New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-11-04
BRING THEIR HEATHER
Twas a Task Getting Mother
to Leave KiIIWinning.
TRIUMPH FOR ELDEST SON
Conceived Idea of Replica of
Old Home and Family Will Be
United in Oklahoma.

/ Two years again, when William Kerr.
| Of Killwinning Scotland, was about 10 sail
| for America to start a mining business in
! Henrietta. Okla, he asked his wife, Mary,
when she would Join him with the BARNS.
| For answer she quoted from Macbeth :
Fear not TIL Blrnam wood comes tow
ard Dunsinane" With a laugh the Scot
| replied:
| "Weel. you'll he s-startin' when the
wood o. Killwinnng moves toward Henri
eta"
His prophecy was fulfilled Yesterday,
when Mrs Kerr, with John, Daniel, Willie,
| Andrew. David and Mary and a bale
of small trees. sunnower slips and stems
Of heather arrived here from Glasgow on
! the Anchor liner Cameronla. They start
ed at once for Oklahoma. and within
few DAYS the wood o Kil1nnins will be
! in Henrietta.
According to John Kerr. who is nine
| teen. aud the oldest OF the children ar
irving yesterday. II was a task to bring
Mrs. Kerr to this country. The head OF
/ the family ana John and Matilda had
I written regularly for two long years to
/ induce her to Join them in this country.
I Hugh. who ~ twenty-siX. gave up the Job
! a wear ago ana got married. but even the
prospect Of a wedding could not induce
! the thrifty housewife TO desert her hearth
/ IN Scotland
4 r,w months ago the husband called
/ John o. him. saving Lad / want ye 10
/ go to Eillwinnlng and bring yer mither
| and the BARNS with ye. II II takes
wear. keep at II and don't ye fail"
John went 10 Scotland this summer and
gradually aroused in the Kerr household
/ keen interest In oklahoma. Daniel and
/ Wnre soon wanted to ride a bronco
! after cattle David longcd to owr
range OF hIs own. and Andrew wanted to
start He I'm America as Colonel Roose-
Welt had done Mrs. Kerr was unmovcd.
What, live I'm frame house, without
! -yy and an open fireplace? Go away
! from tho blue lochs and the green HE
a., lands with the heather. TO look for days
over seer plains and sagebrush? Not for
! Mrs. william Kerr. Willum was good
mon and father, TO be sure, but the fine
! fresh air OF Klllwinnlng was not 10 be
offset by the coal laden guests Of Hen
rlctta.
1
patience and discernment OF a man OF
| fifty. lie was not discouraged. Plans
could be drawn and photographs taken OF
| the home I'm Scotland, and within six
months duplicate could be erected in
| the best part OF Henrietta. Heather and
sagcbrush would be agreeable neighbours,
and although they had never met, the
| soil OF Oklahoma would be as kindly to
| one as TO the other
Bless your neart, mother said John,
we can transplant Killwinning TO Hen
rietta and you'll be happier there with
all OF us than In Scotland with only Il
| part Of us
Johns persuasion triumphed. The
BARNS were made ready. Heather and
shrubs were garnered the lares and pen
ates packed. and within a week every
! thing belonging TO the Kerrs I'm Ktllwn-
ming except the house was put aboard the
[ CamerOnia.
When tho happy family marched ashore
Yesterday with their slips OF heather and
the saplings from Killwnnlng the boat
swain of tho liner sang softly: IL looked
, toward Birnam, and anon methought the
wood began to move"