Pioneer Kent Rancher Dies
Spur (Special) Basil C. Cairns, pioneer Kent county rancher and native of Scotland, died early today in Spur Memorial Hospital after a long illness. He would have been 81 years old Monday.Cairns was born in Hong Kong, China, where his father was on duty for the British Empire as a marine surveyor. When he was two years old, his parents returned to Scotland.
Became Marine Engineer:
Cairns became a marine engineer and went to sea while still in his teens. After several years at sea, he obtained leave to visit his brother, Ed, who owned the Paddle Ranch I Kent county." I liked it so well I decided to give up the sea in favor of ranch life, " he once remarked. " I fell in love with West Texas.".
On May 1, 1919, he married Miss Agnes Stewart, also of Scottish ancestry. Miss Stewart, a school teacher, was from Fort Worth.
Experimented on Ranch:
They named their ranch " Acorn Farms" where for years Cairns experimented with crops, poultry and livestock, importing breeds and strains previously unheard of in this part of the country. He was proudest of his honey bees and orchards. " I held that something everybody raised wouldn't sell as good as something different", he once commented about his unorthodox crops.During his eventful career, he survived a ship wreck in the Mediterranean, and on another occasion was confined to a shop with a smallpox epidemic about for 19 days in an Indian port.
Cairns' health failed him several months ago, and he has been in and out of hospitals since.
Service set Today:
Funeral Service will be held at 9a.m. Monday in the Spur Presbyterian church with the Rev. James C. Willitt, pastor, officiating.Survivors include his wife, Agnes, of the home; two brothers, Edwin Cairns and A.C. Cairns, of Scotland; four sisters, Mrs. E.J. Grierson, Mrs. W.W. Robinson, Mrs. James Phillips and Miss Mabel Cairns, all of England and Scotland. And a nephew, A.C. Cairns, Jr., of Dallas.
Pallbearers will be Tye Allen, Howard Robichaux, Lewis Williams, Bilby Wallace, Van North and J. B. Earnest. Burial will be in Spur Cemetery.
©Lubbock Avalanche Journal, June 26, 1955
from the records of Lillian Grace Nay, Transcribed by Becky Hodges, August 9, 2004
Mrs. Cairns Buried Here Friday
Funeral services were held Friday afternoon, Nov. 20, at 3 p.m. in the lst Methodist Church for Mrs. Agnes S. Cairns with Rev. W.D. McReynolds officiating assisted by Rev. James Duddy.Mrs. Cairns died Nov. 18 in Spur Memorial Hospital. She had been in failing health for some time.
Mrs. Cairns moved near Clairmont in 1919 and later moved to Spur in 1956. She was a member of the Presbyterian Church.
Survivors include two sisters, Mrs. F. B. Gilbert, Albuquerque, NM; Mrs. B.M. Staddon, Spur and nieces and nephews.
Pallbearers included Paul Marion, R.A. Conner, Horace Hyatt, Don McGinty, Carter Robinson, and Johnny Nichols.
Honorary pallbearers were Dr. Bob Alexander, Clifford B. Jones, Tom Johnston, Ned Hogan, Robert McAteer and James B. Reed.
Burial was in the Spur Cemetery
©The Texas Spur, November 26, 1964
from the records of Lillian Grace Nay, transcribed by Ann Walker
 |
|
This site may be freely linked to but not duplicated in any fashion without consent.
The information on these pages is meant for personal genealogical research only
and is not for commercial use of ANY type.
