He was born to Hugh and Margaret "Marion" Murray Gunn in Kinlocklaggan, Scotland. Being their eighth child and sixth son. There are many historical books on the Gunn and Murray Clans of Scotland.
In 1850 he left Scotland, also 5 of his brothers within 5 years of one another, leaving their parents, one brother and 2 sisters, for a better life. It is unknown who traveled together, except for one brother leaving with his bride the day of their marriage for Canada in 1853. Of the newly weds one family record (from their son) says they took a ship landing in Halifax about six weeks later (a rough trip). Came by smaller boat up the St. Lawrence to Niagara on the lake; then by train to Goderich; then by fish boat from Goderich to Kincardine--followed the bush trail only marked by chips off the trees for 15 miles to what is now the 8th concession of Bruce (County)--where they camped under a tree for the night. It is believed all of them took similar routes and had nearly the same expeiences.
Joseph came to work for the Railroad. It is unknown if he worked from Canada down to the Chicago area, but he help build the railroad in and around it, then went back to Canada. He and his brothers are lisited in the book "History of the County of Bruce", Ontario, Canada, as being some of the early settlers of the area.
July 12, 1858 he was joined in marriage to Anna "Ann" Murray, theirs being the first marriage on the register of Knox Presbyterian Church in Tiverton (Huron) Ontario, Canada. To this union eight children were born. Four in Canada and four in South Dakota, where they went in 1869. They first went by train to Sioux City, Iowa, then by means of covered wagon. His 5th child George Donald Gunn, was the first (white) child born in that part of the Dakota's, in 1870. Their first night in the territory they found the home of Capt. Hughs, near what was later known as Capt. Hughs' Bluff. Having them stay the night and giving them a tent until they could build a sod house. His brother John and his family were with them, with brother Hugh's wife (he was out in gold fields and didn't come for about 5 more years). Also some Murray cousins. General Charles T. Campbell came in 1871 with cattle, and so settlers also began to come. The closest town was 25 miles away (Yankton). When the General wanted to make a stage route to the area, that meant the villiage or settlement needed a name for the post office to be built. He wanted to name the place "Gunnville" but the brothers refused their permission. On that fact one of his sons stated "the General swore and said 'we will call it Scotland, then"! So Scotland, Bon Homme County, South Dakota was born.
They had terrible blizzards, survived the epidemics of diptheria and scarlet fever and other lesser epidemics. Sadly they all did get scarlet fever, said to have effected their hearing earlier than most.
He died in Dec. 29,1889 at the age of 61. Depending on the weather that year, he probably was not buried until spring, in Scotland, S.D., but no family memebers (since 1960's) have ever succeeded in finding the location of the grave, or that of one of his other brothers who died there. So it is unknown if he was buried on their land or in a cemetery, since no offical records were kept then nor has a marker been found, since it was probably wood and wouldn't of lasted very long, do to weather or praire fires.
His two children not linked to him yet, are;
John Alexander Gunn 1861-1941
Robert Murray Gunn July 22, 1865-Sept 24, 1955
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Paternal Great Grandfather to Eugene "Gene" Murray Simmons Jr.)
In 1850 he left Scotland, also 5 of his brothers within 5 years of one another, leaving their parents, one brother and 2 sisters, for a better life. It is unknown who traveled together, except for one brother leaving with his bride the day of their marriage for Canada in 1853. Of the newly weds one family record (from their son) says they took a ship landing in Halifax about six weeks later (a rough trip). Came by smaller boat up the St. Lawrence to Niagara on the lake; then by train to Goderich; then by fish boat from Goderich to Kincardine--followed the bush trail only marked by chips off the trees for 15 miles to what is now the 8th concession of Bruce (County)--where they camped under a tree for the night. It is believed all of them took similar routes and had nearly the same expeiences.
Joseph came to work for the Railroad. It is unknown if he worked from Canada down to the Chicago area, but he help build the railroad in and around it, then went back to Canada. He and his brothers are lisited in the book "History of the County of Bruce", Ontario, Canada, as being some of the early settlers of the area.
