Sunday, August 31, 2008

James Andrew McBride (senior)

JAMES ANDREW MCBRIDE, SR.

A pioneer to Pima, Arizona, James Andrew McBride was a frontiersman, farmer, and freighter. He and his family arrived in Pima in December of 1881. He married Elizabeth Clark on February 16, 1866.

James and Elizabeth purchased a farm in the Glenbar area, but freighting became a paying proposition so he traded his farm for a pair of horses and wagon. He began freighting from Bowie and Willcox to Globe. He received no money for his work, however, and was forced to take his pay in merchandise from the company stores.

Frequently, Elizabeth and the girls went with him on these freighting trips to Willcox or Bowie because they could make a better selection of clothing and other supplies they couldn't find at the company stores.

When the mines began to produce copper, the freighters hauled the metal to Willcox. For this, they received much needed cash. Now the family had money to pay taxes and could buy things not available at the company store.

After the railroad was built from Bowie to Globe, freighting by team and wagon stopped. Many who didn't have farms were having a hard time making a living. James and Elizabeth owned some farm land but not enough to earn a good living.

Bisbee was a flourishing mining camp so they, with their family, moved to Bisbee. Everything went well until James broke his leg. As soon as he was able to get around on crutches, they returned to Pima.

James and Elizabeth reared a large family: James Andrew Jr., William Edward, Don Carlos (the father of Willard C. McBride), Sarah Elizabeth, Frank Ashby (who died as a child), Jessie Bert, Lucy Agnes, John Henry, Phoebe Leila (died as a child), Rolla, Susan Nellie (died at age one), and Julia Ellise. Three of their sons filled missions for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Bert served in New Zealand, John in Australia, and Don Carlos in Samoa. Don Carlos served two missions to Samoa, where he was called as Mission President.

In the years James and Elizabeth spent in rearing their large family, they served in the ward, helped build school houses and a church, dug ditches and canals, and worked wherever they were needed. They left a legacy of hard work, service, and devotion to their faith.

Note: The above information was taken from POINEER TOWN, PIMA CENTENNIAL HISTORY. This is not meant to be a complete history of James Andrew McBride, Sr., but only a brief sketch of his life.

1 comment:

Unknown said...

This is so fun to read about especially because I can picture the actual places you write about.