached the valley, James volunteered to go to their assistance.

There was not sufficient land in American Fork, so William Jr., Archibald and James with their two families (William not being married) came to the Weber River, Mar. 10, 1859. They purchased land from Captain James Brown, seven miles west of Ogden, Now known as West Weber. They grubbed and put in crops. After planting, James returned to American Fork for his parents. They lived in their wagon boxes all that winter. When summer came they built houses of logs. There were no floors, doors nor windows, but they were most grateful for the shelter. During the winter they dug cedars and stumps which they sold for $11 per cord. In this way they were able to purchase two plows for $75 each and a harrow. They planted fruit trees and raised a garden for their food.

On June 3, 1867 James married Matilda Pool Western, a widow with five children. Before asking Matilda for her hand, James talked with his brother Archibald, who was presiding elder, then with his father; he also obtained the consent of his wife Hannah. This was perhaps a little difficult, but at last she consented and James and Matilda were married. Four more children were born to Matilda. Hannah had 11 children, and they played together, ate at which ever house they were in. Each wife had an adobe home with a country road between.

James and his brothers had 80 acres of land, and shared all things in common. When Archie went on a mission to the Indians, his brothers tended his land and cared for his family. Thus when James accepted a mission call to Scotland, his family too, was cared for.

Matilda died November 1, 1903 at the age of 65 years. Hannah died January 31,1915. For a while, James lived with his daughter in Hooper, and a son, Arch, in Idaho. James was hard working, energetic and active in building West Weber, a faithful member of the church, appointed counselor in the Elders' Quorum in March 1868. He served a mission to Scotland from May 6, 1876 to September 1877. His beard and hair were now snow white.

He loved to gather his grandchildren around him and relate how he shot buffalo on the plains, he also told many Bible stories.

James McFarland died November 12, 1915 at the home of a daughter, Ann Tracy in Wilson Lane; he was laid to rest beside his wives in the Ogden City Cemetery, loved and honored by his posterity. He was the father of 13 children by his wife Hannah; father of 5 by his wife Matilda: Thomas Pool, Matilda (Jones); Alexander; Archibald; Francis Joseph; 5 step children: Mary Ann Western, Elizabeth Western, Emma Western, John and Sarah Ellen Western.

Written by Matilda Cunnington, and submitted by Jean M. Larsen.

Source:

In The Bend Of The River

History Of West Weber 1859-1976