July 12, 1858 he was joined in marriage to Anna "Ann" Murray, theirs being the first marriage on the register of Knox Presbyterian Church in Tiverton (Huron) Ontario, Canada. To this union eight children were born. Four in Canada and four in South Dakota, where they went in 1869. They first went by train to Sioux City, Iowa, then by means of covered wagon. His 5th child George Donald Gunn, was the first (white) child born in that part of the Dakota's, in 1870. Their first night in the territory they found the home of Capt. Hughs, near what was later known as Capt. Hughs' Bluff. Having them stay the night and giving them a tent until they could build a sod house. His brother John and his family were with them, with brother Hugh's wife (he was out in gold fields and didn't come for about 5 more years). Also some Murray cousins. General Charles T. Campbell came in 1871 with cattle, and so settlers also began to come. The closest town was 25 miles away (Yankton). When the General wanted to make a stage route to the area, that meant the villiage or settlement needed a name for the post office to be built. He wanted to name the place "Gunnville" but the brothers refused their permission. On that fact one of his sons stated "the General swore and said 'we will call it Scotland, then"! So Scotland, Bon Homme County, South Dakota was born.
They had terrible blizzards, survived the epidemics of diptheria and scarlet fever and other lesser epidemics. Sadly they all did get scarlet fever, said to have effected their hearing earlier than most.
He died in Dec. 29,1889 at the age of 61. Depending on the weather that year, he probably was not buried until spring, in Scotland, S.D., but no family memebers (since 1960's) have ever succeeded in finding the location of the grave, or that of one of his other brothers who died there. So it is unknown if he was buried on their land or in a cemetery, since no offical records were kept then nor has a marker been found, since it was probably wood and wouldn't of lasted very long, do to weather or praire fires.
His two children not linked to him yet, are;
John Alexander Gunn 1861-1941
Robert Murray Gunn July 22, 1865-Sept 24, 1955
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Paternal Great Grandfather to Eugene "Gene" Murray Simmons Jr.)
He was born to Hugh and Margaret "Marion" Murray Gunn in Kinlocklaggan, Scotland. Being their eighth child and sixth son. There are many historical books on the Gunn and Murray Clans of Scotland.
In 1850 he left Scotland, also 5 of his brothers within 5 years of one another, leaving their parents, one brother and 2 sisters, for a better life. It is unknown who traveled together, except for one brother leaving with his bride the day of their marriage for Canada in 1853. Of the newly weds one family record (from their son) says they took a ship landing in Halifax about six weeks later (a rough trip). Came by smaller boat up the St. Lawrence to Niagara on the lake; then by train to Goderich; then by fish boat from Goderich to Kincardine--followed the bush trail only marked by chips off the trees for 15 miles to what is now the 8th concession of Bruce (County)--where they camped under a tree for the night. It is believed all of them took similar routes and had nearly the same expeiences.
Joseph came to work for the Railroad. It is unknown if he worked from Canada down to the Chicago area, but he help build the railroad in and around it, then went back to Canada. He and his brothers are lisited in the book "History of the County of Bruce", Ontario, Canada, as being some of the early settlers of the area.
July 12, 1858 he was joined in marriage to Anna "Ann" Murray, theirs being the first marriage on the register of Knox Presbyterian Church in Tiverton (Huron) Ontario, Canada. To this union eight children were born. Four in Canada and four in South Dakota, where they went in 1869. They first went by train to Sioux City, Iowa, then by means of covered wagon. His 5th child George Donald Gunn, was the first (white) child born in that part of the Dakota's, in 1870. Their first night in the territory they found the home of Capt. Hughs, near what was later known as Capt. Hughs' Bluff. Having them stay the night and giving them a tent until they could build a sod house. His brother John and his family were with them, with brother Hugh's wife (he was out in gold fields and didn't come for about 5 more years). Also some Murray cousins. General Charles T. Campbell came in 1871 with cattle, and so settlers also began to come. The closest town was 25 miles away (Yankton). When the General wanted to make a stage route to the area, that meant the villiage or settlement needed a name for the post office to be built. He wanted to name the place "Gunnville" but the brothers refused their permission. On that fact one of his sons stated "the General swore and said 'we will call it Scotland, then"! So Scotland, Bon Homme County, South Dakota was born.
