My Great-Grandfather John Archibald and his Scottish wife Margaret 'Maggie' Quirk, married Oct.17, 1847 in Bradden, Isle of Man in the Irish Sea between England and Ireland) emigrated directly to Carroll County, MO. in 1852 with, at the time, their two sons, Thomas age 4 (my Grandfather) and John age 12 months.

John Sr. was the son of Joseph Archibald and Catherine Quilliam and left behind 4 sisters and 2 brothers on the Isle of Man. I have traced the Archibald family on the Isle back five generations to George (born 1735) and have been to the Isle several times, but never made contact with any of the relatives. I suspect they originally came from Scotland.

John, Maggie and the boys settled down in the MO river 'bottoms' in Moss Creek Township about 8 miles from Carrollton. They then had six more children-Margaret Ann, Catherine 'Kate', Mary, George, Alice and William. I recall my Mother speaking of Uncle 'Will'.

Thomas (my grandfather,1848-1917)) married Eliza Jane 'Lide' Williams (1857-1934) and they four children, one being John Quirk, my father (born 1884) who married Irene Davidson (born 1910) from Kentucky in Carrollton. Yes, that is 26 years difference in age. A long story. They are both now deceased. John and Irene had my Sister Sue and myself. I am now 77. My wife, Miriam Reed Archibald of St. Louis and I are both retired and live in Artesia, NM near one of my daughters, Ann Elise Smith. Our younger daughter, Sarah Alison, lives in Norfolk, VA.

Miriam and I both graduated from the U. of MO. in 1959 and 1958 respectively. I served as an officer in the US Army for 22 years and, upon retirement, worked at the VP level with various Universities for 22 years. Miriam held positions as a Desktop Publisher/Graphic Designer for 20+ years.

NOTE: I suspect the land in MO on which my Great-Grandfather John and family settled was probably obtained by the U.S. "Preemption Act of 1841" which permitted 'squatters' who were living on federal government owned land to purchase up to 160 acres at no less than $1.25 per acre. To qualify under the law, the 'squatter' had to be a head of household over 21 and a U.S. citizen or intending to become one! A family from the Isle of Man (Dr. Richard Corren), who were friends with John, had come to Moss Creek earlier and probably helped draw them to that area, where they greatly prospered.

My Great-Grandfather John Archibald and his Scottish wife Margaret 'Maggie' Quirk, married Oct.17, 1847 in Bradden, Isle of Man in the Irish Sea between England and Ireland) emigrated directly to Carroll County, MO. in 1852 with, at the time, their two sons, Thomas age 4 (my Grandfather) and John age 12 months.

John Sr. was the son of Joseph Archibald and Catherine Quilliam and left behind 4 sisters and 2 brothers on the Isle of Man. I have traced the Archibald family on the Isle back five generations to George (born 1735) and have been to the Isle several times, but never made contact with any of the relatives. I suspect they originally came from Scotland.

John, Maggie and the boys settled down in the MO river 'bottoms' in Moss Creek Township about 8 miles from Carrollton. They then had six more children-Margaret Ann, Catherine 'Kate', Mary, George, Alice and William. I recall my Mother speaking of Uncle 'Will'.

Thomas (my grandfather,1848-1917)) married Eliza Jane 'Lide' Williams (1857-1934) and they four children, one being John Quirk, my father (born 1884) who married Irene Davidson (born 1910) from Kentucky in Carrollton. Yes, that is 26 years difference in age. A long story. They are both now deceased. John and Irene had my Sister Sue and myself. I am now 77. My wife, Miriam Reed Archibald of St. Louis and I are both retired and live in Artesia, NM near one of my daughters, Ann Elise Smith. Our younger daughter, Sarah Alison, lives in Norfolk, VA.

Miriam and I both graduated from the U. of MO. in 1959 and 1958 respectively. I served as an officer in the US Army for 22 years and, upon retirement, worked at the VP level with various Universities for 22 years. Miriam held positions as a Desktop Publisher/Graphic Designer for 20+ years.

NOTE: I suspect the land in MO on which my Great-Grandfather John and family settled was probably obtained by the U.S. "Preemption Act of 1841" which permitted 'squatters' who were living on federal government owned land to purchase up to 160 acres at no less than $1.25 per acre. To qualify under the law, the 'squatter' had to be a head of household over 21 and a U.S. citizen or intending to become one! A family from the Isle of Man (Dr. Richard Corren), who were friends with John, had come to Moss Creek earlier and probably helped draw them to that area, where they greatly prospered.