Histories: Trempealeau Co. Historical Accounts:
"History of Trempealeau County Wisconsin,
1917":
Chapter 10:
Scotch Settlers of Glasgow and Decorah Prairie
-As
transcribed from pages 205 - 207
The early Scotch settlers who founded the settlement known as Glasgow -
the postoffice so named because the people were mostly Scotch - came as
a rule from the mining districts of Scotland to follow the occupation
of mining in this country. Wages in Scotland were low and the
coal pretty well mined in many of the old localities, so they set out
for America to improve their condition, settling in Maryland, Kentucky
and other States where coal is mined. After saving money and
hearing of homestead lands awaiting settlement in Wisconsin and other
Western States, they came farther West and, locating in Trempealeau
county, proceeded to open up to civilization a new country, much as
others under similar circumstances had done, until success came their
way. their farming methods at first were crude, and for years
they suffered the hardships incident to prairie life, but with Scotch
tenacity they stuck to the work until they had established comfortable
homes and were deriving a good living from the soil. The early
settlers of Glasgow were James Hardie, Richard Bibby, John Bibby,
Joshua Bibby, Peter Faulds, Andrew Gatherer, John McMillan, and also
the parents of the McMillans - these with their wives formed the little
Scotch settlement of Glasgow at its origin. they were nearly all
related, Mrs. James Hardie's maiden name being Margaret Bibby - a
sister of the three men named above. Mrs. Richard Bibby was Mary
Faulds, a daughter of Peter and Mary Faulds. Mrs. John Bibby was
Mary McMillan, a sister of John and Niel McMillan. Mrs. Joshua
Bibby had no blood relations in America at that time; all were left in
Scotland. It is no wonder she often used to sigh for the old home
across the sea, and to sing, "O, why left I my hame," when memories
proved too strong; but that was just for a time. She loved
America the best at last. The Gatherers were related to the
Faulds. The McMillans were natives of the Highlands of Scotland,
while the others came from Lanarkshire or thereabouts. All were
devoted Presbyterians and all worshipped God on the Sabbath. No
matter how hard they worked through the week nor how much remained to
be done, all work was dropped on Saturday night; the Bible was read and
prayers said, as described by Burns in "The Cotter's Saturday
Night." Sabbath school was held in the schoolhouse every Sabbath,
Richard Bibby or Joshua Bibby taking charge. Before the
Presbyterian church at North Bend was built, of which later they were
all members, services were held in the schoolhouse, a pastor from
Galesville filling the pulpit. Visiting among themselves was
practically all the amusement there was in those days. Quiltings
were favorite pastimes for the women, and were profitable as well as
pleasant, as the quilts were, as a rule, always needed. The late
Joshua Bibby, the youngest man in the colony, and a half-brother of
Richard and John Bibby - the elder Bibby being married twice - was a
lover of music and poetry, and a great reader. He used to read
and recite Burns, was a member of the Burns Club, and loved a game of
"curling" on the ice - an old Scotch game. He was a genial,
winning man, who radiated good cheer wherever he went. the others
took little interest in Burns and rarely attended Burns
festivals.
Alexander Vallens was another old Scotch settler whose name must not be
omitted. He, with his good wife, occupied the farm adjoining
Joshua Bibby's. "Sandy" was a hot-tempered, although kindly man,
whose "dour" disposition and queer ways led him to leave his farm and
go back to Scotland, never to return. He refused for some reason
to pay his taxes, and the result was too much for his sense of right -
hence his decision. All these farms join and form one continuous
whole.
The Decorah Prairie settlers were mostly from the mining districts of
Scotland, also, having left their native land for the same reasons that
influenced those of the Glasgow settlement - to improve their condition
as miners, but eventually drifting farther West and settling on
homesteads. Among the first to settle there were James Sampson,
John Davidson, Thomas Hunter, Robert Oliver, William Dick, David
Cook, Duncan Grant, Robert Grant, Collins Irving, Robert Sommerville
and Robert Oliver, a relative of the one above mentioned. Decorah
Prairie is fine farming land, and these hardy Scots waxed prosperous
thereon. They built even in the early days handsome homes, and
all were, as a rule, well-to-do. They were, as a class, genial
and fond of company. Dances amused them often, many being
musicians of no mean ability, so an orchestra could be extemporized on
the spot. The Scotch sons were sung at all their merry-makings
with a vim and heartiness that showed they came from the heart.
The good old Scotch brogue was there in abundance, and no one was
ashamed of it either, God bless them. The Galesville Burns Club
originated with them, and to these good old Scotch folk belongs the
honor of it for all time. Of course the years have improved it,
as most good things improve with time, but in the midst of it in all
its glory let us not forget those old Scots who founded it in the early
days and did their best to keep alive the memory of Robert Burns, the
much loved poet of dear old Scotland.
(By Jemima Bibby.)