They had terrible blizzards, survived the epidemics of diptheria and scarlet fever and other lesser epidemics. Sadly they all did get scarlet fever, said to have effected their hearing earlier than most.
He died in Dec. 29,1889 at the age of 61. Depending on the weather that year, he probably was not buried until spring, in Scotland, S.D., but no family memebers (since 1960's) have ever succeeded in finding the location of the grave, or that of one of his other brothers who died there. So it is unknown if he was buried on their land or in a cemetery, since no offical records were kept then nor has a marker been found, since it was probably wood and wouldn't of lasted very long, do to weather or praire fires.
His two children not linked to him yet, are;
John Alexander Gunn 1861-1941
Robert Murray Gunn July 22, 1865-Sept 24, 1955
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Paternal Great Grandfather to Eugene "Gene" Murray Simmons Jr.)
In 1850 he left Scotland, also 5 of his brothers within 5 years of one another, leaving their parents, one brother and 2 sisters, for a better life. It is unknown who traveled together, except for one brother leaving with his bride the day of their marriage for Canada in 1853. Of the newly weds one family record (from their son) says they took a ship landing in Halifax about six weeks later (a rough trip). Came by smaller boat up the St. Lawrence to Niagara on the lake; then by train to Goderich; then by fish boat from Goderich to Kincardine--followed the bush trail only marked by chips off the trees for 15 miles to what is now the 8th concession of Bruce (County)--where they camped under a tree for the night. It is believed all of them took similar routes and had nearly the same expeiences.
Joseph came to work for the Railroad. It is unknown if he worked from Canada down to the Chicago area, but he help build the railroad in and around it, then went back to Canada. He and his brothers are lisited in the book "History of the County of Bruce", Ontario, Canada, as being some of the early settlers of the area.
July 12, 1858 he was joined in marriage to Anna "Ann" Murray, theirs being the first marriage on the register of Knox Presbyterian Church in Tiverton (Huron) Ontario, Canada. To this union eight children were born. Four in Canada and four in South Dakota, where they went in 1869. They first went by train to Sioux City, Iowa, then by means of covered wagon. His 5th child George Donald Gunn, was the first (white) child born in that part of the Dakota's, in 1870. Their first night in the territory they found the home of Capt. Hughs, near what was later known as Capt. Hughs' Bluff. Having them stay the night and giving them a tent until they could build a sod house. His brother John and his family were with them, with brother Hugh's wife (he was out in gold fields and didn't come for about 5 more years). Also some Murray cousins. General Charles T. Campbell came in 1871 with cattle, and so settlers also began to come. The closest town was 25 miles away (Yankton). When the General wanted to make a stage route to the area, that meant the villiage or settlement needed a name for the post office to be built. He wanted to name the place "Gunnville" but the brothers refused their permission. On that fact one of his sons stated "the General swore and said 'we will call it Scotland, then"! So Scotland, Bon Homme County, South Dakota was born.
They had terrible blizzards, survived the epidemics of diptheria and scarlet fever and other lesser epidemics. Sadly they all did get scarlet fever, said to have effected their hearing earlier than most.
He died in Dec. 29,1889 at the age of 61. Depending on the weather that year, he probably was not buried until spring, in Scotland, S.D., but no family memebers (since 1960's) have ever succeeded in finding the location of the grave, or that of one of his other brothers who died there. So it is unknown if he was buried on their land or in a cemetery, since no offical records were kept then nor has a marker been found, since it was probably wood and wouldn't of lasted very long, do to weather or praire fires.
His two children not linked to him yet, are;
John Alexander Gunn 1861-1941
Robert Murray Gunn July 22, 1865-Sept 24, 1955
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Paternal Great Grandfather to Eugene "Gene" Murray Simmons Jr.)
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